Living in Peru : your everyday companion

I live in Lima and I am very confused, I am reading this very interesting article and I am wondering if in some moment Mayor Castaneda will start talking with the Central Government to prepare a final solution for Lima instead of calculate every single move to look good for the next presidential elections. If you go to the following link http://www.trenurbano.gob.pe/ you will find that the Transport Ministry of Peru is working with another plan to introduce a metro service based in trains, which I believe, is most convenient solution for Lima... [REPLY]

Hi - I just love your story as my husband and I experience a similar thing ourselves. We're kicking ourselves for not keeping the details of "our show guy" and perhaps we can try your Tio. The people there are beautiful - they have so little but give big. A lesson for us from developing worlds. [REPLY]

I also am from the US.  I lived the first 25 years in a place where there was no bus, or taxis, rural America, if you didn't have a car or know someone, you walked, and that could be 15 or 20 miles, not good.  For the last 35 years, I have lived in a city where we have a bus, of course I live several blocks from a bus stop and that means a 30 min. walk each way, and if I am a little late, or the bus is a little early, guess what, I have an hour wait for the next one, not good either.  As the lady, I miss my time in Peru, my wife wants to rent a car, and me drive when we are there, I do not, I want to hang on, wait for a seat, and let someone else worry about the crazy traffic.  I see much more, get on and off, walk for awhile and enjoy the city.. [REPLY]

  Dear Katrina, sometimes when there is a question regarding ones own intelligence as the people who said you were crazy to love combis raised, it is better to remain silent than to speak and remove all doubt. [REPLY]

Definitely combis transportation was a response at hand for years (decades) in Lima´s transportation. Trenes electricos, efficient buses, subways... are just part of other realities, not ours at the moment.. 
Be aware that according to official numbers the famous Metropolitano  will solve about ....10% !!! of our traffic every day. 
And Tren Electrico (in case it reaaaally comes to reality) will sum other.. 10%!! For some strange reason technology seems to cost too much in Peru to get...
So, please down feet to earth everybody.
If we must deal with a reality we don´t like in all its extents, let´s try to do something positive to improve it, not just scream.. [REPLY]

I agree with Katrina about the micros and the combis.  The reason that I like them is because they aren't the antiseptic bus system that I'm used to.   There's human interaction happening on every single level.  Every day there's a different set of people from very different backgrounds riding the combis.  Its true, of course, that the system isn't perfect or even close to it but no transportation system is without its faults.  Personally, I'd take this transportation system and all of its problems over the one in place in my city any day [REPLY]

Sandra-  I don't have your email (that I know of) but you have mine from my posting above, so send me yours and if I do get some peppers growing, I'll let you know.

Cecilia-  I'm glad you found the humor in my calling American fast food "delicacies."  It's funny, the things you desire when they are suddenly not available.  The same will go for Peruvian food.  Soon, I will be calling the Arequipenan delights I buy on the corners for S/.1 delicacies. 

JC-  My distinction should have been between race or ethnicity and citizenship, not nationality.  [REPLY]

I wasn't born in Peru but I'm a Peruvian citizen so that must make me an Irish Cholo.
Us gringos will have to study some Peruvian history or else we won't be able to comment on peruvian life!!!!!!! [REPLY]

Sorry but I cannot let this pass... JCW's apology was nice but was ruined with his last comments. How can any one know what is the knowledge of a person? just by a four or five hundred words article? Please!
There is no need for all of this. This page was not made for that kind of negativity. [REPLY]

to certain extent i agree with Katarina but that was my prinicipal view in my first few years in Lima. Now that i have lived here for almost 6 years taking a combi, yes is an interesting adventure when you are not in a hurry or soley dependent on it to get somewhere, it not ideal and not romantic. Yes is is part of Limenan culture, but in some aspects not a nice part. Katarina once you live here long enough and know you are not going back to your country with the order and efficiency, Lima and its transportation system will not be the romantica ideal you think today. I would like you to travel in a beloved combi everyday to work from one corner of Lima to the other for atleast a year straight and then tell me what you think. THe luxury of us foriegners is that we can leave Peru and its choas, but image those that have to deal with the combi every day for 2-4 hours a day for their entire lives. Peru and Lima deserve a better, safer and quality transportation service to its citizens and not to appease young foriegners that live here for a short period of time and get a kick out of a the poor chaotic romanitism of combis.  Please wish a better Lima.. Oh, trust me Lima will never become just like Chicago, it is culturally different and will develop and grow from its cultural perspective, adapt things to its reality.    [REPLY]