Exploring Lima – Pueblo Libre

Hola!

The next three posts on this blog are pretty much exactly what they sound like – an overview of the places to go and things to do in Lima, based on my experiences. Not that they will then be the end of me talking about Lima; I like to think of it as just putting most of the information and memories I collected in a few boxes, like photo albums. I lived in Lima between the beginning of August and mid-December 2014, studying at the PUCP as part of my year abroad. As mentioned in a previous post, I lived with a local family in Pueblo Libre. However, I spent most of my free time (that is to say, not studying or dancing) in Miraflores, San Isidro and Barranco, looking for food to eat, experiences to try and pretty things to photograph. To start my trio of Peruvian posts, let’s dive into

Pueblo Libre:

(The view of Pueblo Libre from my balcony)

This will be a short and sweet section, since I am focusing on one place in the district: the Museo Larco. Although Pueblo Libre is by far not the city’s nicest district, it is home to this lovely museum and restaurant. The museum itself is really interesting, filled with jewellery, vases and other ancient artefacts. It is even complete with a section dedicated to pre-Colombian erotic art! I do enjoy a nice fertility statue. I went there with two other international students I met, and discovered it to be a genuinely interesting and enjoyable way to spend a morning before lunching at the museum’s restaurant.

(One of the museum's artefacts)

The restaurant serves really tasty food; a mix of traditional Peruvian dishes (tequeños, ceviche, lomo saltado, etc.), pastas, risottos, steaks, burgers, and more. I particularly liked the combination of the two styles on one plate: for example, my favourite dish was spaghetti with huancaína sauce and prawns (I have already discussed my love of huancaína). To drink, there are the staple pisco sours, cocktails and Cusqueña beer (and soft drinks too, but funnily enough I never had any). When I was there, a brand of champagne whose name now escapes me was celebrating its 85thbirthday by selling 200ml bottles of champagne in various restaurants and bars, including the Museo Larco’s restaurant. You can believe that I took full advantage of that timely opportunity. In fact, because it was located between the flat I was living in and the university, more than once I would frequent the restaurant on the way home or in a long break between classes.

The greatest joy of the Museo Larco is the tranquillity of its gardens. Anyone who has walked up Avenida Simón Bolivar knows that it is a lively street; car horns constantly honking,taxistastouting for business, the markets and bakeries always bustling. To enter into the verdant enclosure of the Museo Larco is like stepping into another world – dappled sunlight and sweet quietness fill the air while you can sip a cocktail and read a book in peace. Bliss.

(I like a good tree)

Photo gallery