Day 6

Day six was very busy.  Early in the morning I walked to Kennedy Park about 15 minutes and caught the Mirabus.  It is a double decker red bus like in London.  Of course I sat in the top.  It took a route showing some sites, an archeological site in Lima but only stopped at the Cathedral de Lima.  The guide took us in and gave some information for much of the church.  The Plaza is very large and beautiful.  They really care for the flowers and plants here in both public and private areas.   In the underground tombs of this church there is a glass box full of skulls.

Later on I will see the cathedral de San Francisco and go down to the catacombs but no pictures allowed there. After the bus guide showed the church they allowed a few minutes for walking around and shopping then left for Miraflores.  I stayed and would catch up with the second tour of the day to return.  I'm glad I did because just 20 minutes after they left I was surprised to find myself front and center at the changing of the guard.  It was very interesting the whole music and precision marching of the military.  They didn't skimp on the show they did about five different variations.

I walked over to the cathedral of San Francisco, took a tour.  The man taking money told me to wait a few minutes for the English guide.  I didn't say a word so he couldn't know what language I spoke but I do not look Perano.  The costs of things go back and forth here.  I get used to paying only 4 dollars for lunch which is 10 soles.  So when they something is 35 soles I think oh that is expensive.  Yet that is a little less then 15 dollars which is what I paid for a new shirt across from the cathedral.  Anyway getting into the cathedral was 7 soles.

Oh and by the way when I was looking at the shirts, I said I didn't think it would fit. The vendor said no problem try it on, he led me back I thought to a fitting room.  No of course not, it was basically and alley to the back.  After I had it on a little girl came wandering thru out the back.   They still have monks living there.  They have a beautiful courtyard.  Which just reminded me when I build my house I want to build it in a square and have a courtyard in the middle. The steps very old and worn. 

The library is one of the oldest.  The carvings and ornamentation on these old churches is just amazing.  You could not build one of these today,  the costs would be astronomical and I do not think the artisans would put as much detail and love into their work. I had lunch at a small bar, I ordered the pizza.  It was ok but I would not order it again.  I saw that my hotel when I return from Cusco is in central Lima so I will wait to explore more of that area when I return.  After lunch I walked to a park Murallo.  There are stone walls exposed, old archeology sites.  The museum was closed so I headed over to barrio chine, China Town.  The stores there were disappointing, just cheap junk that mostly I could buy at home if I wanted.  It was very crowded, the most people I have seen since coming here.  I am staying in a high end part of Lima that is quiet and upper class.   In the center I found all the people and strolling through the market was an experience. The smell of fish and meat.  Stomachs hanging from hooks, pigs feet, goat carcasses, brains, and a small donkeys head.  The merchant of the brains was leaning back napping.  Not too many customers for him.  There was normal meat hanging too but who could consider it will all the other right beside.  Don't forget the whole plucked ducks hanging with a hook through their beaks.

I caught the return bus easily and made it back in time to go to a salon and get my hair washed and dried.  The water at my house comes through the shower somewhat thinly.  So  I didn't want to try to get all the shampoo out of my hair with a thin trickle.  Guess the costs?  10 soles!  The exchange rate is about 2.5 to 1.  So even with leaving a tip I paid about five dollars the get a shampoo and dry.  Now he didn't use the flat iron but no problem. Dinner was a Chinese dish of fried rice, langostino, ham and chicken.  Then straight on to bed.