This summer we decided to take a South American adventure vacation down to Peru. We invited a couple from work along as well so you’ll be seeing them throughout. We initially took the train down to Texas for cheaper flights down to Peru, so we spent a day in Fort Worth.
The above is a picture of us in Sundance Square, a key location in the downtown revitalization efforts that began in the late 70s. It has become a huge success in terms of number of visitors per year, and also how it was so easily blended in with the surrounding buildings.
This is the famous Chisholm Trail Mural, painted in 1988. The three-story Richard Haas trompe l’oeil mural commemorates the history of Ft Worth’s cattle industry, commemorating cattle drives from 1867 – 1875.
Above and below is the iconic “Dancing Pool” of the Fort Worth Water Garden. Made to evoke a large surface – perhaps a dance floor – the jets of water are all attended to the same height, made to feel as if you could walk across the tops.
The next three pictures are from the “Active Pool”, where water rushes down steep, stone steps to a roaring gorge forty feet below. We could descend above the gushing water on an elevated walkway of free-standing steps, which was the same way visitors ascended, creating some tight corners where you could easily fall into the water…
Overall a great way to spend the day! Next we made our way to the airport and boarded a red-eye into Lima, Peru. Upon arrival we were shuttled to our hotel, but then quickly whisked off on a tour. Not a lot of sleeping, but a lot of interesting things to see!
Above and below are interiors of the Parque Universitario (the University Park). The park was named after the National University of San Marcos (considered to be the first university in the Americas), dating from 1867. A lot of the tile work and waterworks are original, though they have been restored over the years.
The building is still used as a school, though usually for students on day trips or as part of their annual curriculum. Much of the room design is unchanged from the university’s heyday in the early 1900s.
Above us is a church or a cathedral, I don’t quite remember. Below is us in front of the Peruvian equivalent Prime Minister’s house, the Case de la Presidencia del Consejo de Ministros. Built in 1856, it has housed 155 ministers.
A short way from the main square lies the Aliaga house. This is the oldest colonial home in Peru and potentially in South America. The house has been owned and lived in by the Aliaga family and their descendants since Franzisco Pizarro granted the land to Jerónimo de Aliaga in 1535.
The site of the house was a pre-Columbian altar that was dismantled for the building of the home (creepy). The interior of the home is full of original wood and colonial accoutrements throughout it’s over 50 rooms. The home is still inhabited, so large sections are blocked off from visitors. In fact, even the sections that are available are only open to a very few tour groups and important dignitaries.
We moved on to the St. Thomas Aquinas college and encompassing grounds.
This college was built using the traditional Spanish style of high walls and two story rooms surrounding an open area that is ornately decorated, and always includes trees or other greenery.
I don’t get a great picture of the entire library, but these are three shelves in a room of dozens, in a library that dates back to the early 1900s. It’s currently only accessible to faculty, but we were allowed to come in and look.
In the courtyard shot below you can see the amazing tile work on all the structures. This was done both to protect the facilities from the elements but also to beautify the surroundings.
Next we rode over to the Larco Museum, a private collection of pre-Incan artifacts, detailing a large and flourishing civilization dating back 4,000 years.
The building was constructed in the 18th century over the site of a 7th century pre-Columbian pyramid.
Much of the 14,000-piece collection was unearthed along the northern portion of Peru, as well as the central areas near the Pacific Ocean. First opened in 1926, the museum has slowly added to its collection ever since.
Below is ceremonial gear worn by a priest or a member of the royalty, highlighting the “other-ness” given their position.
This is called a “Quipu”, or “Talking Knots”. It was a tool used to take census of individuals or animals, and has since been thought to contain language, representing by both style or number of knots but also the material used to make each string.
The outside courtyard – beautiful.
It was time for dinner, and we went to a Amazon-sourced restaurant by the hotel. Dishes included traditional trout ceviche, baked pork and rice, and plantains filled with a type of cheese, affectionally known as “Cheesy Blasters”…by only our group, hah.
After dinner we decided to go out exploring. We stumbled upon quite the scene as Peru was ramping up for their inclusion in the World Cup – for the first time since 1982! As you can see, they are quite excited.
There was an outdoor mall build into a cliff face. At night the colors were pretty excited…a nice are to walk around. We got some fancy coffees and continues on our way.
Below you can see the Peruvians getting very excited about their first exhibition match in the World Cup. We are in an alley between some shopping centers and it was quite packed – and someone had a flag!
On the way home we found a nice cobbled street somewhere in Lima…very pretty all around.
Thanks for reading!