It's hard to believe we're already to the end of our second week here. In between the kids' tennis, music and theater classes, and visits to the parks or beaches, we're still fitting in excursions here and there.
HISTORICAL LIMA
We ventured into Lima Center, or Historical Lima, which has amazing architecture and many old churches. One of the most famous is the Convent of San Francisco, where the most interesting part was touring the catacombs underneath which contain over 25,000 skeletons. Fortunately, the 3-foot-tall view is a little too short to see into the display cases containing most of the skulls! The kids had a lot of fun pretending to be explorers wandering through the dark tunnels and passageways, and looking at the "giant dog bones." (no pictures were allowed on this tour)
The main plaza, in traditional Spanish style, is a square bordered by the cathedral, palace, and most important government buildings. The bronze fountain in the center of the Plaza is the original from 1651, and the only thing which has withstood the various earthquakes over the years.
On a side note: this Saturday the water will be drained, and the fountain filled with pisco sour (the national drink) to celebrate National Pisco Sour Day. Supposedly if you get in line early enough, you can bring your canteens for a free fill up!
SHOPPING
We browsed the Inca markets. There are several blocks dedicated to stall-after-stall of souvenirs, and the complex is a short walk from our apartment. Colorful inca fabrics and alpaca items are the most popular offerings.
HUACA PUCLLANA
We also toured the Huaca Pucllana ruins which are located right in the middle of our neighborhood. It's funny to be walking along busy roads lined with houses and shops, and then you come up to a huge pile of dirt! These ruins had been buried under a hill for centuries, but only recently (1980s) the city began to excavate and preserve them. Built around the 5th century AD, it was a ceremonial center of the Lima Culture (who preceded the Inca empire) and a temple to worship the sea. The entire thing was built with small adobe bricks made by hand. The pictures don't even scratch the surface of how many bricks are here, and they say it is less than 50% excavated at this point!
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