Trip to Ñaña

Now that I remember the journeys that I had in Lima, after seeing my photo album of Lima 2015 today, I have just remembered one of the most beautiful and peaceful outings that I could have had with my little brother. He's called Joaquin, he is 8 years old, and let me tell you that Joaquín never knew that I was coming to Europe for 2 years. The truth is that I didn’t dare to tell him; on the last day, or better said about 6 hours before I was supposed to take my flight, he found out when he saw me packing my two suitcases.

Perhaps, or without a doubt, it was wrong of me for not telling him anything about the fact that I was thinking about travelling. I had so many mixed feelings during my last days in Lima that I was constantly trying to postpone it and that’s how it was until my last day. It's as though my little brother Joaquín were practically my son, and it’s thanks to him that I had the inspiration for this article. Well it's about the last trip that I had with him last year in a place called Ñaña, at one of the many recreational centres that you can find in this zone of Lima.

The Reason

This opportunity to go out with my brother arose when in their school, (that I incidentally had also studied elementary school at), had organised a trip so that all of the children could go with their parents if they wanted to. Paying an additional fee, this included the transport from the school up to arriving at Ñaña. This is one of the zones also very close to what’s known as the entrance to the central motorway, where anyone wanting to go to the zone of Chosica will go.

Good weather

This zone is basically known for having better weather than metropolitan Lima; it’s for this reason that you can find different leisure centres at this place, basically aimed at school groups. This way, there are fun places for all of the elementary school kids.

My memories

Something that I remember is when I was a child and I was Joaquín’s age they also brought me to this place but the years have definitely passed and it was not the same as it was during my times in all aspects; I remembered the park, pool zones and other places like the stream where they had small fish but this time they weren’t there!

The same teacher for us both!

Look how small the world is, as Joaquín’s tutor was the same one that I had when I was at school; so I was also seeing her again after many years during this trip, I would say almost 17 years later. I really admire the school teachers' work, like for example, one of my best friends from school is now also a teacher. The truth is that I also feel like I have a vocation for teaching so I think that when I return to Peru I will start looking for a job at the universities in my city.

Arriving at the centre of Ñaña and what I could do there

When we arrived at the centre of Ñaña, we found a train at the entrance that made lots of the children that were there run and jump on it.

We also found a little mini zoo where we found some ducks that were swimming in the waters above what was a little bridge. The truth is that I remembered that bridge but when I saw it again I realised that it wasn’t as big as I had imagined it when I was a child.

There were also games where you paid less than 3 soles so that the children could go up and down for about 20 minutes, that actually flew by. My brother wanted to join in those games so I just stayed to please him.

After having been in this zone, he also wanted even more, as children have a special energy when they are young. Well, from those zones we also went to a pool that was packed with children in its waters.

On the trip we also found a small jaguar which you could find in its cage so I took the opportunity to take a photo.

After that, we also found a sand track for bike rides where the same children could drive for about 10 minutes, so my little brother also joined in this game.

In the upper part of the facility, to the right side there were some empty houses that seemed as though they were for midgets. However, you couldn’t enter, you could only see it from outside so here they are for you to see...

In terms of the rides, we also found the machines that turn round and here I also made the error of eating before getting on it. Well it hadn’t even been 25 minutes before my brother also wanted to go on that ride. So after the ride started to spin, first he started to laugh like crazy and then he started to feel dizzy so you can imagine what happened after! Yes, he was sick!

In the facility in Ñaña, we also found some geese shaped boats that you peddled with your feet, and only two people there went. So we waited there for a little while. After this, we met a man that was horseback riding so my brother got excited to be able to go for a small ride on a white horse.

The day in Ñaña flew by too quickly and I couldn’t believe that it was already almost 5 in the evening, and it was time for all of us to return to the buses to head back to the school. Just in that moment my poor brother got lost because just before he had met with his friends. When he returned to where we were all supposed to be, he couldn’t find us so when he saw me after about 10 minutes, he started crying because he thought I had left without him.

During the journey back, having spent the whole day behind him and spending a relaxing afternoon with him, we both fell asleep on the bus, so we didn’t realise that we had returned and that we were already in the school. Then it was time to go back to spending my last days in Lima before coming here to Italy where I am writing these sentences.

Two tips to share :)

This experience gives me two pieces of advice. The first is that you always spend time with your family, whether it be cousins, brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, fathers, mothers or grandparents; all family members are important and now that I start to see all of these images, I remember these experiences with lots of affection and I am sure that my little brother does too.

My second tip is regarding the place. On days when the sun doesn’t reach the city of Lima, take advantage of getting away to whichever of the centres that you can find both in Ñaña and Chosica, so that you can relax and recharge your positive energies.

Well! I hope that you have enjoyed this post and thanks so much for reading it! We’ll see each other in other Lima outings, see you soon!

Photo gallery