Lima - Abby Kojola In Peru

September 15 — Coming Home

Aerial view of Lima, Peru and the Pacific coastline from an airplane

Last Morning in Lima I woke up at 6 because I had set my alarm for 6, and for a little while I had this very disorienting moment where my phone said it was 6:38 but the clock in the apartment said 8:08, and my taxi was supposed to come at 8:30. I knew logically…

September 14 — Getting the Hang of Lima Just as It Was Time to Leave

Palm tree silhouetted against the Pacific sunset in Barranco, Lima

My Last Full Day in Peru I slept in until around 8 on Monday morning, which wasn’t particularly late, but it felt late compared with how early I had been waking up for most of the trip. I had stayed up later than I meant to the night before working on my blog, and then…

September 13 — It’s Safe for Me to Love

Orange sunset over the Pacific Ocean and apartment buildings in Lima, Peru

Sunday Morning in Lima I woke up early Sunday morning in my apartment in Barranco, and I was still very much in that strange space between the retreat and regular life. I had some coca tea, yogurt and water, dealt with more laundry, checked my email, and was generally trying to get myself situated. Having…

September 4 — My Cacao Pilgrimage, Barranco, and Tea with New Friends

Bowl of steaming milk dusted with cinnamon in a black-and-white patterned ceramic cup, on a leaf-shaped wooden plate with a branch-like wooden spoon and a wrapped cacao bar beside it

It’s Friday, September 4th. I had a good adventure today. I woke up at about six this morning, but I didn’t get out of bed until eight. I had my tea and ate breakfast here. I finished that strawberry kefir that was so good. I wish I had more of that. I ate my last…

September 3 — Walking with the ocean in Lima

Wide view of Lima's coastline on a hazy day: a curving gray beach, coastal highway, tall eroded cliffs, and high-rise buildings with a construction crane

The Symphony of Lima, the Beauty Way, and My Late-Night Insecurities I’m sitting out on my little 5th floor balcony this morning having my tea. I’m surrendering to the sound healing of a Lima morning. It’s SO lifey. There’s so much noise, but it’s like a symphony. Cars are driving by, so many motorbikes, people…

September 2 — Getting Lost and Finding My Way in Lima

Cup of tea with a small blue sand timer on the table at Ché Chá in Miraflores

Sept. 2 — I slept until about 9 a.m. this morning, which meant I got around eight hours of sleep. I really needed it. I think I had been awake for close to 40 hours between getting ready to leave, traveling all day, and arriving in Lima so late last night. I woke up feeling…

September 1 — The Journey Back to Peru

Abby Kojola waiting at SFO before flying to Peru

Sept. 1 — Today was a full travel day! My first flight left SFO at 7:13 a.m. I set my alarm for 3 a.m. so that I could be ready to leave for the airport at 4 a.m. I worked until 1:30 a.m. and then lay in my bed for 90 minutes waiting for my…

October 26, 2025

Early taxi, Cusco check-in quirks, long LIM layover, LAX customs/recheck, delayed hop to SFO—and a few hard-won tips for smoother connections.

October 16, 2025

First Day in Cusco When I arrived in Cusco, it was so interesting. The infrastructure here is so different from what I’m used to. It’s a very small airport, and everything was easy — my bag arrived, I met my taxi driver easily, and it’s only about 15 minutes to where I’m staying. I was…

October 15, 2025

My First Day in Peru I woke up at 7 AM on the 15th, the day of my flight, and it was so nice to not have to leave for the airport at the crack of dawn. I had my last cup of green tea and snuggled with each of the cats for a little…