Hello from Lima! We've just spent our first full and exciting day in Peru and have much to report. We started the day off at the Parque del Amor, a pedestrian park that overlooks the seashore at the Costa Verde Beach (just a short walk from our hostal). There, we explored a small stretch of the Peruvian Coast, got to know each other a little better and enjoyed a lunch overlooking rolling waves, the die hard surfers and the incoming mist.
From the beach, we bussed to the laboratory of our National Geographic contact, the renowned archeologist, Dr. Guillermo Cock. The two hours we spent wandering his laboratories, where he studies the excavated remains of pre-Columbian Incans (from pottery to textiles to mummies!), were the highlight of our day. Dr. Cock generously unveiled some of his most interesting and gruesome finds and spent time answering all of the questions we came up with. We were even able to view, thanks to Dr. Cock, one of his most recent and notable projects—the oldest remains of a person killed by firearm, an indigenous man shot during the Spanish conquest. The personal narratives and national histories seeped into the very bones that Dr. Cock works with are exquisite.
After saying goodbye to Dr. Cock, we took a ride to the beautiful Museo Larco which offers the best collection of pre-Columbian Incan artifacts in Peru. Gold, silver, ceramic and wooden artifacts are displayed in maze-like floor to ceiling shelves and we roamed over the impressive two story collection observing thinly hammered precious metals, drinking vessels sculpted to look like sea shells and a myriad of stone amulets made to look like plants, animals and their ancient owners.
We finished our day with lunch on the Parque Central, the central plaza of Miraflores, the architecturally beautiful and culturally hip neighborhood where we're staying. Over comida typica (traditional foods of Peru) we watched residents and tourists stroll by in the shadow of the beautiful colonial municipal building and cathedral.
We have an early flight to Cusco tomorrow morning and will proceed on to the village of Ollantaytambo by bus. We'll write more in the coming weeks.
Hasta luego,
Sarah, Mark, Joseph and Brenna
