City of Lima- A contrast of Old and New

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I arrived late last night in the City of Lima, Peru were I am starting my South American Journey. I am staying at a Hotel located in the Miraflores District of Lima. Miraflores is semi-upscale area of Lima. It feels very safe in this area. There are police around every corner to protect the area. During the day Miraflores explodes into action when all the shops and restaurants open up their stores and people are going about their business. At night the central area is a buzz with activity and I am sure the area stays open late although most of the side streets are all shut up for the evening. Lima is a modern Urban sprawl with a large population but there is a divide between the rich and poor as in so many modern metropolises. Driving through the city today I saw the rich area, the middle class area, and in the distance although colorful is the slums. I wandered into a Mercado {Market}. In the Mercado I gazed upon fresh and delisious fruit and vegetables arranged along the many stalls. Each seller trying to entice you into their booth. Further into the Mercado, which produced a pungent odor, was the fish and meat sellers. There sat the fish and meat hanging and lying in the stalls with no ice or refrigiration. The flies in that area were many and after sauntering through the fish and meat area I was glad to get back to the fruit area and leave the Mercado. It was an interesting experience in the Mercado because it wasn't for tourist but for the locals to shop. Then in contrast only one block over I stumbled into a mega mall were all the latest clothes, fashions, electronics, and sporting goods could be bought and sold by the local Peruvian who could afford these items. Outside of the mall was McDonalds, KFC, Payless shoes, Dunkin Donuts, and a modern multi-Cinema. First I see the Mercado which I expected to encounter in Lima but then you have the rich modern urban area you don't think about when you hear about Peru. Later in the day I went on a tour and first I saw the coast and the beautiful beach with the Surfers suffering in the cold water to have their fun. I headed toward the center of Lima which contains the majority of the Historical building. The first stop was the Plaza Mayor which contained the Presidential Palace which use to be were Francisco Pizarro's house use to be and also a Cathedral. In the center is the main square. The buildings in the center of Lima are colonial architecture and are very beautiful. The attraction that most thrilled me today was the visit San Francisco Church. Within its walls contains beautiful Frescos, painting, and carved wooden item covered in Gold Leaf. The ceilings are decorated but because of the many earthquaked in the past some of the details of the church has been destroyed. The church is still a working monestary but is more a tourist attraction. Then the erie part of the tour starts as you descend into the Catacombs below the Church. The Catacombs were discovered in 1951 and contain in some estimates 25,000 - 70,000 remains from people buried underneath. As you walk into the cramp and small catacombs you can see the bones left from the remains. There are numerous gigantic piles of bones and skulls. In some areas they have aligned the bones and skulls into patterns. It gives you a kind of creepy feeling walking around all those remains. We ascended the catacombs and left the church to walk around in the crisp and cool weather of Lima. I am surprised by the modernity of the city and the historical past but I end my night in Lima in a modern multi-cinema watching a new Hollywood blockbuster and sipping my Inka Cola. Who knows what Lima will bring me tomorrow!

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Comments

[Brenda Hughes]

On the road again!! Oops actually it's country hopping. I am so happy for you to be able to travel the way you do. Once again, great journal and awesome pictures. I wish I can write like that. It is very interesting to read and love to look at your pictures. Have a wonderful time and I guess I better keep your Mom busy til you get back home safely. HA!!

[Sharon Abrams]

and away you go , again
Loved the start of your blog to South America, looking forward to more. Pictures are great as always, makes me feel like I'm there. Take care from your number 1 fan