Lima
 
We take off tonight for France and ask the hotel for a late check-out.
 
We return to the city center to visit:
 
* Central Bank Museum:
 
This national museum has a rich collection of objects that goes from prehistory to modern Peruvian times with many rooms such as the archaeological room to discover the pre-Inca civilization, the gold room where pre-Columbian gold objects are exhibited. Another room upstairs is dedicated to religious and colonial art (after the arrival of the Spanish) as well as contemporary art.
 
We end up with the central market that has no interest.
 
Returning to the hotel, we are approached by people who offer us false papers... On the street that we’re on, there are several photocopy stores where you can get these documents.... The police are present without intervening!!
Lima
 
This morning, we take our time, we booked a visit to 10.30 .
 
* Huaca Pucllana
This 1600-year-old pre-Columbian site is located in the heart of Miraflores, a 20-minute walk from our hotel.
We did not expect to find a pyramid in the middle of a residential area, and that is probably why its excavation began only thirty years ago.
It was a great religious and administrative center where 4 civilizations succeeded each other: Yschma, Lima, Wari and Inca. The guided tour presents the different structures and ceremonial practices (sacrifices, mummies) of each culture.
 
Then we go to the Barrranco district.
Located right next to Miraflores, it is the bohemian and hipster district of Lima.
An old seaside destination for the rich families of the city who come to enjoy the sea far from the chaos, one can still admire the large houses called casonas which testify to this golden era of the district.
The Bridge of Sighs and the Bajada de Baños (the bustling pedestrian avenue that runs down to the beach) are probably the most emblematic places in the area where you can find the best street art murals.
 
We finish our discovery with the Pedro de Osma Museum: it is an imposing casona with a nice garden that houses a large collection of Peruvian art from the 16th to the 19th century
Lima
 
Second day of visit starting with:
 
* MALI
At the entrance to the historic centre is the Lima Art Museum, located in a pretty building of the Parque de la Exposicion, built for the Lima International Exhibition in 1872.
It houses a large  art collection  from Peru covering 3000 years of history, through 9 rooms, from pre-Columbian cultures to the modern era (ceramics, textiles, furniture, paintings, etc.).
 
* Santo Domingo Church and Convent:
The complex was one of the most historic churches in Lima. Construction of the building began in 1540.  There are the tombs of Sainte Rose and Saint Martin de Porres. The church also houses a baroque altar. The convent, one of the best preserved in Lima, and the church tower are unique architectural models.
 
* Larco Museum
The museum houses an impressive collection of pre-Columbian artifacts, including the largest collection of pre-Columbian erotic art – begun by Rafael Larco Hoyle in 1923 and spanning approximately 5,000 years of history.
Originality: the museum’s reserve is accessible to visitors, who can discover some 30,000 additional archaeological finds.
Everything is in an 18th century hacienda, with a flowered garden and a café-restaurant with a nice terrace.
 
We continue to walk around without any specific purpose.
Lima
 
Today we visit the historic center.
 
Lima was during colonial times, the most important city in South America and today it is one of the major cities of the region.
 
It is still unloved, victim of a reputation from which she struggles to get rid of "grey and chaotic city".
 
Coastal town facing the Pacific, it offers an interesting contrast: on one side archaeological or colonial sites and traditional places, on the other side chic addresses and poor neighbourhoods.
 
We go to the "Plaza Mayor", also called Plaza de Armas, which is the heart of the city and a highly visited tourist site.
 
A large police cordon is installed in the event of a regrouping of the constestaires.
 
The square is empty but we are allowed to visit the monuments built all around.
 
* The Cathedral Basilica:
Erected in 1535 on an Inca place of worship and the palace of Prince Sinchi Puma, it has undergone many transformations over the centuries of baroque, gothic, neoclassical and romantic styles. It contains 13 chapels and the tomb of Francisco Pizarro.
 
* The palace of the archbishopric:
It is a neocolonial building with beautiful wooden balconies, residence of the archbishop of Lima and the administrative center. It houses a museum of religious art which presents a collection from the 16th to the 18th century.
 
* The Government Palace:
It is the seat of the government of Peru and the residence of the president. Around noon we swatch the changing of the guard reduced to a minimum due to events.
 
* The Basilica and Monastery of Saint Francis of Assisi:.
Mandatory guided tour ;  we are entitled to a guide not very interesting
This one takes us,  through the building, still partially occupied by the monks. Among paintings by the Cusco School and the Lima School, coloured tiles, sculptures, cloisters and other rooms, we discover in particular:
The refectory  that contains 15 paintings from the various schools, the magnificent library with some 25,000 works, the oldest of which date back to the 15th century, and the catacombs in the crypt of San Francisco, which were used until the early 19th century.
 
We return quietly to our hotel.
Lima
 
We leave the campsite, well loaded (three suitcases to check in, plus our computers, the camera bag and a small suitcase) ... We opted for a taxi to go directly to Lima.
 
Our hotel, very comfortable, is located in the very upscale district of "Miraflores".
 
It is Sunday and the promenade by the sea. Is overcrowded.
 
We stroll quietly after lunch in a Spanish restaurant where we order platters of charcuterie and cheese. A real treat.
 
Return to our hotel for a quiet evening.
Cieneguilla
 
The night was very quiet with, as everywhere in the world at midnight,  fireworks that illuminate the sky.
We resume our route towards Lima ;  the traffic is quite heavy but we do not cross the capital, we bypass it ... phew!
 
To leave our motorhome in Peru during our break, we must park it in a storage and make the steps to suspend the "TIP"
 
We chose the same storage as our friends Corinne and Thierry who returned to France long before us.
 
Thanks to them and their experience, the lengthy procedures were facilitated.
 
We stay a week at the "El Refugio" campsite run by Heraldo and his family who abandon us to spend a few days by the sea!!!
 
We are accompanied by a group of three musicians (Niamh an Irish, Abdul a Guatemalan and Manolo also Guatemalan) who perform in pubs or in the street.
 
We are 40 km away from Lima in a very dusty desert and a small village without much interest.
 
The week goes by quite quickly, we are preparing our companion of the road ... It’s the big cleaning!!!
 
We also take the opportunity to buy two tires that we will install when we return.
ROAD BOOK 139
MAVROS ODYSSEE