August 26, 2006

August 26, 2006

This morning we head back to Lima’s Plaza Mayor and visit San Francisco Monastery. This very old community apparently had a lot more money than the convent we visited in Arequipa as the whole facility is adorned with paintings, mosaic tiles and woodcarvings. It is interesting, but the highlight is the extensive catacombs below ground that are filled with thousands of skeletons.

We spend the afternoon ocean-side watching a dozen paragliders travel the beachfront. The persistent breeze here makes this a very popular Saturday activity. The breezes are so strong here that the paragliders can actually work their way skyward. We also walk down to the beach and out onto a pier. We watch some Cormorant birds diving for fish. We also notice crabs on the rocks that apparently are chameleons as their color changes from orange to black to match the color of the rocks they are resting on.

At 8:00pm we catch a cab to the airport for our flight back to the US. Along the way I am reminded how dangerous the streets of Peru are. You take your life in your hands when driving or walking the streets. It is very important to wear a seatbelt while driving and to look both ways before crossing streets as traffic signs and lane markings apparently are merely suggestions, not requirements here.