Lima is a unique place. A city of 9 million people. Much of it is stricken with poverty. A tremendous blend of indigenous and Spanish influences (although not as much indigenous influence as Cuzco, the former capital of the Inca Empire and 'navel of the world' in Inca lore).

The weather is unique here. Fed by the Humboldt current from the South Pole, even though it is at sea level and close to the equator, the temperate is btwn 50 and 70 F most of the year, the sky is permanently overcast, yet it rarely actually rains.

The bird images towards the end were shot at a Wetland Sanctuary in southern Lima. We saw quite a few dead birds. The environmental policeman who befriended us explained that there are unregulated factories all around pumping toxins into the water table. And in the distance we could see any number of smoke plumes. He then went on to say that the fishing was good there. I tried to explain how that was a contradiction but he clearly thought the poisons only affected the birds and since they did not kill the fish, the fish were safe to eat :(.

Click 'original' in the size link at the bottom of the first image to set max resolution.