Lima is home to a range of exclusive private homes. Casa García Alvarado is a Republican home in the heart of Miraflores that welcomes visitors behind closed doors to visit the grounds and enjoy a meal with the owners for an exclusive insight into Lima's history. Casa Garcia Alvarado in Lima At the beginning of the twentieth century, Lima’s upper class started to move from the center of Lima towards the coast. Miraflores became one of the first residential districts where Limeños purchased land and built vacation-style homes. One of these houses, Casa García Alvarado, not only still stands in very good condition, but is open to visitors interested in learning about the history of Lima from the perspective of a Peruvian family. It is also available for private lunches and dinners as well as private functions such as wedding receptions. Meeting the owners Aracari visited recently and was welcomed by the owner Mrs. Ana Maria García Alvarado de Astudillo for a tour and to enjoy this special insider experience in Peru. We were greeted at the door and lead into the drawing room and offered a pisco sour each or a non-alcoholic refreshment and the rounds of hors d’oeuvres began. Ana Maria soon joined us and greeted us in perfect English, explaining that she went to an American school in Lima run by nuns from Philadelphia when she was young. She is now so accustomed to conversing in English with the guests she shows her house to that giving descriptions and telling stories often comes out automatically in English instead of her native Spanish. She also speaks basic Italian and German. Life growing up in Lima As we spoke with Ana Maria and enjoyed our hors d’oeuvres she told us about her childhood growing up in the house, how her
Lima is home to a range of exclusive private homes. Casa García Alvarado is a Republican home in the heart of Miraflores that welcomes visitors behind closed doors to visit the grounds and enjoy a meal with the owners for an exclusive insight into Lima’s history. Casa Garcia Alvarado in…
Lima's Cathedral Gift Shop & Tearoo This August Lima's Cathedral finished renovating the gift shop, and Aracari received an invitation to come see what's new. So last Saturday Simon and I wandered to the Plaza de Armas, where the Cathedral is located, to check out the shop. As we approached the entrance, we asked the attendant for the tienda (gift shop) and were directed towards open doors where sun poured inside of the dim church. We stepped out onto the Patio de los Naranjos, a narrow, yellow-walled courtyard named after that of Sevilla, and were greeted by purple sun umbrellas shading tables and a sign for La Tetería de La Catedral (Cathedral tearoom) that said "Welcome" in many languages. We were immediately taken by the tranquility of the space, which makes the noisy streets of Lima seem far away. Patio de los Naranjos Tearoom Though it has always been open to the public, the Patio de los Naranjos has only recently been transformed into an inviting space for reflection and relaxation, where people can read a book, meditate, enjoy a cup of tea and a quinua muffin from the tea shop or have a conversation with friends. Now, visitors to the Cathedral and the adjoining museums can finish their tours by perusing the new gift shop for souvenirs or reflecting on their visit over a fruit-infused tea. The tearoom and the store can be visited independently from the Cathedral by simply asking at the main doors of the church. Just to the left of the tables of La Tetería tearoom is the door to the gift shop. Friend of Aracari and professor of architecture, specialist guide Luis Villacorta Santamato, oversaw the gift shop renovation, viewing it as an opportunity to promote the Cathedral and give back to local communities in need. Luis, who used to give tours of
Lima’s Cathedral Gift Shop & Tearoo This August Lima’s Cathedral finished renovating the gift shop, and Aracari received an invitation to come see what’s new. So last Saturday Simon and I wandered to the Plaza de Armas, where the Cathedral is located, to check out the shop. As we approached…
