Lima is a BIG CITY!

 

Lima has a population of over 11 million and is home to one third of the population of Peru. It sits along the coastal plane between the Pacific Ocean and the foothills of the Andes. Miraflores with ocean views, tall modern buildings, and green hills and parks is one of the nicest parts of the city.   

Walking through this mall not far from where we live in La Molina, it feels more like San Diego than Lima!  The food court was an interesting mix of mostly American fast food mixed with a few local brands.  La Molina is at the base of the Andes foothills on the other side of the city from Miraflors. It is also a very nice part of the city. 

On our morning walk in La Molina. We feel safe here. Like all of Latin America, most people live behind high walls with sharp wire or glass on top, barred entries and multiple locks. (We go through 3 locked barriers in order to get into our home). There are parts of the city to avoid, but overall, Lima has the feel of a very large modern city.   

Most of Lima lives in block construction homes and apartments in varying degrees of finish in very concentrated neighborhoods. Road are narrow and traffic can be bad.  Because of the very little variation in temperature, there is no insulation in the construction. When it's cold outside, your cold. I expect when it gets hot this summer, it will be hot inside too.

People live where they can. Scattered homes in the foothills along the edge of Lima. The difference between those that have and those that have not can be striking. But overall Peru has one of the lowest extreme poverty rates in South America at 1.8%.  By comparison, Brazil has an extreme poverty rate of 6.5% and Argentina 7.7%. Bolivia's extreme poverty at 5% is similar to Colombia and Ecuador. Venezuela with the political turmoil of the past 20 years has a continent worse rate of 13% extreme poverty.  

The Lima Temple is one of the most beautiful spots in the city. The building is stunning and the temple grounds are manicured and inviting. The Church is very strong in Lima. A second temple, in Los Olivos in the northern part of the city, is nearing completion. In Lima there are 42 stakes with hundreds of units worshiping in over 100 chapels that bless the members and their neighborhoods. We live just across the street from one of our lovely chapels. 

                                Only wish there was more sunshine, but that topic requires a blog of its own.