Lima, Peru

Friday March 22

After another exciting day at sea, we arrived at Callao, Peru, the port city for Lima.  For Lima, we and another couple made arrangements with Lima Cabs, which despite its name, actually does tours, the advantage here being that the tour is in a small van, not a bus.

This was my second trip to Lima, having been there for a couple of days about 10 years ago.  What I have seen (then and on this trip) is pretty nice, but Lima is always foggy and overcast.

Lima is only about 20 minutes from Callao, and after traveling along several streets lined with casinos, we arrived at the center of Lima, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.  

One of the casinos of Lima.  Yes, I know it's not foggy (yet)

The main plaza (Plaza Mayor) in the center of the city is surrounded by colonial-era buildings, many of them painted a rather bright yellow.  Unfortunately, the lack of sun makes the pictures less vivid than they should be. 

Cathedral of Lima (started in 1535)

Panorama across the Plaza Mayor

Possibly the Archbishops Palace

House of Peruvian Literature, formerly the main train station

After wandering around the Plaza Mayor, we walked a couple of blocks away to the Santo Domingo Convent, which had a beautiful courtyard and nice tilework.

Courtyard of Santo Domingo Convent

Tile work in the courtyard of the convent

In the convent library

A rather old book in the library

Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, part of the Convent of Santo Domingo

Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary,

After we left the convent, we walked back to the Plaza Mayor, where we were able to see (from a distance) the changing of the guard at the Palace of Government.

Go Peru!

Discussion of security at the Government Palace

Street food--we passed

We then got back in the van and headed to Miraflores, the rich and trendy part of Lima.

On the streets of Lima

On the way to Miraflores

Some housing in Miraflores

More of Miraflores

"Love Park" in Miraflores, featuring "The Kiss"

Another shot of Miraflores

Vegetation in Miraflores

A cliffside view from Miraflores

Larcomar shopping center, an upscale mall in Miraflores

While we were at Larcomar, it was time for lunch, and most of the restaurants were chain affairs (TGI Friday's etc.) and we decided that if we were going to have chain food, it at least needed to be a Chilean chain.  So we went to Mango's (www.mangosperu.com), and had a thoroughly American lunch, but at least it was a Chilean restaurant.  Mangos was up a flight of stairs, and one of our travel partners was in a wheelchair, so they and our guide went to Chili's, which was on the level they were on.  Thus, we missed the opportunity to eat at Chili's in Chile.

While we were at Mango's, I had a chance to sample some Inka Kola, which is the national soft drink of Peru.  Over the years, it swamped Coca Cola in popularity, so eventually the Coca Cola company bought Inka Kola.  Inka Kola tastes nothing like Coke--it's more like bubble gum.

Inka Kola Zero

View along the coast from the shopping center

From Miraflores, we headed back through some middle-class residential areas, and back to the ship.

Upper middle class housing in Lima

Housing in Callao, near the port

Next:  Manta, Ecuador

Arica, Chile

Wednesday, 20 March 2013

After a day at sea, we arrived at Arica, Chile, at the northern tip of the country--so far north, that at one time it was part of Peru.  The area around Arica is one of the driest in the world--annual rainfall is .03 inches a year, and Arica gets 2 days of rain per year, on average.  On the other hand, the record high temperature is only about 91 degrees Fahrenheit.  There is a huge rock outcropping (Morro de Arica) that overlooks the city. 

We had booked a tour of the area with some other folks on the CruiseCritic board, so as soon as we got off the ship, we began the tour. 

Morro de Arica

One of the first stops was Catedral de San Marcos de Arica, which is on the main square and was designed by Gustave Eiffel, of Eiffel Tower fame.  The church is constructed mostly of wrought iron.

Catedral de San Marcos de Arica

Inside the cathedral

Another building near the main square.  Unfortuately, I don't remember what it is.

Customs House, also designed by Gustave Eiffel

After walking around the center of the city, we drove along the coast, through the outskirts of town, and eventually to the top of Morro de Arica.

Nice wave action along the coast

Another view along the coast.  Note lack of vegetation.

Some suburban housing

On top of Morro de Arica

View of the coast from the top

More stuff on the top of Morro de Arica

View of our ship from the top.

View of Arica from the top

Another view of Arica

From the top of Morro de Arica, we headed back through the outskirts of town to view some petroglyphs and eventually to an olive farm.

Housing on the outskirts of Arica

Suburban Arica

More from the suburbs

Not much business at La Tienda del Desierto

Some petroglyphs outside Arica

It really is dry....

At the olive farm, we got to see them making olive oil, and bought a bottle to bring home.

A grove of olive trees

Olives going into the presser

Olive oil coming out of the presser

What's left over.  It's used for animal feed.

Strikers near the olive farm

They really don't like management.

More farms in the desert near Arica

More petroglyphs

Our next stop was the San Miguel de Azapa Archaeological Museum, a few miles outside of Arica.  In addition to all sorts of pre-Columbian artifacts, the museum houses the Chinchorro  mummies, which are about 2,000 years older than the oldest ones discovered in Egypt. 

Some artifacts from the museum

A 7,000 year old mummy

Another mummy

After the museum, we headed back into town for some shopping, and then went back to the ship.

Street seen in Arica

Souvenir stands in the Plaza de Colon

View of Morro de Arica from the ship

A final view of Arica

Next: Lima, Peru