Today I went downtown to the historical district of Lima. This area is packed with historical buildings, cathedrals, colonial architecture, and even catacombs. As soon as I got to the main “Plaza Mayor,” a man approached me and offered a shoe cleaning service for my not-so-fresh white kicks. Sure, why not. After about 10 minutes, they actually looked pretty good. On one end of the plaza sat the main cathedral and on another end, a church where a wedding procession was actively happening. The buildings were massive and the gardens very ornate.
Around the plaza, people were enjoying countless restaurants and cafes. While walking, I stumbled upon a chocolate museum where I learned a bit about the process of making chocolate (from beans and seeds to final product) and got to sample different flavors.
I made my way around the plaza to the “Museo Convento” which sits in a huge colonial monastery. I whipped out the Buff One card for the student discount price and joined a group about to depart for a tour. The entire building was impressively ornate everywhere you looked. The paintings, sculptures, tiles, wall patterns, everything had an artistic touch. As we approached the lower levels, the smell started to take on a more musty presence. Finally, we entered into a narrow rock tunnel which began the catacombs. According to the guide, archeological excavations only reached the first layer or two of the catacombs with estimations around 25000 buried bodies. However, there are several more layers underneath that are yet to be excavated. No photos were allowed in the building, but I managed to get just a few. It felt like the tunnels extended forever and there were several gated sections that were completely dark. Spooky.
The guide also explained some of the Islamic influences present in the building architecture such as the large dome structure shown in the pic below.
It is hard to convey the grandeur of the building with words. The extent of the intricacies were awe-inspiring. To me, the craziest part is that these architects did not have any CAD or computer programs to virtually bring their ideas to life. The drew designs on sheepskin and parchment, and created these magnificent structures.
The last stop of the day was at Plaza San Martin where I found a small Chinatown nearby. Also, Churros in Lima were recommended to me by more than a few people, and I understand why now. Very very good and very different taste than ones I am used to.
The food was a type of Chinese-Peruvian fusion. Also, apparently the neighborhood I am staying in is home to the number 2 rated restaurant in the entire world. But, it costs about $250 per plate. I’ll be back next time.
Got home earlier today to pack, plan, and get ready for Peru Hop. I assume the next 6 days will be pretty busy. Tonight I am going to try another Peruvian restaurant with Monica, Raul, and Antonio. Hopefully not another 4am night as the bus is picking me up at 6.