Page 66 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL SUMMER 2024 LIMA

Xl or Black for a comfortable ride that cost
only a buck or two more.
Our friendly Miraflores hotel, a Court‐
yard by Marriott, was a block from Parque
Kennedy, the unofficial main square of
Lima and the center of Miraflores. Named
after President John F. Kennedy, it’s sur‐
rounded by excellent restaurants, cafes,
groceries, and shops and is a favorite
meeting place for both locals and visitors.
We found El Parquetito, a beautiful patio
restaurant where we relaxed after a hectic
visit to Lima’s crowded historic center.
El Parquetito’s menu of traditional Pe‐
ruvian dishes was in Spanish only and our
server didn’t speak English. So we did what
we do in these situations: We looked
around at what other diners were having.
We shared a flavorful Sudado de Pescado,
a warmly spiced fish stew recommended
by the gracious woman at the next table.
Mary played it safe with a main course
salad while Ron, on a whim, ordered a
Tamalito Criollo de Maiz. Wrapped in a ba‐
nana leaf, it was mostly masa with bits of
spicy meat. With two local beers, our lunch
totaled $30.
Later that day we walked to the coast
for a picturesque stroll to Lima’s large Par‐
que Alfredo Salzar that edges the ocean
bluffs. The city’s beautiful Malecon, a
boardwalk stretching for miles along the
Costa Verde (Green Coast), passes through
here, drawing locals and visitors hoping to
cap the day with views of a vivid sunset.
During our initial visit to the park, we
were unaware that the city’s main shopping
center, Larcomar, hugged the cliffs be‐
neath us. A destination for tourists and lo‐
cals alike, the multi-story mall was named
for its unique location: “Larco” from the
bordering avenue and “mar” or sea.
Opened in 1998, it boasts over 80 stores,

66 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE SUMMER 2024