DEC 8 2017 SAN ANTONIA, CHILE

Our port of call was changed due to conflicts in Valaprisio.This was to be the end of one trip for people and also the beginning. Many people were upset because they had reservations in Valaprisio or Santiago.I don’t blame them as we were looking forward to seeing Valaprisio.It was also a national holiday and the main roads were closed.We walked into town and there wasn’t anything to see so went back to ship.

Some of the fishing boats.

There was a folkloric preforming on our way back to the ship.We stopped and watched them for awhile.

This end the 1st leg of this cruise but before I go on I’ll show you some pictures on the ship.

Sam on balcony

Stage in front on a backstage tour

Showing some of the costumes.

The casino

Dining in Quisen

Dec. 3 2017 Pisco Peru

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Our next port was Pisco home of the Pisco Sour.This area is noted for it’s grape brandy or pisco sour.

We went to the Isla Ballestas which is a large marine reserve designated a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Then we were taken to the  marina area which is home to hundreds of fishing boats.We boarded speed boats and

were taken to the reserve where we saw cormorants,sea lions,blue footed booties,blackbirds and and a few penquins.

What a fun and beautiful place.

 

There was lots of Guano out on the rocks that the birds left.Once a year a company goes out and harvests the Guano and it is made into fertilizer. There were several buildings where the workers stayed during this time.

We got back to town and searched for a place to each lunch.Our friends had fresh bass and we had the calamari.Delicious!

Peru is !0% desert,30% mountains(Andes) and 60% jungle.We proceeded to Parcas Ntl. Reserve.We went along the beach and saw lots of

rock formations including one that is called the cathedral.Many of these formations change over time with wind and rain.In 2007 Peru

had a huge earthquake and this is what the cathedral looks like now.

Lima Dec.2 Second day continued

Today we visited another ruins called Huaca Pucllana an old pre-Incan construction dating back to 500 AD.

Mummies wrapped in cloth after death

Our next stop was to Barranco.

Barranco is a district in Lima where the rich and famous once had their beach homes. Today Barranco is a Bohemian artsy community.

We strolled along a pathway that took us to a church and park which was nice.There are some sculptures and a old church.The church is

called La Erminta and is a rundown adobe built in 1750.The chapel was burned during the war between Peru and Chili in 1882.

Our next stop was Plaza de Armas where the Govenment Palace  is located around the plaza.This is home to the executive branch

of the government and the president of Peru.

Some Peruvian women sitting in the plaza

Parade going on in plaza

Our next stop was the San Francisco Monastery which is known for its catacombs.The church and monastery

contain more than 70,000 bones of people that had died.It also has a library that contained books from thousands of years ago

It seems I didn’t get photos of the library or catacombs probably not allowed.We returned back to the ship after a long day.

Next stop Pisco

Lima,Peru Dec.1 2017

With over 10 million people Lima is a very large city.Lima dates back to 1535 when it was first established

by the Spanish.Francisco Pizzaro dubbed the city Lima,City of Kings.When Peru got it’s independence in

1821 Lima became the capital.The city survived many wars and natural disasters to develop into a major

destination.Our first stop on our tour was Pachacamac Ruins which is a archeological site built between 800 and 1450 CE

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After touring the ruins we went for lunch.They had American as well as Peruvian food.Very good.

Our next stop was in Miraflores and Love Park.This park ran for miles along the ocean and had lots of

people walking running exercising and just enjoying the day.It’s a beautiful area.

 

This area reminds me of the park in Barcelona that Gaudi developed.Along the walkway is this seating area

made of mosaic.Very nice.

Sam and me

Kissing couple

Our last stop today was at a Indian Market.They have beautiful alpaca scarves among other things.

Tomorrow we will continue on with another tour of Lima.