We landed in Lima late last night and arrived at the Jose Antonio Hotel in the Miraflores district at around 1AM this morning. We slept in, had breakfast and with paper map in hand we set out to explore the area around the hotel on this warm, clear day.
With a population of over 10 million, Lima is the largest city of Peru. This capital city is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín Rivers, in the desert zone of the central coastal part of the country, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The Miraflores district is considered the cultural and gastronomic hub of the city.
We were still a bit travel weary as we made our way through the clean, well-kept streets of the city heading for Parque Central de Miraflores (Miraflores Central Park). the John F. Kennedy Park, named after U.S. President John F. Kennedy for his role in the Alliance for Progress, and the 7 June Park, named after the Battle of Arica of the War of the Pacific.
Kenedy park is a haven for stray and unwanted cats for over 20 years. The cats enjoy a well-maintained area with beautiful flower beds and garden arrangements. The cats are cared for by local volunteers who feed them, provide shelter, and ensure their well-being.
We opted for lunch adjacent to the park at El Parquetito, where we were joined at our outside table by some of the local park cats. Sue had the excellent seafood platter while Dan opted for goat and yucca. The meal was excellent.
We stopped at a local market to pick up some bottled water, the tap water in Lima is not potable, and made our way back to the hotel. Although it was Halloween, or La Noche de Brujas (witches’ night), and the festivities were ramping up, the truth is we were too tired to join. We split a hamburger for dinner and went to bed.
