Christmas Away From Home: Sanibel Provides Comfort and More
The first Christmas I ever spent away from home was on a trip through South America. It was my first Christmas on the road, but not my last.
That first Christmas eve on the road occurred while I was staying with friends of friends in Miraflores, an upscale suburb of Lima, Peru. It was a delightful place to catch my breath on a rather off, off road adventure where basic comfort was often a luxury. But there in Miraflores, the home was commodious and elegant. Beds were large with good mattresses and meals were convened with the ringing of a little silver bell which beckoned the staff from the kitchen.
It was warm that first Christmas on the road, as seasons are reversed with the USA, and everyone in Miraflores was outside celebrating on Christmas eve. I remember that at midnight fireworks went off as far as the eye could see and the tropical landscape was illuminated in bright spurts of various colors. I was in a foreign country but it did not feel strange. My hosts, however, sensing that I might be homesick gave me a Christmas present I will always remember, allowing me to call my family to say happy holidays.
My second Christmas away from home was in Merida, Mexico. A little older, I was with a romantic interest traveling through Mexico. On Christmas eve I was treated to a horse and buggy ride to see this tropical center of the State of Yucatan. The colonial and historic aspects of Merida made for a most pleasant and interesting ride through the charming, lamp-lit cobblestone streets which were lined with palm trees.
Both of those Christmas holidays were wonderful, and ones I won’t forget.
But equally memorable and wonderful was the Christmas I spent on Sanibel Island, Florida.
The Christmas lights, the decorations on every building and seemingly on every palm tree, the good cheer of all the people visiting, the great purchases possible both pre and post the holiday and the ability to walk and bike and develop a tan when everyone back home was digging out their cars from under a major snow fall has kept that vacation fresh in my mind after all these years. It was magic in the making, and remains so in the memory of it.
And, when contrasted, the Sanibel Christmas was truly a familiar Christmas given the relative ease of vacationing in America—- where neither language nor monetary denominations needed translation.
Have your own Christmas on the road this year on the Island of Sanibel. Rates are down making it more affordable than ever, bargains in buying are everywhere, and the holiday lights are bright against the star-filled tropical sky.
Sylvia Guarino
May 5th, 2010 at 8:05 pm
the place where i live is the most beautiful city on earth miraflores or miraflowers (look at the flowers) even the name is pretty,so gay lol
May 5th, 2010 at 8:27 pm
You could take an airplane from Miraflores to Cusco. From here you should take the train to Agua Calientes which is a more touristic solution than a local service. From here you can decide weather to walk the Inca trail, which is gorgeous but takes more time, or hop on the bus to Macchu Picchu. I'll send you a link to a blog where the trip is described completely with pictures, for example of the train and more information on prices!
http://www.yukiba.com/782-machu-picchu-peru-south-america-trip.html
May 5th, 2010 at 9:24 pm
sucre? that's an avenue…. i dont even know where you actually are, because sucre has many blocks, and there are two many combis, custers, and buses but not all of them go thru sucre, some buses you will be able to catch them close to sucre
however the best thing would be a taxi cab, they are not that expensive
May 5th, 2010 at 9:32 pm
hell thats f…. cool, me encanta!!!
May 5th, 2010 at 9:40 pm
Well, I don't know how much it would be, but the costs are a LOT cheaper in Peru. I had my C-section there. The doctors and nurses are more attentive to you. I know that just a doctor's visit is usually between 20 and 50 soles (7 and 15 dollars).
Also if you're just curious and want to know, for example, your glucose and cholesterol levels which cost 5 soles each ($1.50), you don't need to first go to the doctor, then get a doctor's referral, wait a week for results and all of that. (I got my results the next day, depending on which tests you ask for.) You just go straight to the lab people. You don't need prescriptions for things either. If you know what you want to get, you go to the pharmacy and get it that easily.
Some doctors probably would speak English there. Prices vary depending on which private clinic you go to.
May 6th, 2010 at 12:21 am
On a recent trip to Peru a month ago, I used two different ATM's in Miraflores.
I was given the exchange rate of 3.00. This was also the exchange rate I was given by the money exchangers that stand on the street corner. They advertise 3.05 however you will never get it. They always come up with some kind of excuse.
Both ATM's charged me a $3.50 service fee which was later refunded by my bank in the USA (It's their standard procedure to refund ATM fees.)
You might as well get Soles from the ATM since if you get USD you'll have to exchange it for soles anyway.
Another word on exchanging money – Make sure the bills you are exchanging are in perfect shape – no tears and no markings, otherwise they won't accept them. Be careful exchanging USD on the streets, there is also a lot of conterfiet Nuevo Soles floating around.
May 6th, 2010 at 2:53 am
yo viajare a peru – lima especificamente miraflores.. q lugares me recomiendas para visitar?
May 6th, 2010 at 5:21 am
First of all Miraflores, Lima and Peru are very different places which you might be use to in America. If you expect to find a lot of similarities, then I would suggest to stay at home. If you are looking for a change and can adapt easily to a new environments and a new way of life, then proceed.
Miraflores is considered one of the nest districts in Lima. It houses most of Lima's 5 start hotels, best restaurants and shopping centers. It borders another popular district, San Isidro, considered Lima's financial district. Both this areas are very popular with tourists and ex-pats.
Housing in this areas will be more expensive than other areas in Lima, specially because of it's popularity with ex-pats.
Overall, everything else will pretty much be the same through out Lima in regards to cost of living, attitude towards Americans, employment opportunities.
However, regarding employment it is not easy for a non-Spanish speaking foreigner to get a good job in Lima. The unemployment rate is quite high and there is a lot of competition for good jobs. It will depend a lot on contacts your girl might have that can open doors for you. Most Americans I have known that lived in Lima usually worked as English teachers, translators or for American based companies.
Food is great, as long as your palate likes to adventure beyond McDonalds and BurgerKing.
Finally, to the guy that answered that Peru is close to communism, I would ask him to please respond to subjects he has knowledge of. Today, Peru is far from being a communist/populist country and the current goverment has distance themselves from Chavez's and has good relationships with the USA and Europe.
May 6th, 2010 at 7:37 am
impossible, you need to take a flight to cuzco, from there take a train to machu picchu. flight time is around 1 hour, train time around 4 hours, so you get the idea =/ besides, going for 1 day to such magnificent place? get at least 4 days , there is more to see in cuzco than Machu Picchu,
May 6th, 2010 at 6:58 pm
Miraflores and san isidro district
, the best hotels there 
check this link ,
http://www.peru.info/e_ftossttbusquedaeng.asp?tb=aloj&ic=2&cl=1&ct=1&ts=1&xdDpto=&consulta=submit&clasif=Hotels&txtclasif=Hotels&txtCateg=All&dDpto=&txtCampo=
http://www.peru.info
May 7th, 2010 at 4:32 am
esta chevere el video !!!
May 7th, 2010 at 2:38 pm
Buen video lindo panorama desde el aire,bien producido felicitaciones!.Ah quiero acotar (leo los comentarios)que aca en California los mas ricos viven en cerros.Un abrazo a mis paisanos! viva el Peru!
May 7th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
well, there's a lot of ways to came to plaza san miguel. but it's like 15 minutes in car if you go by costa verde, an avenue near to the beach.
but if you go by the city it's like 30 minutes.
=D
May 7th, 2010 at 6:08 pm
this was sooo fun
May 8th, 2010 at 12:50 am
Hi from Brazil!
Very good your flight and movie.
His video shows that Lima is beautiful and you as very good in Paragliding.
Congratulations for your movie
Saludos desde Brasil!
Muy bueno vuelo y vídeo.
Pudo perceber por su producion que Lima es muy bonita y vos muy bueno en parapente.
Felicitaciones por su video
May 8th, 2010 at 7:55 am
mostro!
May 8th, 2010 at 11:38 am
In Miraflores, I do all these things now.
May 9th, 2010 at 12:10 am
Peru: un pais de esperanza, un pais de una voluntad inquebrantable, ese es mi pais.
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