Today is a completely free day. We go down for breakfast at 8.30 and then get a taxi from the hotel to the city.
We get dropped off at Plaza San Martin, a square in the city where we know we can change some money and get a good rate. Our intention is to see the Changing of the Guard at the presidential palace at noon so we have plenty of time to walk to the Plaza de Armas de Lima. Just strolling along looking in the shops is nice. We stop for coffee where Glenn tries to order the coffees and cake in Spanish and the guy at the register says “it’s okay I speak English!!” LOL!
Once we get to the main square we decide to into the Basilica Catedral Museo for a look. The collection of religious artifacts and the different altars in the Cathedral are so ornate. Under the Cathedral are crypts and some of them are open to go down in. It is a huge Cathedral. Fresh flowers are used on the altars and the arrangements are beautiful.
Back in the square we head over to the Palace to get a place at the front. We are still a fair way from the big fence that surrounds the palace. At about 11:40 a gate opens and out comes a band. They march over in front of the crowd that is gathering and for the next 15 minutes we get a concert. Once the guards march out it becomes quite a show. It’s a synchronized march, dance, rifle throwing spectacular and it goes for more than 20 minutes. The whole ‘show’ goes for 50 minutes and the crowd loves it.
As we walk towards the library which is also the railway station on the odd occasions that the train runs, we go past a busy cafe and decide to stop for lunch. It’s obviously a very old family run establishment called Bar Cordano. Lunch is simply a ham roll made with copious amounts ham cut fresh off the bone on a fresh white bread roll. Very simple but delicious.
After more walking and looking we grab a taxi and head back to the hotel for a while. We will head to the water front most probably for dinner later.
Tomorrow we fly out to Guayaquil in Ecuador to start our Galápagos adventure.