Hello Everyone,
We spent our last few days in Peru’s capital city, Lima. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this city of 8.5 million people, but it turned out to be a delightful place. It is a fairly young city, as capital cities go, founded by the Spaniard, Francisco Pizzaro, in 1535, in a high desert plateau on cliffs a couple of hundred feet above the ocean. It is a beautiful city with flowers and greenery blooming everywhere, in a desert where it almost never rains. Everything here is manually watered or irrigated, with water from three rivers that flow to the ocean from the mountains. Their big industries are mining gold, silver and copper, and exporting fruits and vegetables along with beautiful hand made textiles.
In Lima we went on a guided food walk around the Barranco area, for four hours, visiting seven eating places. There the standard is white fish, which is plentiful out in the Pacific Ocean. We tried their tasty Ceviche, which is a staple here, as well as a deep fried breaded white fish, and something new for us, beef heart. It was delicious. A street stand offered up a custom blended medicinal power drink made with Aloe Vera and other unnamable ingredients. It tasted a bit slimy, but was guaranteed to cure what ails ya’. We took the cure. ;-0
One morning we took a bus to the downtown historical area for a walking tour. They don’t have a subway here, but their bus system runs like a subway, but above ground, on rubber tires, in its own right-of-way, picking up people at elevated stops. We got on the bus for a 30 minute ride into the city and then people jammed in like sardines, so sight you couldn’t even move. There were men, women, boys, girls, young and old, body to body all the way. We were warned about this situation on the bus, but decided to experience it for ourselves anyway, as we often like to do when visiting foreign cultures. It was kind of fun, but I don’t think I’d do it regularly.
Peru is having an election soon, for city mayors. They elect mayors every four years and their President every five years. Interestingly, in Peru, you are required by law to vote. Anyone who doesn’t vote has to bay a fine of 180 Soles (about $55 US). This sounds like a wonderful idea to me. I know that Australia has a similar system. Now, why didn’t we think of that?
That’s about it for our Peru adventure. Originally these 4 posts were one long Travelogue installment. We were so busy, there just wasn’t any slack time to write along the way. I had to wait until the 14 hour flight home to put it all together. In transcribing it into this web site I separated it along with the photos that go along. And, Carol is right beside me putting the finishing touches on her blog entry as well. It should be available by the time you read this.
https://carolapucci-tips.blogspot.com/2018/10/on-road-to-machu-picchu-food-culture.html
It’s been fun sharing this adventure with you all. Until next time….
Later………….… your favorite travelers, Tom and Carol
Lima Photos
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