Saturday April 6th Destination today is the Plaza Mayor or Plaza de Armas of Lima and Brunyfire and Miss W have grabbed a cab here from their base in Miraflores to check out the birthplace of the city of Lima.
Located in the Historic Centre of Lima, the plaza is surrounded by the Presidential Palace, Cathedral of Lima, Archbishop’s Palace of Lima, the Municipal Palace, and the Palace of the Union. 
Although severely damaged by earthquakes, Lima was the Ciudad de los Reyes or ‘City of the Kings’ from its establishment for the Spanish Viceroy in 1535 until the middle of the 18th century. Many of its buildings, such as the Convent of San Francisco (the largest of its type in this part of the world), were the result of collaborations between local craftspeople and others from the Old World. The presence of riot police did little to deter the Dynamic Duo from a photo op with this good looking bunch…….
……..who had just had their boots polished by a local shoe shine boy. 
There’s just something about guys in uniform! The Presidential Palace, home to Peru’s incumbent president, Martín Vizcarra, under the watchful eyes of the Palace Guards.
Archbishop’s Palace, Plaza Mayor, Lima – Roman Catholicism, as the official state religion, has played a major role in Peruvian culture and society since conquest, with every village, town, and city having its official church or cathedral, patron saint, and special religious days, which are celebrated annually. Representative of Spanish colonial rule, this religious symbol is intentionally present in the main square, as the church and Spanish colonial power went hand-in-hand. Built of the finest materials shipped in from the old world, like cedar, mahogany timber, tiles from Seville, bronze and marble, the building intentionally reflects the immense power the church had in Colonial Lima.
Powerful imagery on the facade of the cathedral………
…….coupled with the oppressive opulence of the Archbishop’s Palace…….
………it’s hardly surprising that Catholicism is so strong.
Sociedades Prehispánicas, the local history society, presented an excellent exhibition of archaeological ceramics from six different cultures – the Mochica, Nazca, Vicús, Lambayeque, Chimú and Chancay in the Jaime Del Catillo Pre-Hispanic Hall, in the House of the Thirteen Doors, Jiron Ancash 299, Lima. All 1309 pieces were donated by the renowned surgeon Carlos Jaime Del Castillo.
The exhibition focuses on the interpretation of the way of life of the societies of the pre-Hispanic past of Peru, evidenced through material culture. The reading of each object and archaeological artifact shows details and characteristics of the social and religious development of these peoples.
Geometric styled bowls from Nazca 200-650 dc (above)…….
………Chancay pots – 1200-1470 dc. (above)……..
……Moche (750-1375) – bottle on right. Just a glimpse into the ceramic practices of a people and a past whose daily lives were depicted with such sophistication and technical finesse.
The day was topped off with a very special meal at Central, a restaurant located in the Barranco District, Lima, Peru. Central Restaurante is the flagship restaurant of Peruvian chef, Virgilio Martínez Véliz, and serves as his workshop in the investigation and integration of indigenous Peruvian ingredients into the restaurant’s menu.
That story merits it’s own special page, so watch this space!!
brunyfire 