Seein the sights in Lima

Yesterday was our last full day in Lima. So, we decided to do a little more sightseeing. We started off at the Lima Cathedral downtown and watched the changing of the guards at the Presidential Palace. The cathedral was very nice, and very big. We had a guide this time, who gave us a lot of history. The person who discovered Peru, Fransisco, is buried in this cathedral. Much of the artwork and items in the cathedral were brought over from Spain. We were told that Peru is where the potato originated from, and that they have over 3000 varieties in this country alone. Under the church were many tombs, and there were a lot of skulls on display from various people.

Inside the Cathedral

We ate a restaraunt nearby, called Don Pablos that was really good and inexpensive. As we were wandering around the historic district, we saw there was a place to get a massage, so of course we had to get one (much cheaper than in the US). It made for a relaxing afternoon. Before heading back to our hotel in Miraflorez, we stopped at a shopping center called Polvos Azules. It had EVERYTHING you could imagine, all in little set up shops, row after row. It reminded me of markets typical of Central America, but this one was for the upper class citizens of Peru. They had backpacks, hiking gear, every shoe imaginable, tons of brand name clothing, etc. This is where all the youth seem to hang out. We were the only foreigners there, which I did not expect. You can barter at these little shops, but the prices seem similar to that in the US.
We hung out for awhile back at our hotel, found a small cafe to eat at, and then met up with some of the other pharmacy rotation students from FAMU (Florida). Everybody seems very friendly and I think we will get along well.
Today, we fly out of Lima and on to Iquitos, which is right near the Amazon River. We are all excited, but a little nervous for the real adventure!