jimrpa

Hi all, headed to Lima for my first time. It's pretty much just a mileage run, but I get in early on 26 Dec and leave early on Dec 28, so I'll have 2 full days in the city. I'm staying at the Sheraton. I guess my questions are, in order:
1. Getting from the airport to the hotel - from reading this forum and other websites, it sounds like Lima taxis can be dicey. Should I contact the Sheraton and arrange for a transfer? Is there a taxi queue? Taxi desks? I've traveled to a lot of other countries and generally have gotten by ignoring all the various touts the hover around the customs exit doors and following the signs to the taxi queues.
2. Language - My spoken Spanish is horrible. I can understand some spoken Spanish and read some Spanish, but can't speak it any more. Certainly not well enough to have any type of intelligible conversation. How much of an issue will that be?
3. Personal safety - Usually, when visiting someplace, I try to walk everywhere and avoid taking any form of transit. I rely on the hotel map and my iPhone (6 Plus). How much of an issue is it going to be for a single tourist to be wandering around, alone, usually looking slightly lost, frequently pulling out his iPhone and looking at maps? Again, I've never been bothered, but reading this and other forums makes me wonder if, perhaps, I'd be better sticking to more organized activities or not wandering around as much while in Lima?