Today I am celebrating three years of being cancer free! I couldn’t be more grateful to be here, living this adventure we call life! I welcome all that life has given me because I have learned and grown from all of it. As you know getting diagnosed with cancer was one of the motivating factors that encouraged us to begin this new way of life, now instead of waiting, and what a wonderful decision it has turned out to be!
Our first week in Lima was wonderful. On the 27th we reunited with our friends that live here and explored the neighborhood of Callao. They brought us there because they said it isn’t a safe area to explore without a local and we’re so glad they did. We had a delicious lunch in La Punta overlooking the port and then we visited La Fortaleza del Real Felipe. It is a colonial fortress built in 1746 to defend Peru’s main port as well as the city of Lima.
The last time we were here was during Lima’s winter and because it is so foggy most of the time I didn’t even realize how beautiful the coast along the ocean is. This is what I learned from my friend about it: She said “they call Lima “lima la gris” Why is Lima called “the gray”? The phrase was coined by writer Héctor Velarde Bergmann. This expression refers to the characteristic gray color of Lima’s sky. It is also known as the sea of clouds. It consists of an accumulation of low clouds.” We’re staying in San Isidro which is a very nice and safe neighborhood. I’m happy to report that our Air BnB is the nicest that we’ve had in the 20+ months we’ve been on this adventure. I mean, two bathrooms and a washer AND dryer inside of our apartment, you can’t beat it! It is also only two blocks from Malecón de Miraflores which is an esplanade along the coast that you can take for miles and offers spectacular views of the ocean and cliffs.
This past weekend we walked around Miraflores together and visited the Parque del Amor (Love Park) on Saturday and then on Sunday we took an Uber to Old Town and went on a tour of the Basílica y Convento de San Francisco de Lima (Basílica and Convent of San Francisco, Lima) and we even saw the catacombs. You weren’t allowed to take pictures on the tour so here is the Wikipedia link if you’d like to see what the inside looks like and learn more about it. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_and_Convent_of_San_Francisco,_Lima)
Tonight we are returning to Huaca Pucllana to eat at their restaurant for the first time and to celebrate life. Friday we made a reservation at DanSa for dinner and a show. We’ve never been, but our friends recommended it, so it should be fun. Here is what Google says about it: “Let yourself be amazed by DanSa, a magical evening where gastronomy and music unite to take you on a sensorial journey through Peru. Enjoy exquisite flavors and immersive rhythms that will transport you to the most fascinating corners of our country.” Can’t wait!
It is so nice to be back in Lima and I’m excited to see what the next two weeks in bring. We don’t have any excursions planned so we hope to just go with the flow and continue the vacation vibes we found in Paraguay. I’m sending you a universe of love wherever you are. Take care of one another.
Love, Alison
The story I could find about them is as follows: “Tapada Limena was the denomination used at the time of the Viceroyalty of Peru and the first years of the Republic to designate the women in Lima, aka Liman women, who covered their heads and faces with comfortable silk fabrics, revealing just one eye. Its use began around 1560 with particular clothing and cloaks worn by the tapade limena and spread for 3 centuries until well into the 19th century when it was relegated by French fashions. In 1583 the Archbishop of Lima pronounced a rejection of the custom of wearing the clothing by women in the capital and ordered a fine. The fear of this custom, already widespread among Liman women, generated much misunderstanding and confusion and made the authorities suspect transvestism was taking place in the Viceroyalty. Official testimonials and ordinances could not dissuade the Limen women.”
