Once we were past the snafus at Vancouver, we found the actual United flight to Houston to be quite terrific, with an excellent purser in First and more room in the 737's seats than we'd envisioned.
The purser arranged for a wheelchair pickup at IAH, and we were off the plane quickly without holding anybody up. We did wait an extra 10 minutes for a cart, due to some confusion, but we then got a smooth transfer to the United Club in Terminal E, where we hung out for a half hour.
We arranged another cart to our gate and waited a tolerable period of time to board the 767, where we really relaxed.
It was another happy and helpful UA crew, and the little cheese plate served toward the end of the flight is probably the best we've ever savored on a plane.
It's a funny feeling for us to fly all day, including six-plus hours in a flatbed, and still land the evening of the same day. Lima is only two hours ahead of Pacific Time, so we touched down about 8:45 p.m. our time after a beautiful view of Lima's lights.
A squadron of wheelchair attendants met our flight, and took us through a priority immigration line before dropping us at the baggage carousel.
Our bags were among the first off, and we made our way through yet another priority line at Customs (one of those countries where your bags are X-rayed on arrival) before exiting to a throng of signs.
After reading about taxi scams, touts, etc., we had elected to hire transfers here and in Cusco. We went with http://taxidatum.com/ and are happy after one trip. The ride from the airport to the Hilton took at least 40 minutes and cost us $18 plus tip (the senior rate is two bucks off). You might get a taxi for $12, or you might get scammed - and there are some really shabby-looking little taxis around these parts.
The Hilton so far is fantastic. Those who claim it's one of the world's best Hiltons might be on to something. Our room on the 10th floor is lovely (despite no view) and lacking only a bathtub to be perfect (for Kathy). The shower, however, is huge, and Brian's singing voice has seldom sounded better.
We ate breakfast in the lounge (the welcome letter advertises breakfast, light lunch, afternoon snacks, and a three-hour light dinner and Happy Hour), and there is no shortage of cold meats and cheeses, juices, scrambled eggs, bacon, grilled vegetables, and pancakes.
We strolled (one way to describe our gait) down to the beach, where we admired the general view as well as a statue of Paddington Bear donated last year by the British Embassy - who among us knew that Paddington came from "darkest Peru?
After returning to the Hilton we put on our swimming suits and spent some time at the rooftop infinity pool and hot tubs, virtually deserted.
We may not see as much of Lima as we would have liked, but the Hilton Miraflores appears to be a great hangout.
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