Lima - San Isidro and Miraflores

Lima was our first and last stop in Peru.  It is a huge city with a population of close to 9 million, and we thought Toronto was big at 2.6 million!  We stayed in the relatively quiet suburb of San Isidro when we first landed and so was gently eased into the culture shock of El Centro, the city centre, where we stayed before we leave Peru.  We visited the two ancient ruins that are in the heart of the city, one within walking distance of our hotel in San Isidro and the other in Miraflores on the way to the waterfront.  You can see photos of these pyramid-like structures below.

The Huaca Huallamarca pyramid (200 - 500 AD) - made with bricks stacked vertically.

A nearby church reflected the brickwork in the portal and the windows

Stained glass behind bars...

Nice residence in San Isidro 

Mexican restaurant in San Isidro - even with my limited Spanish, I can tell this is "Like Water for Chocolate", a reference to the Mexican story that  revolved around food 

A Chinese restaurant (chifa meaning "eat rice" or "eat dinner" in Chinese)

The larger of the ruins, Huaca Pucllana in Miraflores, from around 400 AD - note the vertical stacking of the bricks

Looking across the top of the ruins, you can see the many sections it is divided into

From the ruins, we walked down a street with Indian markets on both sides of the street.  Prices and selection here are the best compared to the the other markets we visited.  

A short distance from the Indian Market is the Central Park of Miraflores where a flower show was on.  This was of course spring in Peru and many gardeners were out looking for plants for their gardens.

Floral installations on the sidewalk outside the Cathedral

Here's an intriguing mural - shades of Gulliver...

Kids kiting on the waterfront park 

A shopping centre at the Miraflores waterfront

Sunset over the islands of Lima from the Miraflores waterfront park