Lima in 36 Hours

We flew from Cusco to Lima. It was a 1 hour flight. The air here seems enriched with extra oxygen after our 1 1/2 weeks at altitude!

In Madrid there were amazing ham venues -- Museo Del Jamon.  In Lima, Choco Museo. Would we like a sample?  Si si!!

On our hotel's breakfast buffet: grenadilla. Delicious fruit.  Light citrus flavor. Gooey consistency. Seeds that easily chew, popping easily kind of like biting on dried sunflower seeds, but much softer. 

In Lima, mud brick pyramid-ish ancient structure. 200 to 700 AD (vs Inca circa 1500 AD). Bookshelf-style construction. Mud. So pristine the builders' finger imprints are easily seen most bricks. It never rains in Lima.   Our tour guide said she saw rain for the first time when she was 12 years old -- on a visit to Cusco. No rain = even mud bricks will last millenia!

We visited the neighborhood of Barranco, with great beach views, even more flowers and bird variety, funky galleries, more delicious cuisine, and a vibe reminiscent of La Jolla, CA, or Pacific Heights, SF.  Embassies included fabulous beach view Australian and heavily guarded Spanish. 

Empanadas

Risotto of garden vegetables and marinated beef. 

Sandwich of pork cracklings, sweet potatoes, and vinegered onions. But will it un-curl my hair?

Caught Susan reflected in a mirror of funky artesan's gallery. 

Tonight we fly home. It's been a wonderful visit to Peru. There's more to see if we return some day, including Amazon jungle, Lake Titicaca, and Nazca Lines.  Maybe I could even learn some Spanish for future visits!