Day 2: Miraflores and Lima

Some fried donuts...really good street food.

When we began this journey we thought we’d be off the grid for a while. However, with our highly globalized and connected world, it seems like there isn’t an “off the grid” anymore. Everyone has wireless internet, I mean even right here at this hostel we’re staying at! Tomorrow will be a different story since we’ll be making our way to visit another Returned Volunteer in a village about 3 hours away from Lima. I am not sure how their internet stands, but if it is possible we will write; if not, we probably will wait until we’re at Cusco in a few days.  But the update:

Lima. Peru. Wow, we’re really here. We woke up after a much needed rest, made a breakfast of bread, eggs, and oranges, and then began our day! We walked around Miraflores for an hour, taking in this quiet barrio of Lima. It’s a mix of nice, rich apartments, fancy restaurants and casinos, but also a center of culture, coffee and beaches! There was a stunning view overlooking the Pacific Ocean built atop a mall with a TGI Fridays, Tony Romas, and Starbucks all built into it!. Of course, we ignored them and took in the sites. :) 

The view overlooking the beach at Miraflores

 

 After we made it back, we grabbed the girls then journeyed to Lima’s Centro (Downtown/City Center/Old Town). As we stepped off the bus we saw so many people flooding the streets, carrying intricately woven palm fronds, lining up to enter churches, and doing what they needed to do during this week of “Semana Santa” or Holy Week before Easter. It was overwhelming, but at the same time all of us couldn’t help but smile and rejoice in our good fortune.  

Pilgrims making and selling elaborate Palm Fronds...wish we had a better photo

 

We ate some amazing street foods ranging from some kind of taco-type meat, we don't remember the  name of the dish, but it was "carne de res” (which we know is beef but think, on this occasion, cow head), to other grilled meats, to tangy ceviche and custard filled churros.  We ate a lot and we don’t regret a minute of it.

Making el carne de res

Tons of fresh juice

It wasn't all eating, we also did some stuff too. I will let the pictures speak for themselves, but there were tons of colonial churches and buildings. All of them were stunning. We even took a tour of the catacombs underneath the church of San Francisco and saw lots and lots of remains (primarily femurs, it seemed) and some baroque art that lined the walls of the connected monastery.    

Chels in the Plaza Mayor in front of the Presidential Palace which used to be Pizzaro's house

Another Church Thronged with Pilgrims

All in all, it was a day of wanderings, but really good times (besides getting lost on the way back to our hostel…but hey, we’re RPCV’s we can do this!).  

For now, though, we’re going to wrap this wonder-filled day up with a glimpse of Lima nightlife. Should be fun.

Monkey love

All are involved in the festivities

Front of San Francisco Catedral/Monestary

Some Pisco Sours to wrap up our day. Bomb!!!!

About to head back to the hostel to prep for tonight.