Isle Ballestas - southern coast of Peru

What a morning - we had to leave the hotel before 5:00 am. Some confusion about the guide. Our private bus had a flat tire. We were traveling through the desert. Peru is a third world country afterall!

We arrive at Parcas Bay to take a passenger boat to the islands. We are late - and the boat is waiting!!

We pass a huge "geoglyph" on the island of Puerto San Martin - "El Candelabro". It is almost 500 feet long - it is stamped into the desert hillside by the Nasca natives.

We arrive at the islands of San Gallan and La Vieja - home to many unique species of bird and sea lion. The Humboldt Current flows close to the coast at the part of the Pacific Ocean - making the waters cold. The Islands are home to the Humboldt Penguins as well.

Natural arches have been formed by the sea making for dramatic views.

Enrico Poli Museum in Lima

Lanny got great information about visiting the Poli Museum on the airplane from USA. It was wonderful advice - an amazing collection of art, antiquities, treasures, jewels, ....

Enrico Poli emigrated to Lima and began his work as a cook. He became interested in ancient artifacts and started acquiring pieces for many years. His son shared the home's collection with us adding fabulous stories about the collection, the country, religion and life. What a treasure to be able to experience such a unique opportunity.
June 16, 2010 Lima Peu

Again - no photos allowed in the home -these are attributed to google images.

Larco Museum - Erotica gallery (Warning - expilict images)

The Moche culture used pottery to explain everything they did - from growing food, to preparing for battles to fertility idols.
Larco has amassed an amazing collection of Moche pottery involved with sexual acts. It is believed that most is seeking fertility for the people. You can decide for yourself!

Here is the link for more information.
http://www.museolarco.org

Gold pieces at Larco Museo

There is an extensive collection of gold pieces from seveal ancient civilizations - including the earrings ( I keep repeating - that is one huge hole in the ear lobe for these earrings!) Also head dresses of gold were used by kings and priests.

Museo Arqueologico Rafael Larcois Herrera

The museum is the largest private collection of Peruvian art - 45,000 pieces of Pre-Columbian. Rafael Larco Hoyle was a sugar cane baron. The museum is built over an ancient pyramid.
I have added photos of a Chimu warrior - as seen in Chan Chan. Several Moche pieces of pottery - the mountain giving life to people and a prisoner (always shown naked with a rope around his neck).

Cafe Museo and Museo Arqueologico Rafael larco Herrera

We had a lovely lunch on the patio of the Herrea Museum - a privately held collection of artifacts from all Peruvian cultures.

The landscaping was beautiful with buganvillas, cactus and many other plants.

Le Cathedral - Lima

The Cathedral was started in 1535. The remains (except his head??) of Francesco Pizarro - the conqueror of Peru- is inside the chapel with his name. The chapel is splendid with its gold moasics and paintings.

Most of the interior is in the Baroque style.

Changing of the Guard: Palacio del Gobierno - President's Home

The Changing of the Guard is a very elaborate ceremony. The military band plays several songs. Then the new guards come out with a step I have never seen. A goose step forward then a step to the side - could not get a great photo through the fence. An armed military presence insured crowd cooperation. The President's home is on the Plaza Mayor in center city Lima.

Police presence in Peru

We have seen a lot of police and security presence in most of Peru! (Except not in Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu).

Armored cars, uzzi's, guards, crowd control, etc.

San Francisco Church and Catacombs

We toured the San Francisco church and convent in downtown Lima. Originally constructed in 1557 - but damaged and rebuilt after earthquakes.

The yellow front is 17th century Baroque and blue tiles from Seville Spain are found inside. Moorish influence is seen throughout the church.

One important feature is the catacombs were started as a cemetery in 1546. As many as 75,000 people were buried. The bones have been separated and the skulls are in a huge pit. .....

Historic Center - Lima Peru

June 16, 2010 Our whole group is together - Darrell and Elaine, Lanny Scholes, Dave and Kathleen Roberts (Naples FL & Cincinnati OH and retired P & G) and Dave's brother Rick and Phyllis Roberts from Laguna Hills, CA!

The start the the adventure!!

City tour - to Plaza Mayor - anchored by the Cathedral, the President's Mansion, colonial houses with huge wooden balconies and a huge plaza.

The city has placed big screen tv in the plaza to carry futball (soccer) World Cup games - the crowd goes wild when their team scores. Every restaurant and shop has been tuned to World Cup - its a fever!!

Witches Market and Guinea Pigs

The most famous delicacy of food in Peru is the guinea pig "Cuy". It is eaten on special holidays - we saw many being grilled through the country - but we did not try it.

The Witches market is in the Mercado Modela in Chiclayo. Many of the people use witchdoctoers and healers - curanderos and brujos! Many of the needed supplies are found in a special section in the market.

Our guide Miguel tells us he has never been to a medical docter - only healers. He also told us that a guinea pig is rubbed over his body to absorb evil and then used by the witchdocter to determine what is wrong.

Lord of Sipan - continued

Showing a few more pieces of the gold - plectoral, idol.

Many were buried inside the tomb in addition to the king. A Moche priest, 3 female concubines, a dog, 2 llamas, a child, a guard and many pieces of pottery etc...

Also at the end of the exhibit are lifesize manequins that are dressed in costume that move and play music. Corny - but cool!!

June 15 2010

Lord of Sipan - The Gold

I have taken the liberty of posting photos from google images because (technically) no photos are allowed in the museum - so I followed the rules!

The craftsmanship is amazing and the pieces are absolutely beautiful. The historical significance of finding such an impressive intact tomb is also important.

http://www.tumbasreales.org/

This is the link to the museum. Pull it up in Google and it will translate to English. I won't try to describe everything - but the total presentation is amazing.

Gold and turquoise earrings (note the huge post that went inside a hole in the earlobe.

The gold and silver peanut necklace! Sources say it is the cocoa pod - who in their right mind would make gold peanuts! The gold represents the sun and the silver the moon. Many other beautiful pieces!!!!

Lord of Sipan - Museum

The Lord of Sipan was the inspiration for our trip to the Northern Coast of Peru. I wanted to see the gold!! And there is a lot to be found in the Mueseum: Museo Tumbas Reales de Sipan.

What the Spanish didn't take - the looters did - and sold on black market! An amazing discover of an undisturbed tomb of a king of the Moche culture. He was buried 1700 years ago. The museum is shaped like a pyramid and you enter at the top and proceed down to a recreation of the actual tomb. The original artifacts are housed in the museum. It is a treasure.

Archeaology Magazine has named this find one of the most important in the 20th century. The gold is astonishing.