Mi barrio en Lima
Getting around a Lima neighbourhood: the transport, the buildings, and the handful of phrases you need to give an address or ask where something is.
Transporte
la combifnoun
the minivan bus
Cheap, crowded, and it stops wherever you shout.
el paraderomnoun
the bus stop
La parada in Spain and Argentina.
el cobradormnoun
the fare collector
The person hanging out of the combi door shouting the route.
el pasajemnoun
the fare, the ticket
¿Cuánto es el pasaje? · How much is the fare?
el taximnoun
the taxi
Agree the price before getting in when there is no meter.
la mototaxifnoun
the tuk-tuk
Common outside the central districts.
el Metropolitanomnoun
the express bus
Lima's main bus corridor. You need a card to ride it.
bajarseverb
to get off
Me bajo en la próxima. · I'm getting off at the next one.
Lugares
el barriomnoun
the neighbourhood
el distritomnoun
the district
Lima is divided into distritos: Miraflores, San Isidro, Barranco.
la avenidafnoun
the avenue
Abbreviated Av. in addresses.
el jirónmnoun
the street
Peruvian. Abbreviated Jr. Elsewhere it is simply la calle.
el parquemnoun
the park
la farmaciafnoun
the chemist
La botica is also used in Peru.
el bancomnoun
the bank
Also a bench. Context tells you which.
la panaderíafnoun
the bakery
el grifomnoun
the petrol station
Peruvian. La gasolinera elsewhere.
la playafnoun
the beach
Dónde está
cerca de
near
Vivo cerca del parque. · I live near the park.
lejos de
far from
al lado de
next to
De plus el contracts: al lado del banco.
en frente de
opposite
a la vuelta
around the corner
Está a la vuelta. · It's just around the corner.
a dos cuadras
two blocks away
Distance in Lima is counted in cuadras, not in minutes.
¿Dónde queda…?
Where is…?
Quedar for a permanent location is standard in Peru.
Está por acá
It's around here
Acá rather than aquí is the Peruvian default.
El día a día
el tráficomnoun
the traffic
Hay mucho tráfico a esta hora. · There's a lot of traffic at this time.
la garúafnoun
the drizzle
Lima's fine grey mist. It is not rain and everyone complains about it.
el solmnoun
the sol
The currency, and also the sun. Cinco soles.
el celularmnoun
the mobile phone
El móvil in Spain.
la caserafnoun
the landlady
Also a stallholder. Context decides.
el recibomnoun
the receipt, the bill