Learning Lima

It's been such a joy to see my friends from Moyobamba: Raquel and Percy. I met them 11 years ago in Moyobamba when Raquel worked in Community Development there, and Percy (Juancito) was a baby - who Raquel later adopted. They now live in Lima and I visited them last year, but have already seen them twice in the last couple of weeks and they've been busy showing me the sights.

The Plaza de Armas (Percy is not taller than me, but might be soon)

 and the governmental palace

 

 with a photo of what Lima used to look like in... umm... well. a long time ago

 We went up the Cerro San Cristobal to see the view

 

 And then this weekend went to a park with llamas, budgies, peacocks...

  

...and - yay! - a lake.  Lima is the second-driest capital city in the world, but at least it does get some water from its river.

 Then we ate ceviche - fresh raw fish cured with lemon/lime and chilli.  It's very very Peruvian, and so is the yellow Inca Kola that goes with it

 

 We also took the train right up to the end of the line.  It was really interesting going out of the more affluent inner-city areas and out into the suburbs - watching the streets change and realising there is so much more to Lima than I'll see.