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City Guide - Lima - Further Distractions | ||
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Further Distractions Cerro San Cristobal Dwarfing houses in the Rimac district is the volcano-shaped hillside of Cerro San Cristobal. On a clear day, it affords great views of the sprawling city all the way to the ocean and to the foothills of the Andes. The summit is topped by a huge cross, which shines over the town at night. At the foot of the cross, people leave petitions and candles. There is a café at the summit. Due to its reputation for muggings, a taxi to the summit is recommended. A round trip from the city centre costs about US$8. There is a bus service up to the top of the hillside, called Urbanito, which costs around US$2. Miraflores and Barranco One of the main attractions of Lima is its proximity to the Pacific Ocean. In the last century, many of the capital's richest families built summer-houses in the seaside suburbs of Miraflores and Barranco, which were geographically separated from the rest of the city. Miraflores is a perfect base from which to visit the rest of Lima. Parque Kennedy, a pretty tree-lined park, offers a sanctuary from the noise and pollution of the city centre. Pavement cafés surround the park. As well as a large multiplex cinema, Miraflores has a number of excellent shops selling local arts and crafts. When the sun sinks into the ocean, visitors should head for a 'sundowner' at the Rosa Nautica, a restaurant that juts into the sea on its very own pier. Barranco is where Lima's party-lovers head at the weekend for its hectic nightlife, which consists of restaurants, bars and discos for every taste. But after the weekend a peaceful, family atmosphere returns to the suburb. Many of the large colonial houses built for the city's richest families remain in use, which is more than can be said for Barranco's tram system - a beautifully restored tram car that stands as a lonely witness to an altogether more sedate and stately chapter in Lima's history. |