Peru (2) - Lima

Day 3
Our plan for the day was: checking out city center in the morning, then go to Barranco District in the afternoon. But when we were approaching the main plaza around 10 am, we found it was closed due to Chinese president's visit this morning. Initially the guards told people (in Spanish, someone translated to English for us) that it would reopen at 11 am. But when we came back after 11:15 am, they said it would reopen at 4 pm, so we went to Barranco District for lunch and wandered around there a little bit. We came back to city center after 4 pm, the plaza was still closed. Checked again after 8 pm, the same, so the main plaza was closed all day!

1. Walking past Basilica of Our Lady of Mercy.

2. Basilica of Our Lady of Mercy.

3. Basilica of Our Lady of Mercy.

4. Basilica of Our Lady of Mercy.

5. Walking toward the main plaza.

6. Access to main plaza was blocked?!

7. We could see some soldiers in the plaza. The white building at the other end is the Government Palace.

8. At another blocked side street, I saw local Chinese people holding banners welcoming Chinese president's visit of Peru.

9.

10. San Francisco Church.

11. San Francisco Church.

12. On our way to Church of San Pedro, we walked past Torre Tagle Palace which is home to the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

13. Church of San Pedro.

14. Church of San Pedro.

15. Church of San Pedro.

16. Canta Rana, a really good ceviche place in Barranco District.

17. Cancha (corn nuts), a sort of popcorn made from a special variety of corn called maiz chulpe.

18. Uni (Sea Urchin) ceviche. Loved it!

19. Mixed ceviche. The portion was huge.

20. Wandering around Barranco District.

21. Barranco District.

22. Barranco District.

23. Barranco District.

24. Barranco District.

25. Barranco District.

Came back to city center, the main plaza was still blocked, but Cathedral of Lima opened their side door on an unblocked street so we went in.

26. Chapel of Francisco Pizarro with scenes of Peru's discovery made with beautiful Venetian mosaics.

After we came out of the Cathedral, the guards seemed to let some side streets to the main plaza open so we got to at least see the main plaza.

27. Cathedral of Lima from the main plaza.

28. Main plaza was still closed.

29. Main plaza. The white building at the other end is the Government Palace.

30.

31.

For dinner we tried a local restaurant called Roky's. They had delicious anticuchos (grilled beef heart) and roast chicken. Not much English was spoken here, so knowing a few Spanish words helped.

32. Anticuchos (grilled beef heart), 17.9 Soles (just over $5).

33. 1/4 roasted chicken plus salad, 16.9 Soles (~$5).

34. Saw so many beetles in Lima.

35. Purple corn at local grocery store.

(To be continued)