Jirón de La Union, plus snacks

 "Jirón" in (only) Perú means street, so that's Union Street.  Back in the day, it used to be the playground of the rich and powerful; now, it's mostly pedestrianized, full of shops, and very busy.  The pedestrianized part runs from the Plaza José de San Martín, two blocks from my studio, to the river:



At 9:30 on a Sunday, already busy:



Since it's a historical district, all the signs have to be in black.  No Golden Arches here!



Opened in 1913, the Palais Concert was a café-cinema-bar and the center of Lima's bohemian/ intellectual life:



This is the facade of La Merced Church, hard to fit it all in one picture:





Continuing north . . .



. . . you come to the Casa Courret with its fantastic ornamentation:




Cross the bridge . . .

.



And you're in Rimac, seemingly worlds away from the Jirón -- much poorer and run-down.  Lots of street vendors.



I tried "maca," which like quinua is a sweetened, thick breakfast drink.  Slightly bitter to balance the flavor, not bad, 60¢.




Back across the bridge and its lovely view:



My second time wandering around the historical district and second time I bumped into a parade!



On the way back I couldn't resist "lúcuma" ice cream.  It's another fruit I haven't tried.  Sort of a pumpkiny flavor, I'd have this again ($2.35).



And a bottle of maracuyá (passion fruit) juice for later.




















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