Downtown Lima is different than downtown Bogota in that it’s bigger, better, cleaner, safer, and not crawling with crackheads. The Viceroyalty of Peru was the capital of Spanish South America for over two hundred years. Spain ruled over its South American territories from Lima. Mexico City governed Central America, the Caribbean, and its territories that are now part of the United States (California, Colorado, etc.). In the 18th century New Granada was established, and Bogota governed what is now Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Panama.
Maybe being the previous capital of South America plays a part in Lima’s grandiosity. The plazas are bigger, more impressive, and make better pictures than any other city I’ve seen in Latin America, including Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro.
Most striking is the lack of indigents and drug addicts in Lima. I’m sure there are pickpockets, but it’s generally an area where you don’t have to watch your back, in direct contrast with downtown Bogota.
For slideshow viewing, see the Downtown Lima album on the Expat Chronicles FB page.
Expat Chronicles 
I like the red building.
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Awesome tour of downtown Lima. The old beauties look like they are being well maintained.
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I guess that is the Rimac River. The Spanish must have founded Lima on it’s banks because of the availabity of water. Just like th LA River it carves up the city, but is now largely forgotten.
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Awesone, and nice photo about lima, the capital of PERU
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Cool pics…def cleaner and more picturesque than Bogota!
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the red building is the Venezuelan embassy. There was some strange story about that building a couple of years back but damn if i can remember what it was about.
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Other Landmarks in Lima downtown
The argentinean embassy.
http://www.google.com.pe/search?hl=es-419&q=argentinean+embassy+in+Lima&bpcl=38897761&biw=911&bih=431&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&wrapid=tlif135358089861810&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=agGuUPuODIac9gT8qIGwBg#um=1&hl=es-419&tbo=d&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=embajada+argentina+en+Lima&oq=embajada+argentina+en+Lima&gs_l=img.3..0j0i24l2.20321.26923.0.27058.26.13.0.13.13.0.89.524.13.13.0…0.0…1c.1.tOoWdUFzAE8&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=b794eef9eb6c45ef&bpcl=38897761&biw=911&bih=431
El palacio de Osambela
http://www.google.com.pe/search?hl=es-419&q=argentinean+embassy+in+Lima&bpcl=38897761&biw=911&bih=431&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&wrapid=tlif135358089861810&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=agGuUPuODIac9gT8qIGwBg#um=1&hl=es-419&tbo=d&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=Palacio+de+Osambela&oq=Palacio+de+Osambela&gs_l=img.3..0j0i24.2714.16627.3.16963.20.13.0.7.7.0.252.2221.4j2j7.13.0…0.0…1c.1.H6nMOgO2Mnw&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=b794eef9eb6c45ef&bpcl=38897761&biw=911&bih=431
El palacio Torre Tagle
http://www.google.com.pe/search?hl=es-419&cp=17&gs_id=24&xhr=t&q=el+palacio+torre+tagle&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bpcl=38897761&biw=911&bih=431&wrapid=tljp1353581167027030&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=hAKuUIzBFYq09QTrjoD4AQ
El Jiron de la Union
http://www.google.com.pe/search?hl=es-419&biw=911&bih=431&q=El+Jiron+de+la+Union+en+Lima&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bpcl=38897761&wrapid=tlif135358125451310&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=4wKuUK3zC4L68QT074GgBg
El Barrio chino or chinatown
http://www.google.com.pe/search?hl=es-419&q=Barrio+chino+de+Lima&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bpcl=38897761&biw=911&bih=431&wrapid=tlif135358135973910&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=RwOuUN3BBIby9gSE6oH4DQ
Jiron quilca or Boulevard Quilca
El Parque Universitario
http://www.google.com.pe/search?q=el+parque+Universitario&hl=es-419&tbo=u&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=tAWuUJCvCIfO9QTds4DwAw&ved=0CDMQsAQ&biw=943&bih=446
The oldest University in the American continent
http://www.google.com.pe/search?hl=es-419&pq=el+parque+universitario&cp=21&gs_id=2c&xhr=t&q=la+casona+de+san+marcos&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bpcl=38897761&biw=943&bih=446&wrapid=tljp1353582146074240&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=WAauUM_ZFIHq8wTBtIHwCQ
The oldest and the new Ministerio de Educacion.
http://www.google.com.pe/search?hl=es-419&q=El+ministerio+de+Educacion+en+Lima&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bpcl=38897761&biw=943&bih=446&wrapid=tlif135358222956710&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=tAauUOrKM4LM9QSn2oDoDQ#um=1&hl=es-419&tbo=d&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=antiguo++ministerio+de+Educacion+en+Lima&oq=antiguo++ministerio+de+Educacion+en+Lima&gs_l=img.3…17936.21046.0.21587.8.8.0.0.0.0.281.1529.1j4j3.8.0…0.0…1c.1.Ksv4tl0SMZc&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=8395c58b62e2f9c9&bpcl=38897761&biw=943&bih=446
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Places in Downtown to have fun
Estadio bar a spot where You can watch a soccer match and have a couple beers or cocktails.
http://www.estadio.com.pe/estadio.html
Bolivar hotel and Maury bar
both compete for who make the best pisco sour in the city.
http://www.google.com.pe/search?hl=es-419&q=bar+del+hotel+Bolivar&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bpcl=38897761&biw=943&bih=446&wrapid=tlif135358721581010&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=IRquUKr9J4r49gTG1YC4AQ
http://www.google.com.pe/search?hl=es-419&q=bar+del+hotel+Bolivar&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bpcl=38897761&biw=943&bih=446&wrapid=tlif135358721581010&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=IRquUKr9J4r49gTG1YC4AQ#um=1&hl=es-419&tbo=d&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=bar+maury&oq=bar+maury&gs_l=img.3..0j0i24.41085.47002.0.47767.8.8.0.0.0.0.250.1510.2j0j6.8.0…0.0…1c.1.epB-Lm7nNY4&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=8395c58b62e2f9c9&bpcl=38897761&biw=943&bih=446
Etnias bar and disco
http://www.google.com.pe/search?hl=es-419&q=bar+del+hotel+Bolivar&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bpcl=38897761&biw=943&bih=446&wrapid=tlif135358721581010&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=IRquUKr9J4r49gTG1YC4AQ#um=1&hl=es-419&tbo=d&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=etnias+bar&oq=etnias+bar&gs_l=img.3..0l5j0i24l5.73346.75892.2.77706.10.8.0.2.2.0.256.1426.2j1j5.8.0…0.0…1c.1.gSHm-nA5i04&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=8395c58b62e2f9c9&bpcl=38897761&biw=943&bih=446
El averno bar
http://www.google.com.pe/search?hl=es-419&q=bar+del+hotel+Bolivar&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bpcl=38897761&biw=943&bih=446&wrapid=tlif135358721581010&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=IRquUKr9J4r49gTG1YC4AQ#um=1&hl=es-419&tbo=d&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=el+averno+bar&oq=el+averno+bar&gs_l=img.3..0i24.63738.72221.4.75900.10.10.0.0.0.0.333.1695.3j3j3j1.10.0…0.0…1c.1.KZxvdRB9bUo&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=8395c58b62e2f9c9&bpcl=38897761&biw=943&bih=446
Parque de la exposicion
http://www.google.com.pe/search?hl=es-419&q=bar+del+hotel+Bolivar&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bpcl=38897761&biw=943&bih=446&wrapid=tlif135358721581010&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=IRquUKr9J4r49gTG1YC4AQ#um=1&hl=es-419&tbo=d&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=el+averno+bar&oq=el+averno+bar&gs_l=img.3..0i24.63738.72221.4.75900.10.10.0.0.0.0.333.1695.3j3j3j1.10.0…0.0…1c.1.KZxvdRB9bUo&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=8395c58b62e2f9c9&bpcl=38897761&biw=943&bih=446
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wow bogota looks nothing like that lolol
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Lima is nice today.
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