We stayed in the Miraflores district of Lima. It is modern, rich and expensive. Lima is right on the coast and the waterfront area (which was only a block and a half from our hostel, The Family Backpackers Hostel)has cliffs that drop into the sea and some sandy beaches below filled with surfers and people sun tanning. The waterfront was completely developed with parks and paths and malls perched on the cliff rims. You would honestly think you were in some fancy city in southern California, with people actually WORKING OUT, you know, going on runs and doing push ups and crunches on the grass in the shade, it was incredible. As you walk into the heart of Miraflores, you are reminded of New York City, with tall building, parks, plazas, all kinds of restaurants and shopping malls. This is where all of the rich Peruvians live. It also makes Miraflores extremely safe: even well past dark families and kids are out in the parks eating Pinkberry frozen yogurt and walking to cinemas and restaurants. The grocery store closest to our hostel was a South American version of a Whole Foods. Jon and I saw food that we hadnt seen since being back home in the PNW, and most of the food prices were not made for a backpacker budget. Basically, if you want to travel to South America but not actually visit South America, come to Miraflores in Lima.
We spent our first day in Lima exploring all of Miraflores. We walked all along the coast and through the center of the city, most of the time completely stunned at the fresh and modern world we were in. We splurged on a good ole American pizza (from Pizza Hut, not our favorite choice from home, but within our budget here in S.A.) and I got a chai tea from Starbucks while Jon got a tasty oreo milkshake (Boomers shakes from Bham are still better, but my chai tasted like home!).
Day two in Lima was spent in Central Lima. Not quite as modern and safe as Miraflores (or so the books say, we never had a problem), the central part of Lima still had some great parks and plazas and is only a short bus ride away from Miraflores. We visited Plaza San Martin, which is centered by statue with a funny story behind it. The statue is of Madre Patricia and due to a misunderstanding, she had a llama on her head instead of a flaming crown. The bronze headpiece was made in Spain, and the spanish word for flame and the spanish word for llama are both llama. Whoops.
The main Plaza del Armas had La Catedral de Lima and Palacio de Gobierno, the presidents home. We got to see the changing of the guards at Placio de Gobierno, which was extremely long and drawn out but interesting. We also visited the Museo de la Inquisicion, which was the only museum with free entry, and got to see torture chambers in the basement of the building used by the Spanish Inquisition from 1570 to 1820 and torture methods depicted by life-size wax figures.
We also went to El Estadio Futbol Club, which is basically a restaurant bar completely decked out in soccer paraphernalia. Scarves were hung on the ceilings, posters and photographs on the wall and even life-size statues of greats like Ronaldo and Pele sitting at some of the tables. Jon and I ordered the cheapest jarra of cerveza and watched a soccer match on one of the many flat screened TVs in the joint. If only it could have been a Sounders game...
There is still a bit more to explore of Lima, but we will do that when we return before we fly home. It is a bit pricey though,so we moved on quickly to the oasis in the sand dunes...Huacachina.
Clay tennis courts amid skyscrapers along the coast
One of many parks and green spaces
Sunset from the LarcoMar where Kasey had a Starbucks
Statue in the center of Plaza San Martin, if you look closely the lady on the right has a llama atop her head, picture quality may be allow a closer look..
No comments:
Post a Comment