We are now three days into our adventure and we honestly could not have picked a better first destination; Lima, Peru!

Lima is the capital of Peru, with over 11 million people. There are 43 districts in Lima, each one with it’s own vibe and culture. As our hostel was in Barranco, most of our time was spent wandering around this district. Barranco was formerly a wealthy district  where the artistocracy lived vacationed in the 19th century. Today, it is an artistic hub, with many galleries, up and coming designers and boutique businesses in the area, often set in restored mansions from the former period. No wonder it is known as the romantic, bohemian centre of Lima!

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Strolling around town, we discovered a host of galleries. Our favourite was MATE, located on Avenue Pedro de Osma. It is the gallery belonging to Mario Testino, a famous photographer who is well known in the fashion industry. He was also the last photographer to take photographs of Princess Diana before her passing.

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In downtown Lima, the city is an eclectic mix of Spanish and Indigenous architecture. We took a walking tour of the city and learned a lot about this amazing place. For example, it very rarely rains in Lima (the rain jackets we were carrying in our bags were a total waste of space!) and as a result the plants around the city are watered through rain-independent irrigation systems and a host of Gardeners employed by the State. Upon learning this fun fact, we noticed that the roads have no drainage system!

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In the late afternoon, we ventured down to Miraflores to see the sunset. It was absolutely breathtaking!

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We would highly recommend Lima for anyone looking to travel in Peru. Just be careful when crossing roads. Traffic lights, pedestrian crossings and road rules generally appear to be optional!

Until next time,

DT and AP