Magic Water Show in Lima

 Lima facts:

Lima, the capital of Peru, has 1/3 of the country’s population, 11,000,000.

The first thing we noticed about Lima was the traffic.  If there are three lanes going one way, four cars will be abreast, four lanes, five cars.  Left and right turns are made from any lane and cause intersection blockage.  The first car to push ahead gets to move along.  In spite of all the traffic, “quiet” times just meaning speeding up to or against any car ahead.  To get a license requires a written test but no driving test.  Little tuk tuks, driver and two passenger vehicles, provide transportation in some neighborhoods.

The Multiflores area where we stayed is quite upscale with parks, walkways and an underground shopping center.  Many of the homes (condominiums) are for summer visitors or foreigners seeking a warm climate.  Other  districts have more mixed income residents and still further working class  (poor) neighborhoods.  Public school teachers make $380 a month and have a class size of 40-50.  Many teachers transfer to private schools for better pay.

Voting is mandatory at age 18 and those who fail to vote are fined.

The population is 85% Catholic, 10% Evangelical, 2% Jewish and the rest other.
           
Peru has taken in 700,000 immigrants from Venezuela and is enrolling the children in school.

Routine customers go into a store and ask for “jama, por favor” a little bit extra with purchase,which is a bonus for their loyalty.

Our friend Steve and his daughter Maxine have joined us.  We spent our last night in Lima at the Magic Water Fountains.  These were created in 2007.  The tallest water fountain at 95 meters is the biggest in the water park.

It is hard to describe the wonder of this park.  We enjoyed the laser show in Disneyworld, but this definitely rivals it for awe.  Showing on the tall, shooting waters are native plants, gods, people and decorations.

After the water show, we were taken to Damajuama, a local night club for dinner and a dance program.  The dance show started rather slowly but, as it went along, it became beautiful and athletic.  There was a dance where the dances bounced across the stage first on their backs and then on their stomachs.  We were all impressed by the end.

Maxine was even invited to the stage to perform with the dancers but she made me promise not to use the picture.