Thanks to a rather quiet outing on Friday night, with only a few small glasses of Chilcano (pisco, ginger ale and sugar) and a few turns on the dance floor of the Pueblo Libre Queirolo, my brain was only half asleep when I got on the 'micro' with my two lifesaver empanadas in a firm grip. 45 minutes later, I got off at Universidad de Lima, where Angela was waiting together with Ivan, another rugby player and the designated driver, Abel (Angela's younger brother).
Every time I get into a real car now, I feel like I'm in a limousine...it's pure luxury not having to crowd up in a mini bus which has had extra seats added to it. Seat belts, too, are expendable extras.
We dashed down the ring road to pick up Sandra, and then got onto the Panamericana, with loud music almost lifting the car roof, and the wind in our hair, and a nice sense of expectation in the air. An hour later we arrived in Asia without any drama (well, we got pulled over by the police, but they just checked the driver's licence).
Asia is a very curious place: bordering the dusty Panamericana with its occasional pub or cevicheria, Asia is walled on all sides and has huge lit billboards. You enter on a sand road, then drive through the actual entrance decorated with flowers, and it's like a different world, all made up of high-tech kiosks for McDonald's, Dunking Donuts, Häagen-Dazs, Deli France and more, and of course the most expensive supermarket in Peru; Wong with an exclusive range just for Asia, including readymade sushi. Of course it's all very pleasant, but at the same time really artificial.
The beach rugby pitch and artificial grass football pitch were located down at the far end of the commercial area. We arrived at 9.30 when the first game was scheduled to begin, but of course, half of the teams had yet to arrive. We claimed some spectator seats under the roof, greatful for some shade in the scorching morning sun. I was wondering how we, the girls, would be able to play at all at 16.00...In the meantime I tried to learn some last-minute strategical moves from the guys.
It was a really nice day - the audience (including the teams not currently playing) counted some 2oo people, I think, and the atmosphere was good. No beer, though, and definitely no shots! Instead ceviche was served on disposable styrofoam plates. However, given the heat I opted for the safer bacteria contained in a youghurt.
Around half past four we started warming up, and I was so nervous I wanted to run away and hide. The actual game against Newton flew by - a result of adrenaline rush and the fact that we were only granted 10 play time in the end (whether that had anything to do with the subsequent bikini show, I could not say!). I did have time to do some scrums as well as a perfect tackle, during which some opponent decided to beat me in the back with her fist! Fortunately for her, I never noticed... Ach well, we did't play dirty, and we still won 2-0, so there! The Alumni boys sadly lost the final, but they were playing in rapidly descending darkness, after about 9 hours in the scorching sun, so who can blame them for being a bit slow? We'll see what happens on the 24th when Alumni is hosting a tournament. "Unfortunately" I have to help Michael organise his mum's birthday bbq in our flat that day, but hopefully I'll be able to play against the Chilean women's team who is coming here for a game of 15!! Tell you more later...
