Lima

It was with mixed feelings we got on the plane to Lima, two days after the big earthquake. A bit nervous about what would meet us there - complete chaos or just the normal South American disorder? After reading an equadorian newspaper we realised that the worst areas was quite a bit south of Lima though.

The next thing to worry about was our own security - the guidebook kept talking about robberies and the risk of getting into fake taxis and and other threaths. We decided to stay in Miraflores, a quite wealthy neighbourhood that should be rather safe for tourists. But the taxidriver still said that some places that we suggested wasn't safe enough. Found a hostel that was good enough for both us and the taxidriver and then took a walk around the area to get some food and check it out. Can't say we saw anything scary or threathening...

The morning after we took a bus into the center of Lima. No signs of the earthquake anywhere except for in every park volunteers where gathering water, food and clothes to the victims and on all official buildings the flags were on half-mast. Two things signify Lima in my opinion - colonial buildings and pollution. The buildings are beautiful, often colorful and richly adorned. We staggered away from the main streets on one occasion and started to photograph some beautiful buildings. Immediately a policeman came up to us and told us not to use the camera unless we saw a policeman close by, otherwise we could almost count on someone stealing the camera from us. So, back to the main streets, where there were policemen in every corner, and photograph the impressive buildings around Plaza Mayor and Plaza San Martin before we returned to the safer Miraflores.

Plaza Mayor, aka Plaza de Armas

Collecting supplies to the people in the earthquake areas

Only take photos when there's a police officer nearby!

Plaza San Martin

The second day we went to get bus tickets to Huaraz and then to Museo de la Nación to get some insights on Peru's history. Unfortunately the museum was closed due to the earthquake so instead we grabbed an unregulated taxi (huuh, living on the edge...) to Museo Larco who had an impressive collection of ceramics, gold, silver and textiles from ancient cultures. However, the most interesting part of the museum is their exhibition of pre-Columbian erotic pottery with very explicit illustrations of different sexual practices.

Funny pot in Museo Larco

More pots...

To summarize, Lima was a very busy city, the pollution was horrible but the public transportation system was very efficient (though a bit confusing). Central Lima was beautiful and impressive and Miraflores was a nice place to stay. It didn't feel as unsafe as everyone is claiming but maybe we were lucky. It's a very narrow line between rich and poor and while you can get a two-course dinner for 1,5 dollar you can just as well have a coffee for twice the price a block down.

Downtown Lima