Lima, Peru day 1

 Landing in Lima exactly on time, 5:20 am 

I was having a hard time getting comfortable on the flight for the 1st 3 hours. Then I got up to use the toilet, stood and walked a bit. I got back to my seat around 1:30 am. The next thing I know we are starting our decent a little befor 5:00. Next time I won't wait for 3 hours to use the toilet. Magic.

Breezed through immigration and customs. My driver was waiting as prescheduled to take me to my new home in Lima.

Lima is quite large, over 10 millions people. The nice thing is the airport is close to the city so the ride to my hostel was less than 20 minutes. I got checked in, but is too early to get a bed/bed assignment. I was able to leave my bag in their storage area.

I usually look for a place to stay in the older, historic areas of the city. Lima is no exception. The hostel I am at here was built around 1900 by a wealthy businessman for him, his family and close relatives. It used to be grand, It is now showing it's age. This as in many hostels, there is the resident cat. This one I thought had some uniques fur and markings.

I am really tired.  

The receptionist directed me to go downstairs for coffee. The place downstairs is a restaurant/bar. They were just opening up when I went down. To my surprise they not only brought me coffee, but also a continental breakfast. A couple rolls, fruit, and  guava fruit juice. This was unexpected, my included breakfast would typically start tomorrow.

After eating, it was now late enough to get some local currency (Peruvian Sols) and look for a SIM card for my phone.

Again, as San José, I walked in the wrong direction. I came back to hostel were I had internet access to get my new bearings.

The taxi's range from one I would consider riding in, to others not so.

After asking in a few cellphone repair shops, I stumbled onto a street vendor that had SIM cards. He installed it for me and loaded data for 15 days.

This area has so many historic buildings. I will only share a few of them. Because of my work history in the building industry, I enjoy seeing the building more than most people. Sometimes I enjoy the building housing museums more that the art and artifacts that they house.

The first place I came across was the Italian Art Museum, I paid a small fee to get in. I am not an art historian, so I really don't recognize greatness in art. A nice knock off will impress me as the real thing. I was only there about a half hour viewing their collection of painting and sculpture.

Across the street from place I am staying is the Kennedy Park. I is the size of 8 or 10 city blocks. It is the home to the Museo de Arte de Lima.

This musuem is free for seniors. This museum housing artifacts and displays the art and textiles of Peru going back over 2000 years. 

I didn't stay long. My energy is falling fast. It is open on Sunday, so I will return and spend more time there tomorrow. 

Included here are some pictures from the museums, other building in the area and also smaller structures within the Kennedy Park.

Lima has a bike rental program here similar to Mexico City, so I will be reserving one day while I am here to biking around another area of the city adjacent to the ocean.

It is evening now. The restaurant bar downstairs is pumping out live music. The rooftop of the hostel is a combination community kitchen, chill area and bar. They are playing music up here also. a bit of a competition between the rooftop bar and the ground floor bar. Pretty bohemian atmosphere. 

If you are wondering what happened to the witches broom. It is here.

I think my room is insolated a bit from the music that may go past my bedtime. I am hoping to be able to sleep well