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Goshen College

Lima, the Colonial Capital

May 3, 2010

We boarded a bus for downtown Lima to explore the city founded by Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro in 1535.  Celia, a lifetime resident of Peru’s capital, pointed out landmarks along the way, helping the students get a sense of the geography of the city.  Our driver, Juanito, skillfully steered our bus up the narrow road to Cerro San Cristobal, a hill overlooking the metropolitan area, so that the students could gain an appreciation of the immensity of this metropolis.  Then we descended to the colonial area downtown for a tour of San Francisco Cathedral and the Plaza de Armas with our guide, Pedro Fernandez.  We finished with a delicious lunch in Barrio Chino — China Town.

The cross atop Cerro San Cristobal
On the hill that overlooks Lima
The view from the top
Juanito, our faithful driver
The San Francisco Cathedral
A music performance outside the cathedral
The cathedral on the Plaza de Armas
Our guide, Pedro, explains the Changing of the Guard
The Presidential Palace
Presidential guards on horseback
Lima is famous for its colonial-era balconies
On the Plaza de Armas
Thirsty after a day in the sun
First taste of Inca Kola — in Chinatown