The first stop on my Peru excursion was in Lima. I arrived late Saturday night and took a taxi from the airport to Pariwana hostel in Miraflores. The city was bustling with people out having a good time. I was exhausted from my day of traveling so I took a shower and hit the hay. The next morning being Sunday, the city was in stark contrast from the night before. I ate breakfast at the hostel and headed out for a walk to explore the city.
I started across the street Parque Central and Parque Kennedy and then made my way down to the Pacific. Interesting tidbit: the parks are filled with cats! People leave out food for them.
This was the rooftop of my hostel. It’s where I met some really rad people.
There is a pathway lined with various sculptures that overlooks the ocean. This was one of my favorites titled “Besos” (kisses).
I caught the most magnificent sunset that evening. If you look in the distance, you can see a cross on the hill.
When I was walking back to the hostel, I noticed a large group of people gathered in the park. I was pleasantly surprised with what I found.
Oh yeah, and I saw the Pope that day!
That night I went out to dinner with some guys I met from Montreal, Canada. I told them I was interested in surfing the next day and a few of them were up for the challenge. The instructor picked us up at 7:30am and took us down to the water. It was a cloudy day, but that was perfect because I needed a break from the sun (I forgot sunscreen the day before and was suffering the consequences). After some practice rounds on land, we headed out for the waves. Of course I had some pretty epic wipeouts, but when I got up, it was euphoric. I can’t wait to go again.
When we got back, I found out they were having a free walking tour around Lima Centro. This is the historical hub of Lima, filled with amazing architecture. It was so fun to have a guide tell you all about the area. I would’ve never known what many of the buildings were or that many of them had been rebuilt after being destroyed by fires and earthquakes had I been by myself.
Pisco is a famous Peruvian drink with an alcohol content of almost 50%. Each year they have a festival to celebrate it. One year, someone had the idea to put Pisco in the fountain instead of water. That was the only year they did…
Luckily we were there around noon to see the changing of the guard at the Government Palace, the official residence and office of Peru’s president.
There are so many churches in Lima. This is the interior of the Iglesia de Santo Domingo.
There used to be glass covering the ceiling of the mail center, but it shattered during an earthquake and was never replaced.
This is the river where Lima gets its water. It’s also where people like to dump their trash. That is one reason why you should never drink tap water in Peru.
A poor quality picture, but it shows just how bright the cross gets at night.
My last morning there I went for a run along the cliffside path before getting ready to head to Barranco. While it’s hard to say, this was probably my favorite area of Lima. It is much calmer than the rest of the city, and street art fills almost every wall.
This area is also home to many museums such as the Museo Mario Testino, a famous Peruvian photographer, and the Museo de Arte Contemporaneo.
While I have been eating mostly vegan since July of 2017, I had to try Lima’s most famous dish: ceviche. I was definitely not disappointed.
Having 3 full days in Lima was perfect. I was able to see and do so much. Now I’m off on my next adventure in Arequipa!