Grand South America & Antarctica Voyage, Callao, Peru...

Our driver Willie and Guide Jennie picked us up at the port gate at 9am and we had a short drive to the center of Callao. We left the vehicle and walked around the area taking in the wall art and colonial buildings…a tourist security guard accompanied us providing direction where to find wall art. Next we went to the La Punta area of Callao. This area was established by Italian immigrants in the 19h century. We stopped at the Grand Admiral Miguel Grau Square in honor of the War of the Pacific. We walked around the square and caught a great performance of Peruvian Afro music by young children. Our next stop was the Real Felipe Fortress where we toured the inside of the fortress both the King and Queen’s Tower. I now know where the term standing room only comes from…the prison cell was a very narrow U-shaped room holding many soldiers in single file. After touring the fortress, we headed to Lima’s Miraflores district. Being a Saturday, traffic was heavy on the highway going into Lima…the beaches were packed and the water had many surfers enjoying their weekend. Miraflores is a residential and upscale shopping district south of downtown Lima. It is also one of the wealthiest districts that make up the city of Lima. Once we arrived in Miraflores we visited La Marina Lighthouse and then walked along the coast to Love Park. Love Park is a favorite spot for lovers to meet and houses the famous statue of lovers embracing. Leaving the coast, we went to another emblematic attraction in Miraflores, the bustling Kennedy Park. The park is home to a Church of the Miraculous Virgin built in 1939…here was a wedding taking place so we could not visit the inside of the church, just a quick photo… The park also hosts the Municipal Palace, headquarters of Miraflores’ local government and the Chabuca Granda Amphitheater. This park also sits in the center of the Miraflores shopping and restaurant district. Named after U.S. President John F. Kennedy in thanks for the aid he sent Peru during his presidency. There were many artists selling their paintings in the park…I was very tempted…there were some beautiful pieces. We called it a day after the visit to the park and returned to the ship. Another visit to Lima for the books....  Took another boatload of photos today.