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Lima
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Lima Centro Lima Centro is the historic heart of the city, where the Spaniards built the country's capital in colonial fashion. It has repeatedly suffered from earthquakes, fires, and neglect, so although it was once the continent's most important colonial city, stunning examples of the original town are less prevalent than one might expect. Much of Lima Centro is dirty, unsafe, crowded, and chaotic, although city officials are finally getting to much-needed restoration of the remaining historic buildings and have drastically upgraded police presence in the city center (making it just about as safe as anywhere in the city during the day). The great majority of visitors stay in outer suburbs rather than Lima Centro; most hotels are small [H]ostales (inns) aimed at budget travelers and backpackers. The absolute heart of the Lima Centro is the Plaza de Armas, site of La Catedral (cathedral) and government palaces, and nearly all the colonial mansions and churches of interest are within walking distance of the square. Several of Lima's top museums are in Pueblo Libre, a couple kilometers southwest of Lima Centro, while San Borja, a couple kilometers directly south of Lima Centro, holds two of the finest collections in all of Peru.
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While Polvos Azules in the center of Lima might be the absolute best for prices on many items, you can save time by shopping some of the stores right in Miraflores. La Quinta, for example, on the corner of Larco and Diez Canseco, is sort of a Marshalls/TJ Maxx Peruvian style, offering all sorts of clothes at very good prices (but watch the quality). A great place to buy simple cooking utensils is in the shops surrounding el Mercado de Surquillo, just over the bridge (crossing the freeway) from Miraflores off Av. Ricardo Palma. You can find all sorts of implements, like orange juice squeezers (exprimador de jugo de naranja), rolling pins, cutting boards, and other tools you might find useful, all handmade and of decent if not spectacular quality. The Mercado itself can be a good place to experience Peruvian food markets - a rich variety of produce, fruits, and meats are available.
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Lima has many choices of museums to visit. The Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology in the Plaza Bolivar is one of the most interesting museums in South America, with a superb collection of pottery and textiles from all the main cultures of ancient Peru. The Museum of the Republic, contains exhibits from the colonial and independence periods. The National Museum, opened in 1990, in a neo-brutalist mausoleum on Av Javier Prado Oeste in San Borja. The museum contains impressive mock-ups of pre-Columbian archaeological sites, and an ingenious replica of the Chavin stela, a massive carved stone idol. The Gold Museum contains a private collection with some fine items and artifacts.
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Lima nights had one name: Barranco, a traditional district with an old-fashioned atmosphere full of romance, and gathering point for Lima's bohemians. In this normally quiet part of the city, at nightfall that peace vanishes: Barranco changes with the moon. Hundreds of people take the discos, bars, restaurants, pubs, casinos and pinball halls as a storm. Too much noise and people. Not recommended at these days.
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The Swissôtel Lima offers three restaurants, a Lobby Bar and a Gourmet Deli Shop. Le Café serves a varied menu that includes Peruvian delights and lunch buffets. La Locanda has created fusion cuisine, combining Peruvian and Mediterranean flavors,.and Swiss and European specialties are served at La Fondue.
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Unlike other ethnic groups in Lima who speak only Spanish, most of the peasant population that migrated to Lima speaks primarily Quechua or Aymara, rather than Spanish. While a number of Amerindians eventually attain middle class status, others still live in shantytowns, known locally as pueblos jóvenes (young towns). These areas often lack such basic services as electricity and running water. Afro-Peruvians, initially brought to the region as slaves, are yet another part of the city's ethnic quilt, and Asians, an even smaller one.
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