Once here, keep the money on your body in different places.
Never take out a wad of bank notes on the street, it's too tempting...
Don't carry big amount notes (up top 20 soles is enough), usually the stores
don't have any change.
Do not «show» your jewelry or expensive watch when walking around.
The best thing is to take only a cheap watch.
In Lima, avoid (particularly at night) the following districts: Ate,
Callao, La Victoria, Rímac, San Juan de Lurigancho, Surquillo (See
Security in Lima).
The common way to try to steal something is to distract you; for example:
pour over you a drink, have a little collision with a car or something else.
In this case, be more than vigilant.
Peru has always little earthquakes; they are daily but only a few are felt
by humans. On this subject, know that:
An earthquake can last few seconds but sometimes 1 minute et and half.
Never question yourself about: "Do I have time to leave ?" or
"It's moving", run ! ("Run, Forrest, run !").
Peruvians use 2 words to describe this: Temblor and Terremoto. The first
one shakes things and you can feel it, nothing more; the second causes
damage. Remember those words if someone shouts them because some people
are more sensitive than others, so, they feel it before.
As I'm not a seismologist (sorry for them), I could say that earthquakes
are by peaks. Until the second, there are not a lot of consequences, even
if it is strong. From the third, you will go in the next seconds to a
terremoto. Run !
Of course you will have some doubts at the beginning, during the first
seconds (the feeling of passing out could mistake you); try to check visually:
a rocking painting, a lamp or chandelier moving, a filled glass, etc.).
Run but where ? If you have enough time, to a clear place (crossroads
for example). If your name is not "Forrest Gump", to
an area reserved to these occasions (see below), under a door, or at least,
under a table. But never against a wall, under or in front of a glass,
at the edge of an empty space or under an electric line.
You need to know that the earthquake effect could be felt few minutes
after it ends; it's normal and it goes away quickly.
Point out that earthquakes that wake up are big; in conclusion, if one
of them wakes you up, it means that there was one or more peaks before.
Don't question yourself and run, little Forrest !
Public or decent buildings have security areas. Without turning paranoid,
spot them while entering somewhere, this could safe your life. Those areas
are indicated by the following sticker:
