"It Never Rains in Lima, but Ma ..." a Lima Travel Page by AKtravelers

Lima is the city where every thing seems like it should just be a little bit better. I got this sensation when I stopped at a cool-looking coffee shop in Miraflores, just southwest of Park Kennedy. The wrought iron furniture was complemented by coffee bags that were piled so that you could sit on them. In fact, several customers were. What a cool idea! But then I tried their coffee. It was nondescript. It could have been better.
Lima has a big cathedral, but its inside is unadorned and relatively boring. It has a presidential palace, built in a mishmash of styles -- all borrowed none original. It has a pretty Plaza de Armas -- but not as beautiful as the one in Cuzco. It has a National Museum with pre-Columbian artifacts -- but the collection is dominated by replicas and is small by National Museum standards. Lima has a beach, but its covered with tennis ball-size rocks. It's all okay, but it could be better.
Even the weather could be better. It never ever rains in Lima. No rain sounds perfect, right? Except none of the dirt ever gets washed away by nature. How do you think a fire hydrant smells when the accumulated years of dog urine on it never dissipates? Yes, even the rainless weather could be better.

If your expectations aren't too high, a day or two in Lima can be enjoyable. There are a few things worth a visit. Definitely stay around for the changing of the guard at the presidential palace (noon daily). This is one thing that maybe couldn't be better -- colorful goose-stepping guards parade to Peruvian martial music. We have never seen soldiers kick higher. The Plaza de Armas and the Church of San Francisco are worth visits. And, possibly, the Museo de la Nacion.

But if you truly want to get the most out of Lima, you can't focus on the sights. You have to engage the people. And Lima has 9 million of them!
People-watching is a great sport in Lima. Check out the Parque de L'amor in Miraflores, where lovers make out under the sculpture of a passionate couple. Observe surfers as they catch the waves. Watch parents play with their kids in Park Kennedy or young men play guitars in the park. Limenos seem to spend all their relaxing moments outside in their rainless, maritime air. Thereare plenty of people to watch.
Almost without exception we found the Limenos to be friendly, despite our halting, limited Spanish. We talked to joyful cab drivers, merchants who wanted to keep in touch by e-mail after you made a purchase, artists hoping to make a breakthrough, people in the street who were interested in where we were from.
We enjoyed meeting the people of Lima even though we were underwhelmed with the sites.