Lima Journals

Exploring Lima

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A July 2000 trip to Lima by jurgen

Museo de la Nacion Photo - Museo de la Nación, Lima, Peru

Quote: Lima, the capital of Peru. It's not Cuzco but well worth a visit.

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Exploring Lima

Overview

Quote:

Lima, it sounds as a strange exotic city in the middle of the jungle to some people. Well, it is a jungle out there, but not of trees. Lima is a huge city in the middle of the dry coastal pacific dessert of South America. The sun harly ever shines there because of the everpresent fog. Despite of this, Lima is worth more than just a stopover on your way to Cuzco. The city has a nice colonial centre with a beautiful Plaza de Armas (the mainsquare). The old centre has some nice sites like the San Fransisco monastary and good shopping. In the outskirts of town there are some really nice museums like the Museo de Oro (goldmuseum) and the Museo del Nacion (national museum). As long as you take some precauti...Read More

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Museo de la Nación

Attraction | "Museo de la Nacion"

Quote:

Take a cab from the city centre to the museo. I paid about 10 soles. From the centre it's about a 15 minutes drive via the expressway. You'll notice the neigbourhood getting better all the time. Suddenly a huge concrete bunker appears; this is not a millitary structure (though it could be) but this is the museum. Bring your dictionary because you will not find any English guidebooks here. The museum shows the Peruvian history from Nazca to Macchu Picchu, from Moche to Inca. It's very complete and the exhibitions are pretty well organised. Also the museum is the favorite school excursion spot in Lima.... when I was there, there were hundreds of scholars also viewing exhibitions in the bui...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on August 24, 2000

Museo de la Nación
Avenida Javier Prado Este 2465
Lima, Peru 41
+51 1 476 9875

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Museo Oro del Peru (Gold Museum)

Attraction | "Museo de Oro del Peru (Goldmuseum)"

Quote:

After having visited the Museo del Nacion I had the splendid idea to go to the Goldmuseum. It should be close to the MdN. So I walked out the door to the street to find me a taxi. Halfway there (it's a broad sidewalk) a nice police officer starts to have a little chat with me.. where are you from, how do you like Peru, the usual stuff. And then the million dollar question: 'where do you want to go?' I say, 'The Goldmuseum.' And this nice man is so friendly to get me a taxi. He even bargains me a good price. But when I get in the cab I am charged a little bribe for this service: 3 sol. Well, it's not that much so I get into the cab and trust him to drive me to the museum. The officer showed the driver ...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on August 28, 2000

Museo Oro del Peru (Gold Museum)
Calle Alonso De Molina 1100
Lima, Peru
+51 (1) 435-2917

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Barranco District

Attraction | "Party in Barranco"

Quote:

Barranco, on the Pacific coast of Lima, is the place to be on weekend nights. Grau and Bolognesi are packed with bars, pubs, disco's and restaurants. The disco only start to fill after midnight, so don't go there too early. I don't know the official closing time, but when I was there it was at least 5 in the morning. Peruvians love to dance on Salsa music, so 50% of the night you'll hear salsa. If you are lucky some nice chicas will teach you how to dance on the salsa music... A lot of guidebooks speak about La Noche on Bolognesi. I didn't like it.. It is a huge place with several bars and dance floors. The only problem is that the dance floors (on the Saturday I visited) were packed with c...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on August 21, 2000

Barranco District
Costa Central De Lima
Lima, Peru 04

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Lima a dangerous city?

Story/Tip

Quote:

Guidebooks tell you to be careful in Lima. Even the people in Lima tell you. Hide your cameras, wallets and watches. They use the -two fingers pointed the eyes- sign to warn you about thiefs. One day a taxi driver told me he was robbed at gunpoint the day before, but they didn't want his money only his cars' frontlights. But that was in a bad part of town. As long as you stay in the centre or in Miraflores not much will happen to you. Just take the normal precautions and you will be alright. So don't be as stupid as this friend of mine that walked through a busy shopping street and got his watch ripped. Just don't wear a watch. There are plenty of public clocks.