Jumping off on a Peruvian Adventure – First Stop Lima, Lima, Peru (B)

I’m standing on the edge of a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean getting ready to jump. No, it’s not a metaphor. Or a cry for help. I’m harnessed up, ready to paraglide over the coast of Lima, Peru.

You might think I’m a bit of a daredevil, into the latest high adventure craziness. But you would be wrong. The older I get the more painfully aware I am of my own mortality. I know now what could go wrong and am quite afraid of pain, not death so much, just pain. So as my instructor – was his name David? I’ll call him David – buckles up the last of my harnesses I’m silently wondering what the hell got me into this mess, and will those buckles actually hold?

I know, of course, why I’m here. A couple of people in my Two’s A Crowd tour group thought it would be a great way to begin our tour of South America. It’s the first day of the tour, but all we’re really meant to do today is have a welcome talk with our tour leader and then go for a get-to-know-you dinner. Instead, here I am waiting to jump. The oldest of the women with me is in her 70s and was keen, very keen. So I couldn’t very well say no now could I? ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).