LAST DAY IN PERU, Lima, Peru

We took a morning flight back to Lima, stored our big backpacks at the airport and took a taxi to Museo de la Nacion.  We came here specifically to see the Yuyanapaq exhibition on the 6th floor. Yuyanapaq means “to remember” in Quechua.  It was an exhibition of black and white photographs documenting the Peruvian internal conflict from 1980 to 2000, in which thousands were killed in attacks by Shining Path rebels, government military, and other guerrilla groups.  It was a touching experience to learn the recent history of Peru.  It was hard to believe that the terror of bombings could happen pretty much anywhere in this country only a decade ago.

After some heavy realization of Peru’s recent past, we decided it was time for a good seafood lunch for this very last day of our trip.  We followed the guidebook’s recommendation and headed to El Veridico de Fidel, which according to the guidebook, was a place of pilgrimage in terms of Peruvian seafood. Though the book forewarned that the restaurant’s neighborhood could be a little chaotic and  rough.  As a result we decided to take a taxi.  El Veridico de Fidel was truly a seafood heaven. It was fully packed.  We spent a long time looking at the menu. At last, we ordered a full table of seafood and a jar of chicha, a type of fermented corn beverage.  The seafood dishes included leche de tigre (ceviche broth with shrimp, scallop, raw fish, octopus, and sea urchin), bi-colour tiradito (Japanese style ceviche without onions), ceviche platter (scallop, raw fish, whelks, octopus, and sea urchin), deep-fried seafood platter, baked scallops with cheese on top, and a red snapper sudado. The fish was fresh, and the soup very tasty.

After the heavenly meal, we taxied to the Plaza de Armas.  We causally strolled around the plaza to appreciate the surrounding architecture.  We headed to the main post office to send out some postcards.  There was only a tiny door from the arcade into the post office. We tried to buy some collection stamps but the staff refused to sell as they were closing.  After the post office, we walked around the area, stopped by a bakery for drinks, and then headed to Plaza San Martin.  At Plaza San Martin, we tried to visit El Bolivarcito for its legendary pisco sour but because of the regional election the next day, they were not allowed to sell alcohol.

We ended up stopping at a nearby KFC, before taking a taxi back to Lima’s airport.  One of our friends and us left Lima for New York and then Toronto that very night, while our other friend stayed at a hostel near the airport for another night before his flight back to Chicago the next morning.  That was it.  Uncounted fond memories of Peru: Andes Mountains, Inca history, colourful cultures, fantastic seafood, friendly people, funny llamas, mighty condors and sacred Titicaca.  After these magnificent Peruvian experiences, our interest on South America grew as time went on, until the day came when we were determined to explore this magical continent once again in 2013, from the Brazilian Pantanal to Bolivian Altiplano, and from the bustling Rio and Buenos Aires to windswept Patagonia.

The Museo de la Nacion in Lima.

The interior atrium at Museo de la Nacion, Lima.

Back window of taxi, on our way to El Veridico de Fidel.

Leche de tigre (ceviche broth) with shrimp, scallop, raw fish, octopus, and sea urchin.

(Left) ceviche platter, which included a scallop, raw fish, whelks, octopus, and sea urchin.  (Right) baked scallops with cheese on top.

(Left) deep-fried seafood platter.  (Right) red snapper sudado.

After we finished, one of the staff came to pose for me to take a photo. His bowl of fish and crab soup seemed very tempting to us as well.

The Plaza de Armas with buildings, cathedral, Archbishop’s Palace of Lima, etc.

Plaza de Armas, with buildings, cathedral, Archbishop’s Palace of Lima, etc.

President palace.

Interesting balcony at President’s Palace.

Arcade at the main post office.

Tourist horse carriage at Plaza de Armas, Lima.

A ornamental church along our way to Plaza San Martin.

Late afternoon at Plaza San Martin, Lima.

KFC at Plaza San Martin where we spent the last hour in Lima, Peru.

* * *

Read other posts on Peru Trip 2010

LIMA
1. Peru Trip 2010
2.  Bumpy Arrival, Lima & Arequipa, Peru
AREQUIPA & COLCA CANYON
3.  Monasterio de Santa Catalina, Arequipa, Peru
4.  Plaza de Armas, Arequipa, Peru
5.  Volcanoes and Vicuna, Pampa Canahuas Natural Reserve, Patahuasi, and Patapampa, Peru
6.  Yanque, Colca Canyon, Peru
7. Cruz del Condor, Colca Canyon, Peru
8. Farming Terraces, Colca Canyon, Peru
PUNO & TITICACA
9. Road to Titicaca, Colca Canyon to Puno, Peru
10. Afternoon on Taquile Island, Titicaca, Peru
11. Morning on Taquile, Titicaca, Peru
12. Inka Express, Puno to Cusco, Peru
CUSCO & SACRED VALLEY
13. Pisac & Ollantaytambo, Sacred Valley, Peru
14. Salinas de Maras, & Moray, Sacred Valley, Peru
15. Lucuma Milkshake & Plaza de Armas, Cusco, Peru
16. Saksaywaman, Cusco, Peru
INCA TRAIL
17. KM 82 to Wayllabamba, Inca Trail, Peru
18. Wayllabamba to Pacamayo, Inca Trail, Peru
19. Pacasmayo to Winay Wayna, Inca Trail, Peru
20. Winay Wayna to Machu Picchu, Inca Trail, Peru
21. Machu Piccu, Inca Trail, Peru
22. Machu Picchu in Black and White, Inca Trail, Peru
23. Afterthought, Inca Trail, Peru
LAST DAY IN CUSCO & LIMA
24. Farewell to the Incas, Cusco, Peru
25. Last Day in Peru, Lima, Peru

February 18, 2016 | Categories: Lima, Peru, Peru 2010 | Tags: ceviche, cuisine, El Veridico de Fidel, food, leche de tigre, Lima, Museo de la Nacion, Peru, Plaza de Armas, Quechua, seafood, Shining Path, urchin, Yuyanapaq | Leave a comment