Colonial Lima by Bailey A.

UA Delegate to Peru, Bailey A., shares her experience in Colonial Lima.

Happy 4th of July! In Peru, they celebrate independence day on the 28th. Today we took a tour around colonial Lima. The colonial period of Lima lasted from 1535-1841. We visited a few cathedrals and museums, bought some Peruvian goods, and ate some delicious Peruvian food! One interesting place we went to was the catacombs below the cathedral and monastery of San Francisco de Jesus de Lima. The catacombs were finished in 1652 after 10 years of building. About 21,000 Spanish people where buried in the tombs between 1652 and 1821 (when the tombs were closed). Families were not allowed to attend burial ceremonies because 5-6 people were buried in each grave, and after a few years of decay aided by a heavy dose of lye, whatever remained of the bodies would be moved to another place so the grave could be reused.

Facade of San Francisco de Jesus de Lima
(Block dots on the right are gigantic pigeons.)

Photos within the catacombs were not allowed but
this is a ventilation grate in the cathedral over some stairs that led to the catacombs.

In the museum part of the Convento Santo Domingo, we got to see where the priests' robes were kept and where they all sat to eat in the dining room. The wood used to make their chairs and dressers and used throughout the monastery was very expensive since it was very rare for South America and had to be shipped from Central America. You could tell which area the wood came from by how dark it was.
 

Biblioteca at Convento Santo Domingo
The imported wood from Central America was used for the ceiling, bookcases, chairs, tables. etc.



UA Delegation to Peru in an interior courtyard of the monastery

We also went to the Plaza de Armas of Lima which is the main plaza and is surrounded on three sides by the Government Palace (the President's residence), the Cathedral of Lima with the Archbishop's Palace, and the Municipal Palace of Lima (Lima's city hall). A really interesting thing we were able to see was the changing of the guard at the President's residence! It was really cool when the guard marched up to the gate to play music! The ceremony was way longer than I expected and it happens every day at noon! On weekends the guard circles around the plaza on horses! 

Residence of the President of Peru
Unfortunately, Angie was unable to get a hold of her new BFF so no tour.

This band of guards marched out and played 6 or 7 songs before the changing of the guards at noon.

My favorite part of the day was the Peruvian food! Before we stopped for lunch, we went to a museum of Peruvian food but I didn't enjoy it very much because I was starving. For lunch, we ate Pardo's chicken and got party hats to wear!

 

Pardo's Chicken is famous for rotisserie chicken.

Outside the Chapel of Francisco Pizarro we also got to internationally photobomb some German tourists! It was a really fun day!

Later that evening, Senoras Carmen and Betty took the UA teachers, Ms. Vargas and Ms. Chinuntdet, to the Parque de la Reserva, AKA The Water Park. Do not think Hurricane Harbour; think more the Fountains at the Bellagio Casino in Las Vegas. This was one of the city improvement projects of the previous mayor of Lima, Dr. Luis Castañeda Lossio. Though not popular while the Parque de la Reserva was renovated to become the Circuito Magica del Agua (Magic Water Tour), it has now become a must-see tourist destination as well as a point of pride for the residents of Lima. Tourism in Lima has now been firmly established as a source of commerce which was not the case 10-15 years ago. The Parque de la Reserva and other city improvement projects like the lighting of the major points of interest (plazas, cathedrals, colonial architecture, etc.) have played a large part in the tourism boom in Lima. Anyway, as you can see from the photos, really spectacular!

Fuente de la Armonia



From left to right, Senora Betty, Ms. Chinuntdet, and Ms. Vargas



Fuente Magica
The middle spout shoots to 80 meters (do your own conversion to feet or yards).



Fuente de los Ninos
If you look really closely,
you can see a dark, blurry image (just right of center) dodging the water in quick run through the fountain.



Fuente de la Fantasia
This fountain has scheduled shows nightly that include images and lasers projected on to the water set to music.



Fuente de la Fantasia
This show was set to Waltz of the Flowers from The Nutcracker.
Can you see the ballerina dancing?

Ma. Chinuntdet and Ms. Vargas in Fuente Tunel de las Sorpresas