South American Adventurers: Lima

Hello from Lima, Peru. A wonderful historic city with more colonial architecture and Catholic churches than the pope could shake his pastoral staff at! The old historic centre around Plaz de Armas really is amazing and befitting the most powerful and important Spanish city in the whole of South America.

Unfortunately we only have one free day to explore the city, so today it has been 8:00 to 18:00 visiting as many museums, churches and landmarks as possible. Bit like being a professional tourist! My highlight of the day was the changing of the guard at the presidential palace. Lots of goose stepping, men in shiny gold hats and a full on brass band. Brilliant. The bishops palace was also interesting to see how the bishops and cardinals enjoyed the high life while their flock lived in abject poverty. It was also home to the most amazing religious painting I have ever seen. An oil painting of what appears to be the Virgin Mary squirting breast milk into the mouth of a monk. Possibly the inspiration for all the ‘bitty’ jokes in Little Britain?

Hopefully the photos below attempt to show how stunning the city really is. Early start tomorrow for a drive down the coast towards the Ballestas Islands. These are billed as the Peruvian Galapagos, so there should be lots of seabirds, sea lions and penguins. Hopefully the seas will be a bit calmer as I really have had enough of choppy boat trips.

Anthony

Ps. Happy 60^th Birthday mum for Friday