The park next door to my hostel here in Miraflores, and in the heart this busteling-boardering-suburb of Lima, sits Kennedy Park. Surprisingly named after our very own, late, great John Fitzgereld. A bust sits in the park citing his namesake because of the brotherhood he fostered between Miraflores and Pensacola. There are some interesting things to note about life in and around the park. 
For one, its packed at night and deserted during the day. This is funy to me, because there many parks in the states that I would love to visit in the day, but wouldn`t (or maybe would) be caught dead there at night. At 10 pm, the playground is literally packed with families. Children swinging on the swings and climbing on the jungle gym, all at full capacity. This morning at 10 am, there were maybe 5 people there as I ate my daily breakfeast at the outdoor cafe next to the park. Everyday, I think I`m one of the few up before 10 am. I was actually surprised to see the internet cafe open....it is the only store on the block open right now.
The nighttime activity does not just apply to the playground. There is a cirlce plaza where merchants set up tables to sell goods/souveniers everynight. In the middle of the park shoe shine men own the benches, and are busy at work polishing up men`s work shoes and travelers`newly broken in hiking boots just back from Machu Pichu. At the north end, near the busy circle intersection that is at the tip of this park the sidewalk edge is lined with artists. Everynight they come to display their work, and continue their art on the city provided easles.
To cap everything off, lining almost every edge are resturaunts where men sit to be seen. Yes men, not women. They sit and sip their pisco sours and cafe`s discussing politics and saying hi to all the friends who frequently walk by and stop to say hello. The seem like politicians to me, and I desprately want to join the club!
Last night, along a side street a cafe played jazz music as men played chess outside at the several tables built into the pedestrian only streetscape. I watched. I could never hang with these speed demons....it was cool to watch though, I think I picked up some good strategies.
For one, its packed at night and deserted during the day. This is funy to me, because there many parks in the states that I would love to visit in the day, but wouldn`t (or maybe would) be caught dead there at night. At 10 pm, the playground is literally packed with families. Children swinging on the swings and climbing on the jungle gym, all at full capacity. This morning at 10 am, there were maybe 5 people there as I ate my daily breakfeast at the outdoor cafe next to the park. Everyday, I think I`m one of the few up before 10 am. I was actually surprised to see the internet cafe open....it is the only store on the block open right now.
The nighttime activity does not just apply to the playground. There is a cirlce plaza where merchants set up tables to sell goods/souveniers everynight. In the middle of the park shoe shine men own the benches, and are busy at work polishing up men`s work shoes and travelers`newly broken in hiking boots just back from Machu Pichu. At the north end, near the busy circle intersection that is at the tip of this park the sidewalk edge is lined with artists. Everynight they come to display their work, and continue their art on the city provided easles.
To cap everything off, lining almost every edge are resturaunts where men sit to be seen. Yes men, not women. They sit and sip their pisco sours and cafe`s discussing politics and saying hi to all the friends who frequently walk by and stop to say hello. The seem like politicians to me, and I desprately want to join the club!
Last night, along a side street a cafe played jazz music as men played chess outside at the several tables built into the pedestrian only streetscape. I watched. I could never hang with these speed demons....it was cool to watch though, I think I picked up some good strategies.
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