Callao, Peru

Today we are in Callao which is the port city for Lima.  We are here for three days.   As tomorrow is disembarkation/embarkation day, the internet will be off for the morning so I am writing this now and will edit it with pictures later.

We were up early for our water exercises.  The water is still cool and it was very windy but we did it anyway.  We cleaned up for breakfast and got ready for our tour.  Today we visited the Convents and Monasteries of Lima.

Our first stop was to the Convento de Los Descalzos.  This was built in 1592 at the foot of Cristobal Hill.  The convent was founded by Father Andres Corso  as a spiritual retreat.  Even though it is called a convent, this was the home of the friars.  We toured the convent and saw many large paintings that are in bad need of cleaning.

We then went to Museo San Francisco.  This is a very impressive colonial building featuring a church, chapels, monastery and striking colonial fresco paintings.  The cloister is inlaid with glazed tiles most of them from Seville, bearing the dates 1620 and 1639.  The crypts or catacombs were built of bricks and mortar and are very solid and have withstood many earthquakes.  They served as the Lima cemetery until 1812.  It is estimated that 23,000 bodies have been laid to rest there.

San Francisco

On our walk to the next stop, we spotted a line of local police all in riot gear.  Not sure what was going on but they were all young and smiling so I don't think anything bad.  Maybe just practice.

Local Police

Next stop was the Santo Domingo Convent.  This is the oldest church and convent in Lima.  The foundation of the city of Santo Domingo was conceived by a friar named Tomas de San Martin.  Santo Domingo is sort of a city within the city and is comprised of a succession of cloisters and yards surrounded by service areas and communal rooms.  Both Saint Rose and Saint Martin de Porres are buried in Lima.  Construction of the Santo Domingo Convent began in 1540, but it was later modernized into its present neoclassical style in the 18th century.  In 1730 the general hall was built - a work of art that later became a part of the city's more unified ornamental groups.

The Convent included a wonderful library that contains hundreds of volumes.  Some of the Bibles date back to the 1500's.  They have just reopened it to the public.

Library

We returned to the ship and had lunch at the pool grill as everything else was closed.  Had a Philly Burger which is covered with grilled onions and grilled mushrooms.  Tasty.  Back to the cabin to finish the crossword puzzle and a short nap.

Dinner tonight is at Prime 7 but not until 8 pm so I think I will go to the show at 6pm and then to dinner.  This is the last night for some of the folks but several of the passengers are off the ship and since we are here overnight, many might be eating in Lima.  Will find out later.

Well a lot has changed.  First is the Bob is not feeling well and so we cancelled dinner in Prime 7.  I went to the show alone and then we headed up to the Observation Lounge while they cleaned up the cabin.  We sat with Bonnie and David and then returned to the cabin to bed.  Skipped dinner but I did have some crab legs the butler brought in so no starving.  Hope he feels better.  Achy and tired.