Retirement gives a person an extremely vantage position to view life. You can look back leisurely and examine all that one has done without any rancor. Then I realized, I had hordes of stories to tell, analyze various incidents, make up a few and so on. I have written on many aspects of life – grand children, marriage, art of drinking, cooking, bull fights and the list is endless. My childhood days in Bengaluru figures prominently. Apart from life and people, I have also written extensively about our travel to various places in India and abroad. Blog also includes a few articles about my life as a naval officer. Incidentally the blog is read by viewers from 83 different countries.
On our way back from Lake Titicaca and Uyuni we stayed in HotelRosario La Paz – literally an oasis in the middle a chaotic city. La Paz the capital of Bolivia is situated at an altitude of 12,500 ft. The city is very densely populated with hundreds of houses occupying the sloping surface of the valley. Roads are narrow and winding, full of cars and people.
Maze of Lights
The city has developed around a number of hills which surround the valley.The houses are located on the top of the hill, on its slope and the valley below. To ease the vehicular traffic on the narrow roads which connect various parts of the city, in 2014 the government introduced an extremely imaginative and bold alternative transportation system to carry people up and down – Mi Teleférico (My Cable Car). La Paz is now officially home to both the longest and highest urban cable car network in the world with more than six miles of lines, 11 stations and 74 towers in total. There are three teleférico lines – each named after a colour of the national flag: red, yellow and green – that carry commuters above the traffic in a jiffy.
Unique way of transportation
Apart from the long drive from airport to the hotel in the centre of the valley, we did not venture out much, except for shopping walks in and around the hotel. For some reason the valley reminded me very much of Shillong.
Time and space did not permit to tee off from the second highest Golf course in the world “Golf Club La Paz”at 11,000 ft. Lima
We visited Lima on three occasions once on our way to the Iquitos and again on the way back. We spent another day on 14 May on our return journey.
Lima is truly a fascinating city. Not many people can recall Lima with ease, at least for us Indians. We are more familiar with cities in America, Europe, Far East etc. Somehow Lima does not strike a chord. Lima the capital of Peru is a bristling metropolis located on the lap of Pacific Ocean. The city is ancient and dates back to 1535. The city is extremely beautiful, clean and the roads are state of the art. Driving around in the city and listening to their FM station ‘Peru Magica’ gave us an opportunity to enjoy everything Lima had to offer. The up market area of Miraflores is located overlooking the ocean. The broad roads run parallel to the beach and the view it offers is simply breathtaking. The entire route is marked with parks, seaside restaurants and shopping arcades. It has all the best Lima has to offer. We took a bus tour “Lima By Night” which finally ends up in the world famous “ Magic Water Circuit”. The place is home to the most extraordinary show of 13 fountains with lights and laser.We were enthralled watching the light and fountain show with mesmerizing Peruvian music. The atmosphere is elevating; it brings out the child in you to join the band wagon in getting wet under the fountains and loosing oneself in gay abandon.It was certainly one of our tour highlights.
Fascinating experience
Simply nreathtaking
Felt like watching for ever
We spent the evening in an exclusive restaurant by the sea in Miraflores “La Rosa Nautica”.
A very pretty restaurant
All Nautica
By the peer
Bonding
Jai steering the ship
Photo op for Rita
A group op
I had the enviable opportunity of wishing three lovely ladies and travel companions a very happy ‘Mothers day’. It was an extraordinary night by the sea, the waves softly lapping the shore endlessly, pleasant breeze, delectable wine and food.
A lovely rose for a lovely lady
To my dearest wife
Wishing Sushama all the very best on womens day
‘Ceviche’ an official national dish of Peru. Preparation of raw fish marinated in citrus juice. The acid in the fruit “cooks” the fish, giving it a delicate flavor and slightly chewy consistency.
Captain MV Prabhakar is an alumnus of National Defence Academy. He was commissioned in the Indian Navy on 01 Jan 1970. He is a graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and completed his post graduation at the Collage of Naval Warfare, Mumbai. He participated in the 1971 Indo Pak war and IPKF operations in Sri Lanka in 1989.After retirement from the navy he worked in MACMET Technologies Limited, Bangalore/CAE India developing simulators for the Indian Defence Forces. He is married to Jayanti who is an educationalist. They have a son and daughter and four grandchildren. Pubs is a keen golfer and loves cooking. He also spends time looking after the garden.He is a avid traveler and blogger.
View all posts by bloggerpubs
Captain's Corner 