11 Feb - Callao, Lima, museum, pre-Inca ruins and prancing horses! 

Yet again the ship arrived in port bang on time and almost immediately began to disembark passengers going on freelance tours. 

We had chosen a full day tour covering three main points of interest: The National Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Pachacamac (pronounced "pack-yer-mac") Ruins and a display by Peruvian Prancing Horses.

Once we got clear of the portside secure area the bus drove through a really rough part of town. It was easy to appreciate why so many dire warnings about personal security had been broadcast over the ship's TV. Many of the houses looked half finished or badly in need of repair. Our tour guide told us this was often done on purpose to avoid paying full housing tax.

The National Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology

The first stop at the museum turned out to be quite interesting. We were guided around each era from pre-Incan and pre-Columbian right up to the Spanish Conquistadors. Some of the pottery, masks and textile artifacts looked almost new despite being thousands of years old. Due to restrictions on using flash photography, I was not able to get any decent pictures of the rich colours and patterns used in the fabrics, but Ann was astonished by the craftsmanship and design capabilities of the ancient cultures. We bought some small gifts from the shop and found out later that the exchange rate was 3:1 and we got charged 1:1, well ripped off!

Pachacamac Ruins & Prancing Horses

On reaching the ruins we were given a brief tour and looking at some of the stone work and the temple you wouldn't believe they were so old. It was interesting but I would have loved to have seen Machu Piccu - the tour from the ship went yesterday and they are away for 3 days. Oh well maybe some day. 

We took some pictures and then boarded our air conditioned luxury coach and headed then for a ranch that was situated right in the middle of this very poor area and protected by high stone walls and barbed wire. It was an oasis of green and opulence and quite a surprise. 

We were greeted with a welcome drink (Pisco Sour) and sat down to a display of Peruvian horses prancing about the place. It was entertaining but the display only lasted a few minutes and it was over. This was supposed to be the highlight of the tour and so that was a little disappointing. We were then given a traditional Peruvian meal - chicken, beef, pork with plantains and potatoes and yams which had been cooked using hot stones in the ground. This was washed down with pomegranate juice and wine. It was nice. We tasted everything. We left there shortly afterwards and returned to ship where we went to the sail-away party on deck eight and drank tequila sunrise to the sound of the Caribbean band. What a hard life this is!!!!!!!!! 

Goodbye Peru - Hello Ecuador!!!!

Huge statue outside the museum.

Inca ruins, very dry and dusty

More ruins and irrigation channel with vegetation. Apparently, the whole area was once covered by trees and lush green grass, but the local poor people cut everything down and used it for cooking fires etc...

Magnificent horses, very proud and arrogant!

Ye Ha... close formation riding display

Smart gardens and a smart ass larging it!!!

The sun sets on Peru, picture taken from our "hull hole" balcony using a fisheye lens.

Visiting Callao (Lima), Peru - Options for an EIGHT hour Visit!
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