A city of 8 million people … way too big to really comprehend. Our flights here are uneventful though not particularily comfortable. We are met by Eduardo and wisked off to Villa Molina where we settle in and begin to meet the rest of our fellow travellers. Soon there are too many faces and names to remember, but a day or two more and that will change I’m sure. Villa Molina is beautiful as well as having friendly, helpful staff.
The highlights in Lima, for me, are the visits to Maximo Laura’s studio where I realize I must go home with one of his tapestries, the Amano Museum where I finally realize that Peru has an exceedingly rich history that can be told in its textiles and ceramics, and also our trip to the Lurin Valley where we enjoy a Pachamanca (a traditional meal that is cooked in an ‘oven’ in the ground) and a few Pisco Sours. Our most amazing guide, John Alfredo Davis, in addition to guiding us through the Amano Museum and being one of the hosts at the Lurin Valley farm, also guided us through Museo Nacional de Antropologia, Arqueologia e Historia. This is the original museum of archaeology and anthropology.
On display are ceramics of the Chimu, Nasca, Mochica and Ichma (Pachacamac) cultures, various Inca curiosities and works of art and interesting textiles. There is also an amazing model of Machu Picchu here. An interesting website with an article titled “The Spirit of Ancient Peru” is to be found by clicking here.
To see all the Peru pictures click here.
