Bob and Ann in Peru and Equador in 2008

Lima early morning walk - Waterfront park

October 7 - Lima - We awoke to our alarm at 7:15. At a bountiful breakfast buffet, we were joined by Pat, John, Zoe and Terry - good companions, and later met late arrivals Dave and Kandy Vaccarezza from Lodi. We split into 3 groups to explore Lima. We joined the Lees and Sternbergs and headed on foot to find an ATM and the Ocean. The walk was brisk and damp but pleasant. When Ann needed to change to walking shoes we split up again.

One of the amazing pieces of pottery on display

After Ann changed her shoes, we took a cab on a circuitous ride to the Museum of Anthropology and Archeology where the others met us later. We soaked up the prehistory of Peru in fine display of ancient art and artifacts, and more recent local history in the neighboring museum.

Lima - Lunch at el Bodegon de Aldo - Zoe, Pat, Terry, Ann and John

We crossed the street at the suggestion of a museum guide to find a safe place for lunch. With some trepidation and some guesswork we ordered from a specials' menu at the first Peruvian restaurant we came to - el Bodegon de Aldo. Good hot chicken soup came with entrees of fish and chicken, washed down with pitchers of locally brewed cerveza. Inspired by the famous potatoes exhibited at the museum some of us had a hankering for spuds, amply satisfied with this hearty and inexpensive meal.

Museo Oro del Peru

We found two taxis to take the six of us where we thought we were supposed to meet the rest of our group for a tour of the Gold Museum across the city. After the appointed hour had passed the eight of us who were there did our own quick tour of this touristy museum filled with one floor of hammered and molded gold artifacts and jewelry, exhaustively displayed and downstairs an arms and armour museum that seemed endless. The importance of the funerary/ceremonial practices in ancient Peru is inestimable. Otherwise so much of what has been found would not be in such perfect condition at burial sites dating from thousands of years before the Incas. Hundreds of decorative gold pieces to adorn the living and accompany the dead testified to the belief that gold was sacred.

Our taxis were waiting for us when we left the museum to seek those who had not shown up. A stolen purse and confusion about which gold museum we were supposed to met at (there are three) did not mar our reunion at the hotel for dinner. We regaled each other with the day's adventures. Bob had fried croaker (fish) and Ann had Peruvian cheese sauced potatoes after a huge papaya, hearts of palm and avocado salad! Kelly was surprised with a birthday cake before we adjourned to our rooms upstairs to pack for tomorrow's early departure.