Lima, Peru

I spent the last leg of my Peru trip in Lima, where I broke down and bought an over-priced point n' shoot digital camera. It was an unplanned, but necessary expense. Otherwise, I would not have captured the photos below....

El Beso (The Kiss) sculpted by Victor Delfin at El Parque del Amor (Park of Love)



Like for example, "El Parque del Amor" (Park of Love); a gorgeous park nestled on the Chorillos Cliffs, which looks outward to the Pacific Ocean. At its center is a huge statue called "El Beso" (The Kiss), which was sculpted by Peruvian artist Victor Delfin.  The statue is a self-sculpt of him and his wife locked in an amorous embrace. Ironically, Delfin is known more for his paintings than his sculptings. Locals claim that couples come and kiss under the statue, and engage in a  "friendly competition" on who will kiss the longest.

The Park of Love was a beautification project spearheaded by local volunteers, who created the colorful mosaic tiled seawall shown in the background. On Valentine's Day 1993, the park finally opened to the public.

The view of the Pacific Ocean from the park was spectacular!

Next, I went to the city's Main Square.  I loved its canary yellow parliamentary buildings and its manicured lawns.

The central water fountain was magnificent.

Daily at noon the "Changing of the Guards" ceremony takes place in front of the Presidential Palace.

My next tour was a Pre-Inca (200 AD - 700 AD) site called "Huaca Pucllana," which was a trapezoid-shaped pyramid with an adjacent outlying plaza. Religious ceremonies in particular were conducted there for bountiful crops, succesful huntings, and powerful healings.  

In the outlying plaza, life-sized clay figures were strategically placed depicting life at Huaca Pucllana. 

My final stop in Lima was at the Banco Central de Reserva Del Peru Museum; a bank that was converted into a museum!

My favorite part of the museum was the Pre-Inca gold exhibits that were displayed in the bank's former vault.

Golden Tunic

Painful-Looking Gold Earrings

Intriguing Gold Nose-Rings

And then before I knew it, it was time to depart for Lima's Jorge-Chavez International Airport to head back to Cairo. It was a trip of a life time, and I was so grateful that I got to see this beautiful country. Adios, Peru!   

Machu Picchu



Pic from Google images.


One of the biggest regrets of my Peru trip was my lost pictures of Machu Picchu, ironically known as "The Lost City of the Incas". The Inca tribe evolved from the Cuzco region of Peru. "Cuzco" in Quechua (Inca language) means "center" and was the center, or rather the capital of the Inca empire that began in 12th century A.D.  The Inca empire had 14 reigning kings, but the most powerful and most influential was King Pachacutec, who expanded Incan land to be the largest empire in pre-Columbian America. Modern-day South American countries that were part of this vast empire was Peru, Chile, Bolivia, Ecuador, Argentina, and Columbia. The invasion of the Spanish Conquest in 1533 saw the downfall of the Inca empire as they brought European diseases (small pox, measles, influenza), guns, and political dissension amongst territorial regimes that wanted increased status by currying Spanish favor.  Ironically, the Spanish Conquistadors never discovered Machu Picchu, which was located 7970 ft high up in the Andes mountains and on the cusp of the Amazon jungle. It was abandoned during the height of the Spanish Conquest, and remained undisturbed until it was brought to international attention by Hiram Bingham in 1911, a Yale University professor and real-life Indiana Jones, who explored Machu Picchu and published his famous book, "The Lost City of the Incas." Today, Machu Picchu is a Peruvian Historical Sanctuary, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and new Seven Wonders of the World. It was an amazing site, and I wish deeply that I didn't lose my pictures.  The images of Machu Picchu are indelibly marked in the recesses of my memories, and now a marked chapter in the travels of my life.

Standing in the Andes Mountains near the Sacred Valley in Cusco.

Puerto Maldonado, Peru

Over the Memorial Day holiday week, I hopped on a plane and flew to Peru for a 10-day South American adventure that began in the Amazon Rainforest of Puerto Maldonado; the Andean mountain region of Cusco (where Machu Picchu "The Lost City of the Incas" was located); and lastly to the capital city of Lima. I stayed at the Reserva Amazonica, which was a beautiful eco lodge jungle resort that had thatched roof bungalows, comfortable beds with mosquito netting overlays, and rustic porches equipped with furniture made out of indigenous wood and comfy hammocks that were perfect for a late afternoon nap. I spent 3 days tromping through the rainforest with a local guide that carried a machete, and patiently explained the bizarre jungle flora and exotic animals that crossed our pathways. Some of the animals that we saw were 3-toed sloths, toucans (long beaked birds:  think Toucan Sam), pygmy marmosets (finger-size monkeys!!!), macaws (colorful parrots), brown agoutis (huge rodents), tarantulas, caimans (South American crocs), anacondas, and piranhas. The last three were seen in the swampy waters of the Amazon's tributaries and lakes on my second day's adventure that had me canoeing in these thrilling waters. Talk about an adrenaline rush! On my third day, I did a "Canopy Walk" on swinging bridges that were 100 ft high above the densely forested jungle that was about a 45 min. hike of unstable footing! It was these bridges that led me to the Canopy Treehouse that I spent the night in on my last night in the jungle.  It was so Swiss Family Robinson-like!  At night the jungle was alive with all sorts of noises--- including the growl of a  panther!!! Thankfully, it never visited me that night. However, by request I did get a visit by one of the region's tribal shaamans (medicine man).  I had elected  to participate in a spiritual ceremony called a "flowering bath".  The shaaman wore a loin cloth, colorful blanket that was wrapped around him, and a feathered headress.  He chanted in a native tongue and made graceful hand sweeping motions over my head, as I sat cross-legged on the treehouse floor. The treehouse had no electricity and the jungle at night was pitch black.  The only light came from ceremonial candles that the shaaman had lit around me. He was eerily beautiful in the candle light, as he continued with his incantations and hand motions.  The ceremony lasted about an hour, and was spirtually moving. The last thing that he did was pick up a tribal pottery bowl full of fragrant petals. Slowly and gently, he poured the contents of the bowl over me, as I remained in a sitting positon. The "flowering bath" was to cleanse my aura and awash me in peace, prosperity, and positive energy.  Ironically, I lost my camera 3 days later.  Egads. Why did I only save 2 pics of my Amazon experience on my laptop before my camera disappeared?  They are presented below.  The remaining pics were courtesy of Reserva Amazonica.

Me goofing on the "Canopy Walk."



Brown Agouti (rodent)

 

Bungalow pic courtesy of Reserva Amazonica.



Interior pic courtesy of Reserva Amazonica.



Canopy Treehouse pic courtesy of Reserva Amazonica.














Interior pic courtesy of Reserva Amazonica.



Next Destination Adventure: Peru!

Palermo



Puerto Nuova

  

The Chiesa di San Cataldo (The Church of San Cataldo)

Fontana Pretoria (Pretoria Fountain)

The Cattedrale di Palermo (Cathedral of Palermo)

Cattedrale di Palermo



Teatro Massimo (Massimo Theatre)



The Catacombe di Cappuchini (Capuchin Catacomb)

On my last day in Sicily, I drove 2 hours northwest and toured Palermo. Although it is the region's capital, Palermo is ironically known for the birthplace of the mafia. When I arrived, I drove through the archway of the Porta Nuova and parked at the Piazza del Parlamento and found myself visiting the Parliament grounds, Fontana Pretoria, La Cattedrale di Palermo, Teatro Massimo, and Chiesa di San Cataldo. However, none of these sites affected me more than the Catacombe di Cappuccini, which has been around since the 16th century. I found the catacomb bizarre and disturbing because  its walls were lined with mummified skeletons in period clothing!  As I walked down the dimly lit corridors of the catacomb, I was subjected to a thousand eyeless stares that even now leaves me shuddering at the memory. Yet this did not mar my overall impression of Palermo, but added to the experience!  I was sad to leave Sicily, but was very thankful for the respite after the tumultous months spent  in revolutionary Cairo. It was exactly what I needed. Perfecto!