Day 2, Lima

Day 2, in Lima
We are here on an “extra” day, and there is a sight-seeing tour in the afternoon. In the morning a group meeting, then a little walking around the area on our own. I go with some folks to the nearby mall. It’s very upscale, with views of the Pacific Ocean, although this morning it’s hard to see as it is very foggy. The cold Humboldt Current sweeps up the west coast of South America, and when the warm air hits it – fog. We wander through a small park, and buy water at a small store. Then back to the hotel. We go out again, back to the mall, for lunch. There is a typical food court there, but open air, overlooking the ocean. The fog has burned off, and what a view. I eat a sandwich with Asado de Res. It’s good.
Back to the hotel – its time for the city tour. There are not many really old buildings in Lima, because of the earthquakes, especially the one in 1746, which leveled everything that was here. It was a long time before it was rebuilt. Originally the Inca and rich Spaniards live further upriver from the coast, and farmed this land. Because the city is a desert, they used the water from the 3 rivers to irrigate their fields. Over time the city moved towards the coast.
The architecture of many buildings is Moorish/European, and its especially noticeable in the monastery. Of course I couldn’t take pictures there…. We did a lot of walking around town, and then headed back to the hotel, cleaned up, and walked to dinner. I had scallops, salad and a potato dish. The scallops were delicious, the salad great, and the potato pasta ok. Being on the coast Lima is famous for ceviche and other seafood. I didn’t eat any ceviche, but it looked yummy. Walk back to the hotel and crash. We fly out early in the am.