Miraflores, San Isidro and Barranco

 One of my favourite parts of Lima is Miraflores, which means "Look at the flowers."   It is modern and very attractive, with lovely hotels and a great beach, so we have spent happy hours there.

 Miraflores, being  one of the most modern parts of Lima, has a beautiful Pacific coastline, green parks, high rise building and is a very pleasant place to take a walk in - and to shop.

Here are its beach and Indian Market.  This is what the guide says about this area of Lima:
New residential areas, San Isidro, Miraflores, Barranco, have grown up on the shore, sheltered by Lima´s old spas. Through these streets with long and noisy strides there is commercial activity, banks, shows, art galleries. Surfing is practised on its beaches. A new city is developing and growing among the gay bougainvillea of Miraflores, and the patriarchal olive trees of San Isidro. The city overlooks the sea, and a long rosary of beaches at Costa Verde, Chorrillos and La Herradura.

San Isidro, like Miraflores, is a modern,  very pleasant residential neighbourhood, with modern office blocks  and a pleasant park.

Its traditional area is called El Olivar (Olive Park), because of the olive trees found in it. We like San Isidro for its good restaurants, shopping malls and hotels, 

 
This photo of Barranco is courtesy of TripAdvisor

 Barranco, which is south of better known Miraflores,   is well-known for its  views of the Pacific.  It is a really pleasant seaside resort with bars, cafés, restaurants, and art galleries.

It also has the contrast of luxurious villas and old architecture.

This smallest district of the great Lima, as it's described, is also a great p.lace to explore on foot.

You can see from this photo just how popular the beach is there.    We recommend spending three or four days in Lima if you have the time so you can relax and enjoy the Pacific Ocean, as well as doing all the site seeing and shopping.  Shortly we'll be describing a gastronomic holiday, as food is one of the many wonderful things about Peru and Lima, with its many superb restaurants, is the perfect place to start.

Further into our holiday we'll be experiencing the northern beaches, where we send our honeymooners!

Here's something to contrast with the cathedral.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the fastest growing church in Peru, and throughout Latin America, and this is the Lima temple on the outskirts.