Lima is both very beautiful and very dirty, I was glad to have a guide to show me around the city. His name was Pedro and he's a local from Lima who studied American English at university so he was easy to understand. He showed me around all the parts I hadn't yet discovered or had been a little wary to explore on my own. He showed me a pedestrian boulevard just behind my hotel which is always busy and very safe to walk and much prettier than the street I had been walking.
Saw lots of churches and museums (San Francisco monastery and catacombs, museum of the Inquisition, gastronomic museum, city hall, San Pedro church and more that I can't remember their names). At City Hall we were shown inside, the hall is absolutely stunning and had the best view over the main square.
We also went to Plaza San Martin which is a big beautiful plaza, in the middle of the plaza is the statue on this blog.
Then we walked to the edge of the city where you can see the nearby slums and villages in the highlands. They're really colorful but you can see how poverty stricken they are. Also saw the bull fighting stadium.
We went back to the main square (plaza de Armas) and Pedro showed me where all the cool cafes I should try.
At every corner in the new areas I was shown has at least four guards and/or policeman. I can't tell you how much safer I felt after discovering the pedestrian boulevard and not having to dodge cars who don't think road rules apply to them and run red lights etc.
massive day with lots of walking so I got an early night after stopping at the supermarket (a mission in itself as everything's in Spanish and ended up buying sparkling mineral water to brush my teeth with...oh we'll I know the difference now).

The next day I walked around Lima by myself, went to another church, pop art gallery and lunch in the main square where Pedro suggested. I had causa pollo (chicken and sweet potato Peruvian dish), beef fettuccine, pisco sour and sparkling mineral water, all for under $8!! Beautiful cafe too out on the boulevard and the waiter kept coming to chat to me to practice his English.
Later today when the sun goes down I'm going to Parque de la Reserva where they have light and music shows with the many fountains.