Last Updated: 29-NOV-2019
DAILY WRITE UP - Well I'm at 17,000 steps on my Fitbit and Mary is at 19,000 for today at 6:30 pm. What's interesting about Lima that it's essentially cloudy from May all the way till December and a extremely tight temperature gradient. In fact the coldest temperature here ever was 54 degrees. It's probably 57 at night and 62 and 63 during the day and it never rains here. We were told that the city has no storm drains at all in the streets.
It's a nice place to visit but I sure the hell wouldn't want to live here. It is extremely congested. The traffic is beyond anything I've ever seen and everybody's car has scratches on it. Over 12 million people in a small area.
But we've been to the Museums. We went to their White House, their Congress which is not open because they fired all of them, Capitol Building, churches, and to an Inca Museum filled with thousands of extremely erotic pieces of Art.
So tomorrow we leave at 5:45 a.m. to the airport and we go to the town that's near Machu Picchu in a number of other ruins sites. I wondered why we didn't drive but I put it in the Google and it's a 20 hour drive from here so that's another 500 miles or so South
As I told Mary, this would be an exhausting trip. We're the youngest people in our group of 17 and I'm impressed that some of the people are keeping up but they are. Mary is pooped but we're sitting here waiting for dinner as we walked all over the place this afternoon but we ended up back at our hotel restaurant because so far we haven't gotten sick.
And as for the water here it's interesting that it's not bacteria that makes you sick, but it's filled with all kinds of minerals and way too much chlorine. So everywhere you go they give you bottled water. I did taste some of it out of curiosity. It was fine but it probably makes your teeth turn orange after awhile.
Another thing that's interesting here they sell coca leaves all on the streets and because I'm wearing shorts I look very non-local so these chubby Indian women chase me down the street with a bag of coca leaves and I keep saying no gracias. I would like to try it but I think it could have drug test implications if I go back to work. But as I type, Mary has just come back with Coca leaf tea so Mary is going to the other side I guess.
Thursday October 17 - TRAVEL DAY
Flying into Fort Lauderdale and we see a cruise ship leaving the port.
Killing time at Miami Airport. Already encountering a language issue as the hostess brought us 4 happy hour drinks vs. a buy one get one. It all worked out as we had time to kill.
Our LAN (LATAM) flight to Lima. We left at 2 AM (yuck)
Our flight path on LATAM flight LA-2461 - Made it through the Intertropical Convergence Zone and lived.
Friday October 18 - DAY - 01
ROAD SCHOLAR WRITEUP -- Casa Andina Select Miraflores
Activity note: Hotel check-in available from 2:00 p.m. Getting on/off motor-coach; driving approx. 16 miles total; about 1.5 hours combined, with stops for field trips. Walking up to two miles total throughout the day; periods of standing up to an hour at a time at museums and galleries; flights of stairs between floors at Barbosa Collection.
Morning: Once checked in at the hotel and settled, we will gather in our private meeting room for Orientation: The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. All field trips and lectures will be led by our Group Leader, unless otherwise specified. Transportation will be provided primarily by motor-coach, unless otherwise noted. Periods in the schedule designated as "Free time" and "At leisure" offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Lunch: At the hotel, enjoy a plated 3-course meal, with coffee, tea, water; other beverages available for purchase.
Afternoon: We will then transfer via bus for an expert-led field trip to the Barbosa Stern Collection where we will gain an in-depth understanding of Peruvian history, the Spanish conquest, and how it influenced indigenous culture, all during an exclusive visit to this privately owned art collection. Next, we will board our bus and travel to discover an amazing private collection of Pre-Colombian art at the Larco Museum, built on the remains of an Incan pyramid. Our Lima expert will provide insight to the origins of the collection as well as the practices and beliefs of Pre-Incan cultures represented through the ceramics, gold, and erotic art of the collection.
Dinner: At a local restaurant, enjoy a 3-course plated meal from a select menu including a choice of entree, plus coffee, tea, water; other beverages will be available for purchase.
Evening: At leisure.
We left Miami at 2 am and arrived in Lima, Peru at 6 am. During the night I was trying to capture the moment we crossed the equator. I was close. Appx. 975 feet south of it. We were flying 75 miles west of Quito, Ecuador. Not bad considering at 549 mph we are traveling at 805.2 feet per second.
Our first views of the southern Pacific Ocean from Lima.
We met in a private meeting room for Orientation: The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule.
Our view from the Casa Andina Select Miraflores in Lima Peru. No star shots from this location but we were tired
Interesting octane levels
There are many public and private museums in Lima, but none as unique or pleasing as the Larco Museum. Housed in a former mansion, itself built on the site of a pre-Columbian temple, the museum offers a varied collection of 3,000 years of ceramic, textile and precious metal artifacts. There are also mummies that show off the different ways ancient cultures, including the Incas, preserved their dead.
Two things really set this museum apart. First, visitors are allowed into the museum's store rooms to see what's not on display: a vast array of ceramic objects crafted by ancient Peruvians; there are tens of thousands of pots in the shapes of animals, plants and people. Second, there's a special room devoted to erotic archaeological treasures. These are not your run-of-the-mill phallic symbols, but a collection of ceramic pots portraying a variety of sexual positions and acts - the Kama Sutra in clay, basically. Many such erotic pots were destroyed by Spanish conquerors, who were mortified by the explicit depictions, which makes this collection all the more important.
Large tree like cacti on the museum grounds
Cool place in the middle of the city
Thousands of artifacts at the Larco Museum, which was one of the first museums in the world to open its storerooms to the general public
The restroom indicators over the doors
Saturday October 19 - Day 02
ROAD SCHOLAR WRITEUP -- Lima City Exploration, Ceviche Lunch, Free Time Lima
MEALS - B,L
LODGING - Casa Andina Select Miraflores
Activity note: Driving approx. 15 miles total throughout the day; about 1.5 hours combined, with stops for field trips. Walking up to two miles; periods of standing; about 1.5 hours on our feet, with breaks; flights of stairs with and without railings to reach upper floors at some field trip locations. Mostly flat, paved terrain.
Breakfast: At the hotel, enjoy a breakfast buffet featuring a variety of hot and cold items, plus milk, juice, coffee, tea, water.
Morning: We will transfer by bus for an expert-led walking field trip through the historic center of downtown Lima. First, we will explore La Catedral de Lima, then the Larco Museum, and the catacombs of St Francis of Assisi where the story of Peru's colonization unfolds in the paintings, wood carvings, and artifacts housed in these religious buildings. During our visits, we will learn from our local expert how the Spanish synchronized indigenous religions and Catholicism as a means to integrate and conquer the region, and how artistic skills brought by the Spanish blossomed in the hands of local Peruvians. Next, we Road Scholars will enjoy exclusive entry not available to the public into the private home of a local family - one of the few houses remaining in the historic center - to learn from the family about their history and how they lived in colonial times through the present.
Lunch: At a favorite local restaurant in Barranco, be treated to a traditional Peruvian meal of ceviche. Peru's national dish, ceviche is made from fresh raw fish that is cured in citrus juices along with other ingredients to compliment the flavors. Alternatives available for vegetarians. Coffee, tea, water; other beverages available for purchase.
Afternoon: Free time. This time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening: At leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Interesting way to change a light
Various Lima city views of interesting architecture.
Strange - A cat litter billboard on the top of the building
Need a pen ? Looks like this guy would have it
On the ground exploring
Large fish in a plastic bag
They would build the 2nd floor out from the building over the streets.
Our guide Marco telling us about this house and the central garden
Amazing heavy doors
Mary looking at the door knocker - a devil with nice boobs
Back out on the street. Mary & Deb
More Boobs - Seems to be a theme here.
A few from our group buying something
Main Square of Lima - Plaza de Armas de Lima
Cathedral of Lima
Riot police standing watch at the Main Square of Lima - Plaza de Armas de Lima
Guard walking along the street carrying a AK-47
Government Palace of Peru - First Walk by
Plaza Peru
Another amazing door and another AK-47. Side door to the Government Palace of Peru
Large shopping area which was closed
This coat of arms is associated with the CASA ALIAGA DE LIMA. it is the oldest residence in the New World, inhabited without interruption by the same family for 473 years. We toured this house. This magnificent house contains a real treasure of artistic elements and decorative objects that together decorate this residence of almost five centuries of existence, currently occupied by the 16th generation of Aliagas.
On the coat of arms, the shield is half broken and cut: the first field, of gold, houses a castle of deep red; the second, of dark green, has two steep tigers, grabbed by claws and fighting; and the lower field was occupied by a caravel sailing in azure field (blue of the sea).
Various photos of the house
Interesting photo of a puppet
Police dog ? Strange
Truth in advertising ? Pizza + Gasseosa ? (They really were into carbonated water in Peru & Chile which is a good thing)
Government Palace of Peru - Second Walk by. Taking the 2nd photo I reached thru the fence and a guard to my right reacted and said something to me.
We spent some time exploring Iglesia Y Convento Santo Domingo De Guzman - Basilica and Convent of Santo Domingo
Another amazing door
Various views
culto animas benditas -> worship blessed anime (Not sure ?)
Limosnas animas benditas -> Offerings for the holy souls suffering in Purgatory
Couple of skulls
Amazing ceiling
Around the courtyard at Basilica and Convent of Santo Domingo
Amazing library
What they believe the three skulls look like
Various views
They never show the feet.
More dogs & cats
They had the section for black bishops too
Interesting cat & dog painting (mouse too)
Interesting tile floor
The ticket prices to get into Basilica and Convent of Santo Domingo
The clock & lion for the Ferrocarril Central Andino (Train Station) (The woman on the right is holding a train engine and I guess those are extra parts under the clock)
Mary hanging out with her buddies
Looking at Museo de Sitio del Cerro San Cristobal on the mountain
Park along the Rimac River
I wanted to center the dog on the cardboard
RR Tracks and the Rimac River. Lots of trash
A police parade behind the government palace.
More AK-47's. Middle guard saw me take the photo.
Looking north across the bridge - Puente de Piedra
The back of the government palace.
The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Solitude is a religious temple located in the historic center of Lima . It was built at the end of the 16th century next to the Maximum Convent of the Most Holy Name of Jesus (San Francisco). It is located two blocks from the Plaza Mayor . It is a UNESCO site. It dates back originally from the 16th century, but it has been rebuilt a few times, also due to earthquakes. It looks exactly the way I imagine a typical church in South America: with beautiful golden interiors and wonderfully decorated statues of saints. It has a special atmosphere.
The interior of the temple is neoclassical , whose altarpieces and pulpit are attributed to the presbyter Matias Maestro , it is of remarkable harmony between the temples in which Master intervened in Lima during the 19th century . Its stylistic unit contrasts with the baroque architecture. In its main altarpiece is the founding image of Our Lady of Solitude , one of the most venerated saints in the city, before which for more than four centuries the Lima people have resorted to their different needs receiving the benefits of such a beautiful devotion.
In 1609, an earthquake shakes the City of the Kings, damaging the 3 vaults of the Cathedral, which led to its first remodeling from a Renaissance style to a Gothic style.
They had extensive crypts under the church. You were not allowed to take photos and they did have security cameras but I figured that this view was not covered very well.
Looking across Plaza Bolivar to the Congreso de la Republica del Peru (Which was fired)
Driving across the city to lunch. Amazed at the traffic & the crowds.
This guy needs a truck
Gas prices. 95 octane 13.35 sol per liter. Comes out to $3.95 US per liter. That can't be right ?
I am always worried about eggs in other countries. In Costa Rica they are never refrigerated and stored in the 90 degree shops... This can't be good
I guess its cheaper than a traffic signal
Mary is being treated to a traditional Peruvian meal of ceviche. Peru's national dish, ceviche is made from fresh raw fish that is cured in citrus juices along with other ingredients to compliment the flavors
I had tofu which was not that bad.
We ate at Amoramar
So we were done with the tour and it was time to explore Lima on our own.
We walked thru the World Famous Cat Park of Lima, Peru - Kennedy Park (Parque Kennedy), which is also known as the Cats Park in Miraflores, Lima
We saw more dogs than cats
Various trees in the park
We are a couple of hundred feet above sea level here so they must close off these roads when they are concerned that a tsunami could occur.
Road going down to the coast. They like stone roads here
The cold south Pacific Ocean
A love lock or love padlock is a padlock that sweethearts lock to a bridge, fence, gate, monument, or similar public fixture to symbolize their love. Typically the sweethearts' names or initials, and perhaps the date, are inscribed on the padlock, and its key is thrown away (often into the nearby river) to symbolize unbreakable love. We would see these in Machu Picchu Pueblo as well and we have seen this in the USA too.
The lover statue
It was windy here and they were doing considerable parasailing.
We walked down to La Marina Lighthouse (Spanish: Faro la Marina) is an active lighthouse set in parkland on high cliffs above the Pacific Ocean, in Miraflores a district of Lima, the capital of Peru. It is one of the most famous and visited lighthouses in the country.
The coastal photo, the water is too cold for swimming due to the Humboldt Current, which is amazing considering we're only about 500 miles south of the Equator but people surf in the water. There are tsunami warning signs everywhere. The whole entire city is waiting for an 8 plus magnitude to destroy it because that has happened before.
Looking back east into the city
Club Tennis Las Terrazas Miraflores
Cusquena Wheat Beer - And it looks like its owned by Miller/Coors - Cusquena is a super-premium lager from Cuzco, the seat of the Incan empire. Brewed since 1911, it uses only the finest natural ingredients, including pure mountain water from a source originating 18,000 feet above sea level in the Peruvian Andes.
It was good and I would try more types on this trip
On to Day 3 - Fly to Cusco, Plaza de Armas, Sacsayhuaman, Sacred Valley
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