Lima

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Lima, Peru´s capital city (population 7.6million) is situated on the coast line but is a very different costal city to the likes of Rio where I started my travels. Lima is an interesting city….old beautiful buildings and plaza´s, high rise bank buildings and run down suburbs that know one is interested in, plus archeological sites (I am starting to discover that Peru has many ruins and I haven’t even reached Machu Picchu yet!). First on my hit list was the old town centre, Plaza de Armas (plaza Mayor) which boasts the Archbishops Palace, La Catedral and the Placio de Gobierno (home to Peru´s President) as buildings over looking it. It was a very beautiful and stunning and very different to Miraflores where my hostel was (Where I spotted starbucks, the first one I have seen on my travels so far!). I ventured into Monasterio de San Francisco. Unfortunately you are not allowed to take pictures inside the museum or on the tour, but this is a truly fantastic building and place to visit. It is a definite must for anyone visiting Lima and only costs s7 (about £1.50) which includes a guide! (I was lucky enough to have a guide to myself!) The carvings in the choir chambers, the paintings and the architecture are astounding and the library is breathtaking (I never thought I would say that about a library!). The history surrounding the building (the old monastery, earthquakes) are fascinating but then you are taken into the catacombs beneath the church and it all takes on a new dimension. The burial site of an estimated 70,000 people of which some of the graves have been opened up and you see the bones and skulls of those buried there. Not for the faint hearted….and was VERY eerie with just me and my guide down there on our own! I can truly say that I left the monastery speechless….it was an amazing place. After grabbing some lunch I wandered around the old town a bit more visiting Plaza San Martin and Plaza Grau each again very beautiful area´s.
Another place on my hit list whilst in Lima was Huaca Pucllana. In the middle of a modern residential area´s lie some ruins of the Lima culture that date back to 400AD This adobe pyramid was only discovered 30 years ago, prior to which the hill was used for mountain biking and other such sports. In the last 30 years however excavation and restoration has taken place and has revealed this temple that the Lima culture would have used to worship the sea´s. Still much more work to do as only half of it has been uncovered so far, but what they have achieved so far is fascinating.
Other places I explored included Barranco which is very quaint and colourful and also the beach front of Lima. However after spending a days budget in order to post some souvenirs home I needed to have a few quiet days to save my pennies! (fingers crossed my parcel makes it home!)
Next for me is to meet up with a tour group for who I will seeing the Nasca Lines with before we trek to Machuu Picchu!

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Photos

Plaza de Armas
Across the Plaza looking at the Presidents residence

Huaca Pucllana
Looking down from the pyramid at some of the uncovered walls. Notice how its in the middle of a normal suburb!

One more picture of me!
At Huaca Pucllana

Comments

[heather barnes]

library
We went to a good library in new york and i think you got told of for taking photos.