The Start of our Peruvian Adventure in Lima

After a long day of travel we arrived in Lima. Our driver was right on time, whisking us away from the heart of Lima to the beautiful seaside town of Miraflores.

First impressions

Lima is a very big city with over 10 million people. Close to the airport the dwellings are generally made of brick and appear unfinished with rebar poking out the tops. I learned that this is to allow for additional floors to be added on later. Also, in some countries the taxes are lower if the dwelling is unfinished.

Lima itself is quite clean. There is little garbage and there are some pretty flowers in the boulevards. But there is also a lot of dust. Cars are covered in it.

We stayed in Miraflores, about a 45 minute drive from the airport. Getting there we saw the beautiful South Pacific and lots of surfers. There are lots of parks along the shore for people to relax on a warm day.

Miraflores

Miraflores is more touristy with lots of shops and restaurants. It is generally safe to walk at night, which is not recommended in Lima.

I always pay attention to how the animals are treated where I travel. So far in Peru I have seen a lot of dogs, but they are all pets, not strays; well cared for, on leashes, really well behaved. We did come across a lot of stray cats in Miraflores. But they are cared for. There was this adorable park full of cat houses, cat beds and food and water dishes.

Barranco

Home to many artists, Barranco is a stunning destination. It has its own bridge of Sighs where you make a wish, hold your breath, and cross the bridge letting your breath out when you get to the other side.

In Barranco we visited the home and gallery of Victor Delfin. He was in residence when we were there and we were privileged to meet him. At 98, he is the oldest living artist in the region.

Lima

Highlights included a visit to the Plaza de Armas featuring a beautiful bronze fountain that has been there since 1650. And a must see: the catacombs at the Basilica and Convent of San Francisco containing over 70,000 remains!

Food

Peru is a gastronomic destination and we have had a few great meals in our brief time so far.

We tried arroz chaufa con cecina, an Amazonian chaufa rice dish served with fried plantain. So good, I definitely need to try it again.

For lunch we had butifarra sandwiches, full of meat, vegetables and a lovely mustard sauce. We washed it down with chicho morada, a sweet drink made from purple corn.

We also had a Pisco Sour tasting. The local drink, Pisco Sour is quite strong. Pisco is combined with many different fruit juices to produce different tastes. Our guide says that after 5 Pisco Sours we will be fluent Spanish speakers.

Next Up
Off to meet our riverboat and begin the next leg of our journey on the mighty amazon!

Let’s make your next adventure easy. Reach out anytime — I’m here to help you plan with confidence.

talitha@solderastravel.ca