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Day 14:
We got an overnight bus to Lima, which was actually really nice; the seats were comfy, they reclined, you got given a blanket and a pillow. However I was sat next to Juber, who should change his name to Snorey McSnoreson and so I barely got any sleep. I did get a good way through Marching Powder though, so credz to me.
Arrived in Lima, got a transport to out hotel, Hostal Gemina, which is a really cute little place, it's got some nice leather sofas where we can all hang out and most importantly HOT WATER.
After my much anticipated shower we headed out to do a walking tour of Lima. McDonald's took far too long heating up my chocolate muffin and so I had to begin the tour with a mouth stuffed with muffin. It started in a distinct called Miraflores, a rich area, next to a park called 7 de Junio. This park is particularly amazing because it's home to 271 cats, that you can just go and stoke, which was Ah-mazing. Our guide explained how Miraflores is the rich, American influenced area and so we had to catch a bus 'downtown' to the historic centre.
I absolutely love the bus system in Lima, it's 2.5 soles to get in, but you can't use the bus without a special bus card, and so forgeiners essentially have to hassle Peruvians until one of them will let you pay to use their card, although everyone in Lima is incredibly lovely and the first woman we asked let us use hers. You then stand behind a glass barrier that opens when the bus stops so that you can get on, it feels more like a tube than a bus.
We got to the historic centre of Lima, the Main Plaza. In the middle is a 500 year old fountain, to one side is a bright yellow city hall, on another is the presidential palace, and next to that is the Cathedral where the Archbishop lives. The buildings themselves are beautiful, the cathedral is a mismatch of different eras and styles, with baroque wooden balconies on neoclassical marble, because earthquake damage meant that it had to be restored many times. The presidential palace is also a history of art students fantasy, and it stretches back down an entire street. The juxtaposition of all these buildings is incredibly bizarre, the city, the country and the church are all run from within the same square kilometre. It's like if Trafalgar Square was flanked by Westminster abbey, Buckingham palace and Downing Street.
Walking alongside the presidential palace you come to the Cordoza bar, which was founded by Italian brothers in 1908 and is now Lima's most popular (and possibly oldest) bar, rumour has it that there's a secret underground tunnel from the presidential palace straight to the bar
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