Lima

In the center of the Miraflores district is a park quixotically named Kennedy Park. Around it are churches, government buildings, restaurants and such. We had lunch in a little sidewalk place and I got to try Inca Kola (la bebida del Peru). It's not really a cola and the beverage itself is bright yellow! It's an acquired taste I think.

At the corner of the park was a beautiful church. Spanish in origin, it was in good repair. Upon reflection, we saw virtually no restoration activity in progress anywhere in Peru. Still every church, or building of significance was in good repair. If you travel to Europe there is restoration going on everywhere. Scaffolding frequently covers up things you'd like to see. And things often aren't in that good a shape. Curious.

Its architecture was beautifully intricate ...

... Inside and out.

... Inside and out.

This government building was also next to the park. Peru was getting ready for local elections. The sign out front was urging folks to vote.

This government building was also next to the park. Peru was getting ready for local elections. The sign out front was urging folks to vote.

Houses in the better neighborhoods ran the gamut from mansions to more modest row houses. And Peruvians love their colors. Many of the houses were painted with bright colors; blues, yellows, burnt reds. It gives the city a picturesque, if over saturated, appearance.

Houses in the better neighborhoods ran the gamut from mansions to more modest row houses. And Peruvians love their colors. Many of the houses were painted with bright colors; blues, yellows, burnt reds. It gives the city a picturesque, if over saturated, appearance.

Along the street bordering the park was a market. It felt a lot like a craft fair because what was was on offer was mostly art and jewelry. Throughout our trip we saw quite a lot of what I think of as Peruvian cultural art. Much of it was abstract or highly stylized. These two pictures will give you a good idea of it.

Along the street bordering the park was a market. It felt a lot like a craft fair because what was was on offer was mostly art and jewelry. Throughout our trip we saw quite a lot of what I think of as Peruvian cultural art. Much of it was abstract or highly stylized. These two pictures will give you a good idea of it.

One of the things I enjoy seeing when I travel is the local market. As Lima is on the coast, one of their local markets was devoted to sea food. It had all the requisite slippery, gooey, slimy things, but the presentation was wonderful. Take a look at these scallops (at least I think they're scallops.)

At this particular market, folks prepared the seafood for sale. The byproduct of the prep was fed to the pelicans. These were about the best fed birds I've ever seen. Loud. Fast. Competitive. Fun!

Lima has a great Museum of Anthropology and Archeology which we visited. Most of it was devoted to the study of the Incas and the pre- and post-Incan peoples. It was really pretty cool. The photo is of a mummy. Unlike Egyptian mummies, for example, the dead were arranged in a fetal position, wrapped in their mummy accouterments and interred sitting up. I have to admit this was a bit creepy but also fascinating.

Not only is Lima on the Pacific coast, it is built on a bluff overlooking the sea. Much of the edge of the bluff in Miraflores is devoted to parks. While we were there the weather was in the low 70s which seemed pretty cool for a country practically on the equater. This resulted from a strong on-shore wind which brought the cooling effect of the cold Pacific water.

Where the wind bumped into the bluff, it created a nice stable updraft which brought out a bunch of parasail people. We spent an enjoyable afternoon strolling the parks and watching these folks defy death (and gravity) riding their parasails. It is a bit un-nerving to see these folks flying around buildings but they seemed to know what they were doing and we saw no mishaps. We did not take any of them up on their offers for a tandem ride.

Where the wind bumped into the bluff, it created a nice stable updraft which brought out a bunch of parasail people. We spent an enjoyable afternoon strolling the parks and watching these folks defy death (and gravity) riding their parasails. It is a bit un-nerving to see these folks flying around buildings but they seemed to know what they were doing and we saw no mishaps. We did not take any of them up on their offers for a tandem ride.

Where the wind bumped into the bluff, it created a nice stable updraft which brought out a bunch of parasail people. We spent an enjoyable afternoon strolling the parks and watching these folks defy death (and gravity) riding their parasails. It is a bit un-nerving to see these folks flying around buildings but they seemed to know what they were doing and we saw no mishaps. We did not take any of them up on their offers for a tandem ride.