Rather, he and his men chose the site as a handy place from which to launch a quick sea escape. Despite this undistinguished beginning, Lima became the capital city of the entire Spanish new world, and later the capital of independent Peru.
We spent today exploring the old colonial sections of what is now a modern, sprawling city and home to eight million inhabitants. We toured by bus and on foot with local guides providing the narration, and we saw, heard and breathed and even ate our way to a better understanding of the Incas and Conquistadors and modern Peruvians.
Our first stop was at the "Plaza de Armas," where we entered the Cathedral pictured here) and saw where Pizarro is buried. We viewed the "Palacio de Gobierno" (the president's home) and the Archbishop's Palace. Next we toured the private home of the Aliaga family and marveled at the richness of this house, built by one of the conquistadors in 1535, and lived in continuously ever since, for 16 generations!
We trekked round and round and up and down in the beautiful San Francisco monastery, which housed innumerable colonial paintings and mosaics, and those who were brave enough descended into the dusty catacombs. We shopped for handicrafts at an Indian market so full of silver, wool, cotton and leather goods that even those of us who are hardened and experienced shoppers were overwhelmed.
We had a huge, late lunch according to the Peruvian tradition, and sampled "ceviche" (delicious fish and shellfish marinated in lemon and onions), Andean "camote" (sweet potatoes) and corn, cactus fruits and a dozen other delicacies from a very long and generous buffet table.
And then, for our finale, we visited the world famous Gold Museum. What a breathtaking array of gold and ceramics and textiles and mummies! After just this short time spent gazing at the museum's collection one can at last understand why the Spaniards went wild with gold fever when they came to South America and found such a wealth of gold and jewels.
