Lima/Peru

January 29, 2024 Lima

Shortly after 8 a.m. I left the ship and took the shuttle bus out of the harbor area. Taxi drivers offered their services at the bus stop. I chose Gianfranco and hired him on an hourly basis. We drove along chaotically overcrowded streets past unappealing run-down buildings towards the city center. Lima would hardly be one of my favorite cities.

Gianfranco parked his taxi near the city center and we set off on foot. The presidential palace and the surrounding buildings looked quite impressive.

On the way to Lima Cathedral I felt like I was being watched. And sure enough: two vultures stared down at me from a building.

There was an entrance fee to enter the cathedral. There were plenty of chapels, fifteen to be precise, on the left and right of the nave. Number one was interesting because it contains the skeleton of the conquistador Francisco Pizarro.

Afterwards we continued to the San Francisco Monastery because I had wanted to visit the catacombs. However, we had to wait about 20 minutes until the next English-language tour began. I initially had the tour guide to myself until a young woman from Germany joined us in the library. The monastery is magnificently furnished, including many paintings that were created with the collaboration of Peter Paul Rubens.

Finally we went down into the dark catacombs, where tons of skulls and bones can be seen.

Oh yes, the Franciscans prohibit photography and filming, so I don't have any photos. A pity.

On the way back to the taxi we looked into several shops. I was lured into one with the promise of free Pisco samples. And actually, the Pisco Sour, the Pisco Passion Fruit and the Pisco Cream Liqueur were all very tasty and I would have bought some if it weren't for the rule that you can't bring alcohol on board. So I made do with a bottle of “Inca Cola”.

There would have been a lot more to see, but I had had enough for now and had myself taken back to the ship. Gianfranco and I had spent at least four hours together.

I then ended the day relaxing.