First Happy Mother's Day! Mother's Day is a big deal here in Lima. Everywhere the restaurants are full of families. The parks are full of families. Our guide, Amalia, says it is a very special day and a very busy day. It is necessary to spend the morning with your own family, then lunch with your mother in law and dinner with your mother. Sounds like Christmas!
We awoke to a day that was a little overcast, which we were told is a normal day here. We are staying in an area called Miraflores, which is a trendy area high up overlooking the coast. It has beautiful parks and a fabulous Malecon that runs for miles along the coastline.
After breakfast we ventured out from our hotel, the Crowne Plaza, to explore the area. Lima is an old city, but the area we are in is much newer, at least from the 20th century. It reminds me a bit of Mexico, deserty, dusty, a little crude in some of its construction. But as you near the newer area there are shiny new highrises replacing the smaller, older homes, much like we are seeing at home.
Wandering a little further we come to the Malecon. The views overlooking the ocean are spectacular. Far below the surf pounds against a black sand beach, the water is a beautiful turquoise blue. The expressway runs parallel along the beach, much like in Santa Monica.
Next, we head out on our City Tour with our guide, Amalia.
She takes us to the old historic part of the city. But first we stop at the Plaza des Amores, or the Plaza of Love, built in 1993 to commemorate the end of 12 year rein of terrorism. The artist who designed the statue is said to have carved the male likeness after himself, in the embrace of woman whose face is not shown. Apparently it is because he had 9 children all by different women and he was smart enough not to show favorites!
The locals gather to people watch, one of their traditional Sunday passtimes.
As we make our way toward the old historic centre Amalia educates on Lima and its background. So, a brief lesson: Mining is its main industry... gold, silver, copper, zinc. In fact the biggest mine is one that mines copper and zinc in the same mine, sitting at about 13,000 ft above sea level. It belongs to a Canadian mining company.
Another interesting fact. Middle class families all have live-in maids, gardeners and helpers that look after their children. Minimum wage is $375/month. I have to ask the question... What do these women do all day? Amalia says they plan what the family will have for dinner, they go to the gym and the beauty parlour, etc. But now more of them work outside the home.
OK, now we are at the Museum of Huaca Pucliana, 2200 years old, excavated in the 1940's or 50's. The ruins illustrates how the people lived and their burial practises, where their ancestors were mummified and kept within their dwellings. The structure sits high in the centre of the city. From here you can view toward the ocean to the west and the Andes to the east.
Continuing, we pass many museums, Lima has 55 museums, devoted to every different topic. Many house private collections.
We stop at Plaza Major, or Plaza des Armes, surrounded to one side by the Main Cathedral of Lima which began construction in 1535. To the other side is their White House or Presidential Palace. In the centre of the plaza is a beautiful fountain originating in 1650 to provide a water source for the people.
A short walk and we arrive at Santo Domingo Convent, constructed in 1604-1606.
It includes a beautiful cathedral, an inner courtyard and several historical centres including the Bibloteco or library. The books here are so precious and old that anyone writing in them or defacing them would be excommunicated.
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