PHIL: Day 84/ 8 May
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| impressive architecture in downtown Lima |
Downtown Lima
Colonial architecture
is well preserved, especially the enclosed wooden verandahs which are attached
to almost every older building. There are even some good examples of Art Deco
and the occasional Gaudi-esque frontage which I guess slipped in from Barcelona
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| a lot of armed police - for what? |
There is a
large number of armed police with riot shields and armoured vehicles around the
Government Palace ,
but as before in La Paz
Watching the out-of-step squads marching to
the out-of-tune band reminds us that the effect at Buckingham palace is a good
deal more professional.
A quiet evening, first walking along the malecon
(boulevarde) at Miraflores watching paragliders using the updraught off the
cliffs to beat along the clifftops seemingly only just clear of the reflective
glass of the high-rise buildings.
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| changing of the guards |
Later, in Ba……., a quirky bohemian area of
restaurants, pubs and older houses, we eat at a pub tucked away on the undercliff
looking out to a rocky headland never visible before because of impenetrable
fog.
Talk is of our future employment. Allie is concerned about my propensity
for offering help and advice without charge to balloonists and would-be
balloonists worldwide.
I have just read Paulo Coelho’s ‘Zahir’ – a book Allie
started but abandoned because it was not graphic enough of his travels as
opposed to his philosophies – and I reminded her of the ‘Favour Bank’ principle
which Coelho expresses so well. She still thinks I do too much for nothing.
ALLIE: DAY 84: Tuesday, 8th
of May
Downtown Lima: changing of the guards, more churches and plazas
Had a terrible night again...
So went for a run along the coast. That was good, but my body felt like a log. Miss my
fitness. After a late breakfast we take a taxi and drive downtown.
The traffic
is horrifying. The main square here is – guess what? – called the Plaza de
Armas and it’s quite beautiful. It’s surrounded by stately and elaborately decorated
main buildings with the presidential palace in the middle.
We wonder why there
are so many police around. We even see three guarded tanks. It’s just midday
and the changing of guards just starts with a band playing and some soldiers
parading in front of the palace. They don’t seem to be all that exact and
trained and some of the police nearly fall asleep during the 15min long
ceremony. I nearly do the same.
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| beautiful altars in the church |
We retreat to the cathedral for
more altars, Maria statues, a catacomb with bones and a crèche display. Quite
nice, but not all too special. Actually Santa Rosa, the other church we visit,
was more interesting. It had a very Moorish touch to it and a lovely peaceful
cloister.
An afternoon stroll along the
beach and sundowner at the ‘Vista la Mar’ overlooking the coast. It’s been a
fine sunny day, and Phil can’t get over the fact to see a mountain at the
southern side of town, that he didn’t see for all the 2 weeks he had been here
last.
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| parliament in Lima |
In the evening we drive to the
bohemian quarter of Barranco, actually probably the nicest of all areas in
Lima. It’s full of small colourful houses and various interesting restaurants.
It was here that the famous drink ‘Pisco Sour’ was invented, probably by one of
the famous Peruvian artists and writers that had been living here.
We walk
across the ‘bridge of sighs’ holding our breaths and thinking of a secret wish.
This love-bridge became famous through the song ‘Flor de la Canella’ by Chahuca
Granda and was built in 1876. Since I have two wishes we have to walk it twice!
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