In addition to eating and buying cheese, we have seen some of the sights in Lima. Matt and I usually make sure to take a walk along the Miraflores boardwalk, which is perched on the cliff above the ocean. Lima is typically shrouded in fog; we have yet to have a clear day there and I am not sure they exist! On one of our first visits to Lima, we had lunch at La Rosa Nautica – a restaurant that juts out into the sea and gives you a great view of the surfers. While it is a bit overpriced, the ambiance is amazing and the food very good and fresh, if not imaginative.
My favorite part of the walk is the Parque del Amor (Love Park) that has fantastic mosaics and a great statue, El Beso (The Kiss).
On one visit, Matt and I also went to the Plaza de Armas, which has many grand old buildings and a fountain that dates to the 1600s. We got there just in time to see the changing of the guards, which had all the pomp and circumstance that one would expect. Next was a tour of San Francisco Church, which included a great library and incredibly creepy catacombs. Part of the creepiness was that the bones had been sorted by type and then neatly arranged in patterns. So, for example, the skulls were all in a round design. Unfortunately, pictures aren’t allowed inside the Church or grounds.
Plaza de Armas
On my most recent visit to Lima with Sarah and Mistina, I finally visited the Magic Water Circuit at the Parque de la Reserva. If you enjoy watching the Bellagio fountain in Las Vegas, this is the place for you! There are 13 fountains that incorporate lights, music, laser and images to create a truly magical experience. Some of the fountains are interactive with the water streaming or, in some cases, dancing over you. Truly spectacular. The fountains also have charming names, including The Fountain of Traditions, The River of Wishes and The Fountain of Harmony. The park grounds themselves also looked incredible: a train; gardens in delightful shapes, including a butterfly or Christmas tree; a tea pot and cup topiary; a true-to-size, upside-down house (for which we never received an explanation); and a life-size retalbo, or Peruvian shadow box. We arrived at night to enjoy the fountains so we couldn’t enjoy the other features very much, but a return visit at dusk is on my list. While none of the fountains are are large as the Bellagio fountain, the experience is unique and not to be missed.
I’m a convert to Lima. My first impressions of the city didn’t leave me too excited, but after this last visit, I see that it has far more to offer than I thought.
Kerry On! 