The weather was foggy throughout my days in Lima. I barely saw the Sun. The cold water in the Pacific and the warm air from the inland play a major role in creating all this Fog. I stayed in the area of Miraflores, which contrary to my recommendation, is quite far from the City Center (E.g. Plaza de Armas). But the public transit is easy to use and I had a stop right next to my Hotel. Miraflores has the advantage of being a safer part of the City as well as offering very good eateries and shopping.
Airport Express … At Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM). Started a few years back, it is an economical way to get to the city without getting fleeced by the taxis. 8 USD with English speaking staff … Good buses with WiFi et al.Nice bus … WiFi, restroom Etc.Notice the small village and the roads to it? Descending into Lima region …That is good to know 🙂There are newer taxis and there are these types … Old and rickety.Is that net to prevent erosion? A net will prevent erosion? On our way to Miraflores, along the coastal road. Or maybe it is for capturing the “Fog water”Netting again … Man, those houses and buildings ought to be nervous.Local bus … Really crammed ….People dozing off, reading newspaper …Miraflores is a nice neighborhood. Good residences, lots of hotels, nice roads, good parks Etc.A nice building in Miraflores, Lima.Souvenir shops are everywhere … There are even markets! Like this one …Another souvenir market … Anyway, I have time later on for souvenirs. If I buy now, that is added weight I have to carry around.Waiting at a bank to use ATM … Pretty much all over South America, there is a hefty ATM withdrawal charge. In Peru as well …Street signs are good …Pedestrian walkway in Miraflores … Kept clean.I saw many street food carts … After ignoring a few, I could not resist the temptation. Got a pastry from this guy …Local bus stop … There is no uniform buses. Looks like many different bus companies.A fancy hospital … Miraflores, Lima.I noticed that Hyundai and Kia are very popular in Argentina Uruguay, Paraguay and now, Peru. They are all over the place.Miraflores area had good police coverage … These guys were having a quick lunch.A nice house … I love plants around a house.Huaca Pucllana … Nice flowers/plants … The tour guide explaining the ancient Lima culture ceremonies at Huaca Pucllana (Pronounced “Vaca Puciana”) … It was women who were mostly sacrificed 🙁Restaurant inside Huaca Pucllana … Archaeologists are still excavating at this site.A re-creation of how they made all those bricks …Inside Huaca Pucllana, they have set up an area for all kinds of indigenous plants and animals … These are “hallucinogenic” plants … If one wants to get high 🙂A Llama … I would be seeing more, in a few days … (At Machu Picchu)Alpaca … Hairy and smaller than a Llama. I noticed that they eat a lot 🙂The huge brick-based pyramid of Huaca Pucllana … Dated from 450 AD. There are seven levels to this ancient ceremonial site.From the top … This is no Burj Khalifa. But considering when it was built, impressive.These are apparently real mummies … Over 1500 years old.Bricks …. Bricks … Bricks … Apparently, this area has had many earthquakes and the Huaca Pucllana survived it all. So it must be strong technique …Miraflores traffic signals … Time-for-Green/Red … Good idea. I noticed that not everyone followed traffic rules … 🙂These kind of tiny kiosks were all over … Mind you, there is a person inside 🙂 Cannot move around much, I am sure.A nice house … @Miraflores, Lima.Post Office … Still around.A traffic cop marshaling the traffic … Traffic was heavy.Metropolitana Bus System … They have dedicated lanes and is supposedly easy to use. We will see … 🙂You can see the dedicated lanes for the Metropolitana buses …Just across the main road, from Miraflores, is a real contrasting neighborhood … Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde!I am standing in Miraflores … The other side (there is a highway in between) is a huge contrast …Inca Kola! Dominates the fridge … Yet another sugar-overloaded-drink 🙂 Other than having a taste, stayed away …Beer for the day … 🙂Inca Kola … Read about it a lot. Just another flavored sugar-pumped crap … When I turned the bottle around, there it is, the logo: “Coca Cola”!Peruvian Sol … View-1Peruvian Sol … View-2Opuntia … “Prickly Pear”. Do not recall eating it before. Loved it … From cactus. Avoiding pineapple, orange, watermelon, papaya Etc. which I have eaten a zillion times before and giving my undivided attention to PP … 🙂
Lima is so foggy … Yesterday, even at 1PM there was fog!The Metropolitano bus … It is dual bus (2 buses, attached). Quite modern and comfy.The Metropolitano Card … The Lima Mass Transit system. As far as I could see, heavily used by locals.The fountain at Plaza Mayor … Lima, Peru.Municipal Palace, Lima … At Plaza Mayor.Government Palace, Lima. Heavily guarded … Just to play it safe, I took permission from the cops (There were many around) before taking pictures …Exterior of Cathedral of Lima ….With the combined ticket to Archbishop’s Palace and Cathedral of Lima, you also get souvenir postcards …Archbishop’s Palace, Lima, Peru. Reminds me of havelis in old Hindi movies 🙂A small chapel inside the Archbishop’s Palace …The ornate entrance to the Cathedral of Lima … It was originally built in 1535 and went through many renovations and reconstructions …Cathedral of Lima … You can buy a combined ticket for the Cathedral as well as Archbishop’s Palace … Well worth it.Near the altar of Cathedral of Lima …Tomb of Francisco Pizzaro … A depiction of how he overcame the Inca Empire.Francisco Pizzaro’s Tomb … An explanation of his remains … Francisco Pizzaro was the Spanish conqueror of the Inca Empire. He lived by the sword (Captured and executed the Inca Emperor when he came) and died by the sword (Was killed horribly) …Basilica Convento de San Francisco … Here the Apostle St. Jude is venerated …Interior of Basilica Convento de San Francisco … Not highly ornate as some of the other Churches …The courtyard inside Basilica Convento de San Francisco …Walking and breathing “Currency Exchange”! Actually, there were people using his services …Is it not a clever way to advertise? On the walkway!Police presence was there everywhere … Especially near Plaza Mayor. Looked pretty fit … They definitely can catch a thief 🙂How local buses work … As soon as the bus stops, an “assistant” like this guy here, jumps out and shouts the names of the next few stops, trying to attract customers.Office of Public Prosecuter … Near to San Martin Plaza.A shoe-polisher/shiner hard at work … This was one of the more “fancier” ones …Juice vendors were common … Actually, “Naranga” in Malayalam means “Orange/Lemon” 🙂There were charlatans all over … Folks selling: 1. Medicines (!) for Menstrual trouble 2. Medicines (!) for Bowel Movement issues 3. Medicines (!) for Pimples …Etc. This dude, with a mic, was selling some GK book …Jefferson Farfan … With Russia WC 2018 approaching fast, posters have started cropping up …San Martin Plaza … San Martin is a popular Argentine General who played a key role in the Independence of Argentina, Chile and Peru from Spanish Empire.A nice building … Near San Martin Plaza.Walking into a Metropolitano station … Metropolitano is very convenient and cheap. Of course, it is handy only if you stay near the routes.At the station, glass partitions open only when the buses arrive. Also, detailed route maps are given.A Lima Sardine Can 🙂 Inside Metropolitano at peak/rush hour … How I managed to take this photo, only I will know.That is one funky building …Chicha Morada … A sweet drink made of red corn … Nice!Ceviche … Have tried it outside Peru. First time in Peru. Basically fish (Traditionally, Sea Bass), lime, onions and chilli … The picante was glorious in it’s heat. Once it is all polished off, you are left with a liquid, which locals refer to as Leche de Tigre. Tiger’s milk 🙂 I have just now had enough Vitamin-C to last me a month …Leche de Tigre … “Tiger’s Milk” … After eating my Ceviche.Pisco Sour … Made using the local 38-48% Grape Brandy. Loved it … Will try to have as much as I can, while in Peru.I liked this painting … If only it was for sale 🙂
