Jens Harder rambled through Lima for five hours without a plan, without a goal. The outcome consists of fleeting, marginal observations that show that lengthy research isn’t always necessary.
Tourists traveling in Peru will see them everywhere: the country's countless huacas. The term comes from the ancient Inca language Quechua and stands for "place of ceremony". A huaca thus includes temples, burial sites and images of gods. The urban area of Lima alone has 54 huacas. In the popular district of Miraflores, for example, you will find the magnificent Huaca Pucllana.
The Peruvian capital Lima is the second driest city in the world after Cairo. Green plants thrive only where water-trucks regularly drive by and water them. About 8.6 million inhabitants are distributed very differently: While there are very rich prosperous neighborhoods, the poor neighborhoods (Pueblos Jóvenes) stretch along the dusty hillsides on the outskirts of the city.
Lima, Peru's capital, is located on the country's arid Pacific coast. It is the only capital of South America with access to the sea. The beach can be reached directly from various parts of the city. However, it is not completely safe to swim there. Also, the pebble shore are not very convenient. The far more beautiful beaches are in the north of Peru.
Jens Wiesner on "Cités - Lima"
Out of necessity, the fleeting glimpse changes, intensifies, focuses. And the drawback becomes an advantage that activates our imagination."
