Peru Day 2: Lima

Woke up about 4:30am, snoozed a bit then got up at 6:15am - damn jetlag. Our view from the hotel room was grey with seeing only 50 metres beyond because of the smog.

Learnt my first Latin American IT lesson - ALT and 64 is the @ sign when using the internet.

We headed out for the Inca Market but noticed how quiet the streets were then realised it was Good Friday with nothing open so walked over to the local parks. The sound of parakeets flying above just brought it home that we were in South America. We found some park benches but Kerry got told off by the park police for having her feet on the seat. More exploring and we went down to the cliff side park at the top of the cobble hill we experienced the night before. In the middle of the Gaudi-like walled enclosure was a statue of some overweight lovers kissing each other. The sea mist had come in at this point so headed up the coast to some shopping arcade cut into the cliffs. There were alot of nuns shopping for some reason which was odd for such a holy day.

We experienced our first Peruvian drink, Inka Cola which was delicious like drinking bubblegum. Its the number one selling soft drink outselling Coke but is now mostly owned by Coke themselves. Lunch was cheap, fresh and delicious.

Llama Travel gave us a free tour of the city and visited many interesting places we wouldn't have had time or knowledge to do. A couple of 'pyramids', the first was next to a restaurant made of millions of single bricks. I think it was called Huaca Pucllana. The second pyramid was Huallamarca which they found a mummy with the longest hair (2m) and her eyes had been mummified.

Our mini-bus tour continued through the diplomatic suburb then on to the main square, Plaza de Armas where we found everyone from Lima crammed in to celebrate Good Friday. The cathedral had huge speaker systems broadcasting the sermons from inside. It was slightly chaotic as every Lima family member must have been there or climbing the distant hill above the colourful shanty towns where a large crucifix crowned the top. There was a large police presence as well with armoured cars and police with batons and riot shields guarding the government palace.

We walked a little further to a small museum and the rep used his influence to open it especially for us (as did he for the pyramid museum before). It displayed what the old city walls and previous archaeological digs had discovered. Close to the museum was a public park where the locals were enjoying the fun fair and tourist train (a tractor dressed as a train) with fake 'choo choo' sound effects.

Before we left the park we saw our first llamas which someone had brought along to sell photo opportunities and a guy dressed up in a Barney the Dinosaur outfit selling yo-yo balls. The drive back to the hotel revealed a seedier, run-down side of Lima not seen before. If you're familiar with Family Guy (or Padre de Familia) then you'll appreciate the sight of the Chicken costumed man handing out restaurant flyers.