The trip to Bolivia - Peru - Crossing from Tacna to Arica

Arriving at Tacna Airport, my immediate goal was to get to the city and cross the border into Chile, so of course there were friendly taxi drivers that offered the ride for 20 soles for the 1km ride, its like 7 bucks, no big deal, but I prefer public transport for 1 sol.
Normally arriving at any airport I ask around if there is a bus and where I can catch it. Locals here are not very talkative and do´nt seem to care much for foreigners, the thing is that I felt like Captain Haddock from Tin Tin when he curses the locals for being oblivious to his questions.
I had to ask four times to find someone that would tell me that the bus stopped right where i was standing, and getting on the bus i saw a lady get on whom I had previously asked and supposedly did´nt know...and Spanish is my mother tongue, so I pity someone that doe´nt speak the language.

The bus ride was pretty interesting cuz it drove around the whole city before landing me at the bus terminal, 20 minutes in all. Over there I learned that there are some taxis that bring you across the border also for 20 soles, but this is a 10km ride.

You may wanna look for the biggest car cuz they jam as many people in them with luggage. I found a Lincoln continental so I travelled in style across to Arica.

The trip to Bolivia - Peru - From Lima to Tacna

After a week in Lima came the time to head back south so I flew down to Tacna, which is the border town between Peru and Chile.

Flying over the mostly arid Peruvian Coast, that I had previously driven in other trips.

After a  two hour flight I was ready to continue by land on the Chilean side of the pacific.

The trip to Bolivia - Peru - Downtown Lima, Barrio Chino

Bee not afraid, Lima has a Chinese hood too, right downtown stretching several blocks.

You´ll find the usual combination of bazaars, resto´s and miscellaneous oriental arts.

They also have done a good job at rescuing run down colonial houses and adding some Chinese decor.

And ofcourse you can also indulge in some Chinese delicacies while visiting.

The trip to Bolivia - Peru - Downtown Lima, Mercado Municipal Ramon Castilla

While visiting the historical Lima neighbourhood you might want to step into the local produce Market.

the Ramon Castilla Municipal Market is a wholesale produce market where you can find everything you need to make typical Peruvian food or even bring home some ingredients.

Not as seedy as other markets found in remote areas it has the right amount of colour and cleanliness.
Nevertheless you´ll find your share of non refrigerated meat to which north americans are not used to.

The trip to Bolivia - Peru - Downtown Lima, Colonial ornaments

I have mentioned in previous posts that Lima is known for its beautiful colonial balconies, which many say were more numerous in the past, but another feature of the city are the many ornaments found on doors and buildings

You could spend days taking photos of all the ornaments in downtown Lima.

These are just some samples taken in passing in the historical downtown area.

The trip to Bolivia - Peru - Downtown Lima, Beautiful colonial churces

As you can imagine Lima is very Colonial city, with many of its architectural jewels well preserved.

Something you might want to do in downtown Lima is visit its beautiful colonial churches, there a re about half a dozen that are very beautiful and will bring you back to the times when Peru was a very influential colony in the Americas.

You will certainly see the Cathedral at the main square and then you can make your way to Santo Domingo, San Francisco, San Pedro and Nuestra Señora de la Merced.

The trip to Bolivia - Peru - Downtown Lima, San Martin de Porres

Right across Saint Rose of Lima church you will find another interesting religious venue to visit. Its a colonial house at which live another famous Peruvian Saint.

Saint Martin de Porres was a humble Dominica order lay brother of mix African, Spanish descent, he is the patron Saint of barbers, innkeepers and public health workers, since he was basically the doorman,cook, and cleaner of the convent he lived in.

This house is also a great example of the colonial houses of old in Lima and houses the San Martin de Porres museum.

The trip to Bolivia - Peru - Downtown Lima, Saint Rose of Lima church

Now, if you ever wondered who Rose of Lima was, this is the place where she was was born.


Saint Rose of Lima was a member of the third order Dominicans in Lima in the late 1500s. She was declared a Saint by the Catholic church because of hes mysticism and charity towards the needy of her time.

The Church that stands today in her honer was built adjacent to her house, since she belonged to one of the most wealthy families of Lma at that time.
This church is among the churches that you will probably encounter while in downtown Lima.

The trip to Bolivia - Peru - From Lima to San Bartolo

Arriving in Lima in mid January I was quickly ushered to San Bartolo a nearby beach resort ( 1hr away from Lima), Where well off Limeños migrate during the summer heat.

I have to say that the general layout of the town is very Mediterranean at least around the beach, into town you´ll find a mix of Peruvian and Californian style.

At the "Fiesta Peruna" downtown Buenos Aires

 
Last Sunday I attended the "Fiesta Peruana in Buenos Aires", smack downtown at the Diagonal Norte.






















This yearly event will surely bring you back to past trips to Machu Pichu or other Peruvian cities. Hosted by the huge Peruvian community in Buenos Aires, it shows many aspects of the Andean culture.

It was majorly packed with people, there were dozens of kiosks offering foods from different Peruvian regions or provinces, as well as trinkets of all sorts.

From the past - lima´s doors and windows

Today I give you a selection of Doors and windows found in the very colonial city of Lima, Peru.
See the Pdf here

From the Past - Lima´s Churches - Peru

In anticipation of my next trip, here go some pics of Lima´s most beautiful churches.
See the Pdf here.
Also seen at: https://500px.com/photo/77757699/bas%C3%ADlica-y-convento-de-san-francisco-de-lima-by-dario-ricardo?from=user_library

This one's cool

This wall is outside the "Museo de la Nación de Perú" dependent of the INC. It has no artistic merit, just atractive colours, and the puddle was reflecting the wall very artistically.
I gotta say that the INC was extremelly inefficient in providing me with a press pass and after 20 days failled to tell me that they had dennyed it. even after sending all types of letters and scanned press card etc. anywhrere in the civilized world they believe you when you show your press card, but not in Peru.

Last Pics from Lima

Farewell to the very colourful city of Lima, Peru




See the PDF

Spuds R-us - La cuna de las Papas

Peru is the cradle of potatoes , you can find more 100 variaties in many shapes and colours. I got in trouble for taking these shots at the super market, cause they have a no photo policy, even though it was'nt potsed anywhere. I was let off after I flashed my press card.

Perú es el lugar de origen de las papas. Pasando por un super no pude resistir la tentación de sacar unas fotos de las distintas variedades que allí tenían. Hay mas de 100 tipos de tubérculos a lo largo de los Andes.
Después de sacar las fotos vino un guardita de seguridad a imponer su autoridad, diciendo que no se podia sacar fotos en el super y exigiendo que borrace las imagenes, cuando le dije que era fotógrafo profesional, se puso mas terco, entonces pedì hablar con el gerente y le expliqué que si no ponían un cartel explicando que no se pueden tomar fotos, no tienen ningún derecho de amonestar a las personas a posteriori. Al final me salí con la mia, pero siempre me recordaré de la mirada de resentimiento del guardia de seguridad...

The Machu Pichu

Talk about far away places, Take a 20hr bus ride from Lima to Cusco, another 4hr very expensive train ride and a 15 min bus to get to this amazing site. I have to say that it's worth it. I was very lucky to hit some nice sunny days on my stay in Cusco, mostly cuz I went on the dry season. If you go during the summer (Dec to March) you might not be so fortunate. I´ve heard stories of people that did the Inca trail at thee longest length which takes 7 days, only to find the Machu Pichu immersed in thick clouds on a wet and gloomy day.

For the whole load of pics,See the Pdf.

Cusco, Imperial City

Cusco is Peru. there you'll find Inca and spanish colonial wonders

Elaborated doorways and balconies


Street names are very funny, some are in Quechua, the native language.

See the Pdf

At the Inka Market

Alpaca, Vicuña, Llama. Don´t be fooled by the labels. The colours are very atractive, price changes according to your face...