Lima is a wonderful city in its own right – colorful and friendly, and with a terrific Old Town. It is one of the largest cities in the Americas, with almost nine million people living within its city limits. Los Angeles, by comparison, has a population of less than four million. But so many people just consider it as the jumping-off point for Machu Picchu, just a flight away in Cusco. We found a lot to do along the waterfront, as there is a long malecon, a cliff top walkway, that stretches forever. We walked it from different entry places on several different days. The views were unforgettable, and the water seemed to be a different color, as well, depending on the time of day and the day itself.
Lima was “founded” (although it had never been lost) by Francisco Pizarro in 1535 on the Feast of Epiphany, and thus was called the City of the Kings. This name quickly fell into disuse, and the more common name, Lima, taken from the indigenous Quechua language, became standard among the indigenous and Spanish alike. Pre-Incan and Incan inhabitants had lived here for hundreds of years.
The markets we visited were especially lively, selling whole fish, whole sides of beef and pork, and chickens with their feet still attached. Also for sale were fruits and veggies, flowers, and even household goods and souvenirs. If you can’t find what you want in the sprawling markets, it likely doesn’t exist! Lima is a really lovely city and a great place to spend time. We look forward to our return to the city.
Mike went scuba diving at a small fishing village called Pucusana, about one hour’s drive south of Lima. The busy bay is packed with small fishing boats. The dive site Mike and the other 10 divers were taken to that day was just a few minutes from the bay. On the way, the boat stopped by some rock outcroppings to show the divers some of the local wildlife, including penguins, pelicans, seals, and some impressively-large sea lions. The air was warm, but the water was cold, due to a cold current along the coast, and everyone was wearing full wetsuits. Visibility was moderate, and quite a few fish were in the area. Even though the diving conditions weren’t perfect, just getting to dive is always enticing, since it is fun getting wet. As with every other place where people can dive, Mike plans to do more when we come back.
🔹🔹 If you enjoyed reading our post, you can subscribe to our website to automatically receive every blog we publish. Just go to our “Contact” tab. In the gray box at the very bottom, it says – SUBSCRIBE TO BLOG VIA EMAIL. Just put in your email address, and we will appear in your Inbox! Also, right above it, there is a small form to send us a message, if you wish. (But please note, you cannot hit “Reply” on the post emailed to you to send us a message. You must use the Contact tab.)