lovin' Peru — Lima, Peru
Where I stayed
Hospedaje Tinkus Lima
Hospedaje Tinkus Lima
Hey after about five or six hours sleep we woke and started our day in Lima! Had breakfast and took a cab into the main city and basically wandered around. We went inside the Archbishops' Palace which had lots of religious art and colonial furniture from the 15th and 16thC. All the information was in Spanish so we moved quite quickly through the exhibits. Beautiful building really took our breath away.
Then we went into the Cathedral that was next door and wandered through, looking also at its museum and crypts below. Al was excited to see the skulls all lined up (i never got to take him to the catacombs). There were a few school groups touring around as well. At noon we quickly went outside to the Palace to see the end of the changing of the guard. We couldn't get close as the police barricaded the crowd to the other side of the street.
There was some kind of festival today maybe for technology we weren't sure but people in costumes were around as were little stalls and a stage in the Mayor's Plaza with music. We could see the mountains on the edge of town with houses going up the sides. They kind of look like the ones in Mexico.
Many buildings were very beautiful but not everywhere. I am surprised at how clean Lima is compared to many other cities we have been to. I am really aware that this town is all concrete, no grass and really wide streets. It also has a huge police presence, at least today it does. We were advised to get out of the city by about 3pm because it is not safe, not exactly sure why but i've read a few bits and pieces.
On the way to find lunch we get stopped by a teacher and his class wanting to practice English. We answered the different students questions and wrote in their notebooks a message for them to practice translating. They were about 15 years old and were doing pretty good i thought.
Highlight today was lunch. We did spend a bit of Sols, more than what most Peruvians would spend on a meal but this place wasnt too expensive and it was absolutley worth it. Very traditional meals we got ceviche pesceados and then Al got this meal of meats, potatoes and rice with a quail or small birds egg and i got more an Argentinan beef with amazing fettichini and sauce. Big meal and it was so good.
Really excited about Cuzco tommorrow, we got some altitude sickness tablets that was suggested by one of the kids we spoke to and are doing some laundry in the sink before we go out for dinner. Can't believe our trip is almost over, really tired but it has been amazing. We're even thinking where to next??? If only holidays didn't cost money.
