Lima - three dots to the wind...

Wednesday, Day 3 in Lima.

Chris asked me to find Paddington Bear.  He is from 'darkest Peru' and arrived in London to become his famous self.  Britain gifted a Paddington statue to Peru at some point.  I set out to find Paddington in Lima.  It turns out he is in Larcomar park, at the end of our street.  We were feet away from him on our first day.  Here he is:

Next up, we had arranged to meet the Peaches for the next free walking tour of Barranco, the 'bohemian' district of Lima. Barranco is next to Miraflores.  Lima is made up of 43 districts, each with their own mayor, rules etc.  Makes Victoria's 13 look sane in comparison.

Tour started at 10:40am. Marcus from the Lima tour was there too so that worked out well.  We took a city bus.  I could probably recreate the route this time.  Our guide was Gabriel. We started on the (better) Malecon. And we looked at lots of street art.  I took pictures of birds and art and buildings and cats.  It was a lovely day.

Gabriel 

 Cats:

I took a million photos of this cat

Art:

Buildings (and a bridge):

The Love Bridge 

After the tour, we stayed in Barranco and basically retraced all of our steps so we could find the shops we wanted to visit. There was one craft shop with a vegetarian restaurant we wanted to find.  I don't know the name of it but the food was amazing and the crafts were beautiful.  Again, I bought nothing (except lunch)

Well, there is the name there, Didado Cafe

Here are some things I didn't buy for you

After a wander around Barranco, we walked back to Miraflores.  We finally found a proper Malecon.

This cat is a jerk. There were three dogs hanging
out that window, going bonkers and the cat
just sat there, totally pretending to not notice them

Smiling llamas everywhere

The better Malecon

After our long walk, we decided to just stay in the neighbourhood for dinner.  And to finally try a Pisco Sour.  The Pisco Sour is THE Peruvian drink.  Pisco is a grape based alcohol.  Mix that with lemon, simple syrup and bitters (three dots on top) and you have a Pisco Sour.  I discovered that they are very strong. One was enough to get me drunk.  So I had two. Val said I was three dots to the wind (updated to six dots to the wind on drink #2) 

Pisco Sours (with the three dots of bitters)

Then I went home, tried to blog (unsuccessfully) and went to sleep (successfully).

Next day, Thursday, we went to buy our bus tickets to Paracas at the ticket kiosk so we didn't have to find the station.  As it happens, the kiosk is by Kennedy Park.  An excuse to visit the cats!

We planned to go to the National Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology that day.  I was super excited to go there because there are Peruvian mummies.  Have I mentioned that my interest in going to Peru was peaked by a book called The Mummy Congress but a Canadian science writer, Heather Pingle.  I really wanted to go to Leymebamba in the north to see the mummies found there but, alas, we do not have time for the north. So, I figured I would at least get to see the ones in the Museum in Lima.  Well, that museum is closed for two years for renovations!  Bah!

So we went to Museo Larco instead.  Lots of cool stuff to see (one mummy in a bundle).  The grounds were lovely.  We also had lunch in the fancy restaurant there.  A nice day really.  The Larco Museum is famous for their erotic gallery.

Preparing of the dead

The mummy bundle

The storage area is open to the public,
it was rooms and room of pottery animals, people, dishes, pots
you name it, there were dozens of each

Erotic Gallery (I chose the tame ones, believe me)

Flowers everywhere in the courtyard.  And tons of birds

Fancy restaurant

Fancy dessert in the fancy restaurant.
This is called Suspiro de Limeña, a Lima specialty
It is a vanilla custard topped with Port Meringue.  Fancy!

We leave Lima tomorrow and we have an early start.  I should be packing, or sleeping, so I will stop now.

It is Saturday morning.  I was going to try to fit in Friday on this post but I can't do it.  We are leaving Lima this morning to head to Paracas.  I will see you there.