Lima, Peru day 2

 Waking up to the beautiful day in Lima.

Enjoying my contintal breakfast.

I have signed up for the Ecobici program here in Lima. This is very similar to the bike rental program in Mexico City. There are no stations close to where I am staying so I will have to head down to the more tourist oriented area of Miraflores by the Pacific coast.

Checking the map, it appears it is pretty simple route, one street all the way down.

Packed and ready to head down. I thought I could take a bus, but it appears that you can only board the bus with a pass that I don't have. Next option is to take a collectivo, a shared taxi. I have no idea how much it is, but it should be cheap.

The collectivos have no markings, no sign indicatiing there is any type of licensing. If you are standing by the side of the street, the collectivos come along with the driver waving his arm extended out the window, visible over the top of the collectivo, indicated way direction he is headed, and tooting his horn. All you have to do is make a simple gesture inticating you want a ride.

Lima drivers are honkers, even more so than Oaxaca. It reminded me of my times in Manila. If you honk you can do anything. Turn right from the far left lane, no problem.

That done, I only ask if he is headed to Miraflores. ¿Vas a Miraflores? He says yes, and I hop in. Here is another reason to get a local SIM card for your phone. It allows you to follow along on google maps so you know where you are and where you are going.  

As we are going additional people get in and people get out. A pretty neat system. 

I already have the Ecobici app on my phone, so what seems to be the end of his route, I see we are close to an Ecobici bike station. I give him a bill that should be more than the cost of the ride, he gives me change. The ride was 5 soles, about 90 cents for this 20 minute plus ride.

I located the rack of bikes. It took me a few minutes to figure out how to enter my code and password, but I finally did, got my first bike, and off I go.

I changed out bikes a few times on my way down to the coast, along the coast and starting my return. The time limit for these bikes is 30 minutes, so I traded out bikes often.

There are a lot of people riding bikes in Lima, and it is a very bike friendly city with bikes lanes on many of the streets.

Before arriving at the coast, I knew I was getting close, I could smell the salt air. I love that smell. 

Arriving at the ocean, I find there is a park running along the rise overlooking the ocean. I ride along the park, changing out bikes often. 

Each time I change bikes, I take time before checking out my next bike to stroll a bit, sit a bit and enjoy the moment and sights. at the ocean, I find there is a park running along the rise overlooking the ocean. I ride along the park, changing out bikes often. Each time I change bikes, I take time before checking out my next bike to stroll a bit, sit a bit and enjoy the moment and sights. 

There are several clay tennis courts in the park area along the beach. Clay being the preferred court for many tennis players. I also am across one court where there was a bicycle polo match in progress. This was the first time seeing something like this for me. 

After going along the beach for a few kilometers, I start heading back. In the opposite direction that I was heading is the Contemporary Museum (Museo de Arte Contemporáneo), that I want to visit.

The museum in located in the Barranco district is know for being an artsy, romantic, bohemian area. Home to many of Limas artists.

I locate the museum. Reading online, one regular comment is that it is very small. The tickets are 14 soles, a little less than $2usd. 

There are 2 relatively small exhibit rooms. The 3rd larger exhibit room was in transition and not open. Another remark was that 30 minutes was enought time to spend there. I had to stretch my time to reach 30 minutes. Mostly paintings, some very interesting and unique and a couple installations.

After the museum, I start making my way back. I rode a bike for a ways, then changed again to a collectivo. I asked to go to Kennedy Park, yes, named after JFK. I had passed this on the way down. It wasn't where I intended to go, but I got out anyway. I saw there were many artists displaying there work there.

I stroll around checking out the work. Some very beautiful, colorful and unique paintings.  Artists displaying their painting ranging is style from abstract to realist and yes, some religious.

From Kennedy park, I hail another collectivo, this time correctly asking to go to the Parque de la Exposición. This is the part across from my hostel.

Before going back to my hostel, I stop again at one of the several small restuarants offering paquetes, lunch menus offering package deals. Usually a choice of soup or salad, a small selection of entres and some type of fruit flavored water. The cost for paquetes here is typically about $2.50 usd. Today I had ceviche for my entrada and fried fish with beans and rice for my entre.

After lunch it was again time for my daily siesta.