Traffic!
It is hard to get a handle on what exactly is Lima—the City of Kings. It’s the capital of and largest city in Peru. It was founded in 1535 by Pizarro. But, as the daily program notes, “there is no formal administrative definition for the limits of the city.” It is roughly the central 30 of 43 districts, each of which has its own mayor. Callao was founded two years after Lima and was the most important port on the Pacific for the Spanish. In the 1850’s it was given the name of Constitutional Province. So it is not part of the city of Lima, but is part of the Lima department. I’m not sure I understand the municipal structures of Peru.
We docked a little later than usual, about 10 AM, so we didn’t have a morning excursion. Janice and I took one of the free shuttles into the Miraflores district to the Indian market, a market of Peruvian products. The 30 minute trip took about 50 minutes—the traffic was crazy. Later we learned that the number of lanes is determined mostly be the width of the vehicles. Apparently, traffic signals are taken as suggestions.
We had an afternoon excursion of Lima, our first excursion with Cruise Specialists. Since they only offer one excursion per port, the process of getting together and out to the bus is a whole lot less formal and easier. (For Holland America’s tours you all have to assemble in the Queen’s Lounge, the largest room after the dining room, on deck 5. When they call your tour, everyone crowds in to get a sticker for the bus number. Then they race down to whatever deck the gangway is on, often the one below 1. Then out to get the best seat in the bus.)
This excursion was an overview of Lima. Went had a photo stop at the historical center of Lima, the Plaza Mayor surrounded by the Government Palace, City Hall, the cathedral, the bishop’s palace, and several other interesting colonial-style buildings. As it turns out, there are squares, plazas, and monuments everywhere. We also had stops at the San Francisco Monastery and the Parque Universitario. The latter includes San Marcos University, the oldest and longest continuously operating university in the Western Hemisphere, established in 1551. We drove through several districts, including the upscale San Isidoro and Miraflores. In the latter we stopped for photos at the ocean-side Parque Del Amor, the Love Park, so named for the benches mosaiced with love poems and a statue of a couple in love. Views of the ocean enhance any location.
Back on board, we partook of the delicious Gaucho BBQ by the pool on the Lido. Excellent shrimp, lamb chops, pork ribs, beef, potato salad, etc.
Entertainment when overnighting in port is usually an extra movie, shown on the big screen in the Queens lounge. We decided to skip Social Network in favor of a few tunes with Diane and her “Latin and Lovely” set.