Lima, Peru🇵🇪
Slept really well last night and post breakfast we set off to explore Lima. First stop was the San Francisco monastery, built in the 17th century it is an amazing building. Our tour is at speed with the world’s fastest talking man. There are lots of Spanish tiles that were brought over to decorate rooms and courtyards, big cedar wood carvings including a whole domed ceiling over one staircase. The monastery is full of riches but the best part is being able to descend into the catacombs. These excavated tunnels contain the bones of around 25,000 people piled up for us to view.
Our tour finished in time for us to head over to the Plaza de Armas to see the changing of the guard. The guards do some fancy footwork to a marching band for around half an hour as the crowd cranes for pictures through the railings. After a busy morning we stop briefly for fuel enjoying a large slice of chocolate cake and coffee.
This afternoon we visit the museum of art, MALI where they have a great temporary exhibition showing art and textiles from the Nazca period in beautiful condition. The other exhibits have pottery and artefacts from pre-inca civilisation which is beautiful, together with more modern art. We stroll down further to the Parque Reserve to look at the funky 13 fountains before catching a taxi back to Barranco.
I show Steve the Bridge of Sighs, and some of the cooler graffiti as we walk down to the beach. It is all smoggy today so no hope of a decent sunset but surfers seem happy with the waves.
Ali (NZ) has arrived in Lima today, and is excited to join us for dinner. She is looking well, but has had a bit of a scary time in Peru at some points putting herself in danger as a lone female. Her story sounds horrific but she is happy to be safe in Lima and enjoying a few strong Pisco Sours with us. We are at Isolina restaurant for some incredible food, the portions are huge but I enjoy cerviche with fried octopus followed by the best roast pork ribs. I am fading by midnight as we head to a bar for a cheeky beer before calling it a night.
