Attending this conference has not only given me the opportunity to meet like-minded professionals from around the globe, but it’s also exposed me to some new foods.

The conference stopped for a 90 minute lunch break yesterday afternoon. Everyone relaxed and networked over a white glove service lunch of a tropical caprese salad, beef medallions and a yummy dessert of a chocolate brownie topped with “lucuma” ice cream. Lucuma is a tropical fruit that is yellow in color and was referred to as the “gold of the incas.”  Also at lunch, my colleagues were drinking “Inca Kola” a bright yellow soda that comes in diet and regular forms. It is VERY sweet tasting like liquid bubble gum.

After the conference ended, all 400 attendees were bussed to La Rosa Nautica for a reception. The setting of the restaurant on the Pacific Ocean was beautiful. Tall waves crashing and of course they served pisco sours – a local cocktail comprised of bitters, lime, egg whites, pisco as the liquor, etc.  Yummy but having more than one could be trouble!

While on the shore, I could see a giant cross illuminated at night in the distance. None of my pictures that I took came out, but here’s one from Flickr. The cross is on top of the hill of Morro Solar and I read that it was erected as a welcome gift to Pope John Paul II on his visit to Peru. Supposedly from atop that hill you can see the Lima beach resorts to the south of the City, and also a beautiful view of the Bay.