Lima Day One

Today was our first day in Perú and both of our first days in South America! It was quite a fun day overall, and I am really happy we are spending time in Lima before heading to Iquitos and the jungle. We started off our day around 9AM and had the free breakfast of croissant like breads and cereal at the hostel and then set out for the day. We tried to find the grocery store, but were unsuccessful and instead walked to the Huaca Pucllana, which is a ruin in Miraflores, the district where we are staying. The ruin was originally from the 4th century AD in the Lima culture and was later used by the Wari culture. We toured the ruin and learned a bit about it, which was really interesting. It was initially used as a ceremonial site by the Lima culture, but was later used as a burial site by the Wari culture, although both cultures buried people at the site. It was covered by the final culture that used the site (the name of which I don't remember, but it was pre-Inca) so the area just looked like hills. The site was excavated until the 1980s and the excavation still continues, so as a modern landmark it is relatively newer. They also had some plants and animals that were domesticated at the time the site was used, so there was quinoa, maize, different fruits including the Peruvian Lucuma, as well as guinea pigs (one mama guinea pig had four little nuggets and I was smitten), two alpacas, and two llamas! It was pretty awesome.

The pottery sacrificing room. The human sacrificing square was next door. The made sacrifices when the renovated each room, which happened when the governments changed roughly every 25 years.

Mama and baby guinea pigs!

Here's a llama, there's a llama!

View from the top of the pyramid of the lower ruins

Caitlin and I with our awesome guide

At the top of the pyramid

After Huac Pucllana we decided to walk towards the beach and we stumbled across a vegetarian restaurant along the way. Since Caitlin is vegetarian we decided to stop there for lunch and it was really good! I had a soup with artichoke, a mushroom (i think...) dish, and some apple jelly thing that came with the meal, and it was all just under $4! Not too bad! After lunch we walked to the beach, which consisted of a ton of steps and vertical distance, but was really nice. There are a ton of surf school at the beach, which could have been awesome if we'd had more time, but instead we sat on the stone beach and watched the waves and the surfers. The stones made an amazing sound as the water receded, which was really cool.

Walking down to the beach

The beach!

On a pier at the beach

After sitting for a while we made the long and actually quite strenuous hike back up the cliffs. I was pretty out of breath, but I made it! We walked around along the cliff for a bit and saw a very American style mall that could have been at home with a Banana Republic, Nine West, Desigual, etc, but it was right on the cliff edge, built into the side with amazing views! We then walked back towards our hostel and booked a bike tour for tomorrow along the way, so that should be fun.

View from the cliffs

Apparently Paddington is from Perú. This statue was a gift from London in 2015.

When we got back to the hostel we didn't have much time, so I quickly rinsed off and changed and then we took a taxi to the Barranco district for a food tour! We met at the Starbucks in the main square in Barranco (that wasn't a stop, don't worry) and set off. Our first stop was for crab broth at a cevicheria. It was amazing and had a small crab in it. You added a spicy sauce, lemon, and corn puffs that all went so well in it, and when you finished to broth you at the crab.

Crab broth

After that stop we went to the oldest bar in Barranco (88 years) for a really interesting dish with a potato and lime juice "mash" (not mashed potatoes, but smooth like them, but different) with scallops, octopus, and tuna. I didn't eat the tuna because it was super mayo-y, but everything else was really yummy.

The potato stuff with toppings

The three of us at the oldest bar in Barranco

We then went to see the sunset over the pacific, which was beautiful, and we also passed the bridge of Sighs. When you cross the bridge you hold your breath and walk all the way across and make a wish. I had a hard time of it cause we had just walked up a ton of stairs and my heart was beating really fast, but I made it! We passed an American gospel choir preforming for African-American history month, which was funny.

Beautiful sunset

The Bridge of Sighs

Our next stop was at a restaurant called Charlotte, which I think was my favorite stop. We had a rice and corn mix that was slightly fried and topped with shrimp and a yellow sauce. It was literally amazing and I would eat it again over and over! I also had a Passion Fruit Sour (a Pisco drink) that was one of the best drinks I've ever had!

The next stop on the tour was at this street vendor that sold a traditional drink. It was really tasty, but weirdly slimy. I kind of loved the sliminess, which was from the aloe vera in the drink. The drink also had a sweet syrup, chia, some spices, some fruit something. It was strange, but I loved it.

This is where we had the odd drinks

Drinking and getting slimy

Next we went to the Chocolate Museum, where we learned about the chocolate making process, tried cacao nibs, saw the ingredients of chocolate, and got to taste chocolate jams and liqueurs. I loved the chocolate banana jam so much I bought some. Sadly it shouldn't be kept out too long, so I can't bring it home to the states, but it will be well loved while here! We eventually had out desserts, and I had a brownie with dulce de leche and it was amazing!

Mmm mmm brownie

The final stop on the tour was at a local beer place, and we each got two 2oz beer tastes to end the night. I had a Peruvian Wheat beer and a beer called Menage a Trois, both of which were really good. There was also a Kiwi girl currently living in Australia on our tour and she was really nice. The three of us all decided to do the downtown street food tour tomorrow, which sounds really interesting and exciting. It sounds like we will be in areas that are less touristy and we wouldn't want to go to alone, but the guide is really familiar with the area and it is very safe for the tour. I'm excited!

Dos cervezas poquitos

The beer place we went

After the tour the guide helped us get on the bus back, which was really simple with his help (without it is quite confusing) and we got back quickly. We both got some water and took showers and now we are really for bed! Tomorrow should be another exciting day in Lima (hopefully one without additional sunburns through the 70spf sunscreen!).