My photo tour met at 9:30 a.m. at Kennedy Park in the Miraflores District (Parque Kennedy) named for JFK to honor him and the Alliance for Progress that played a role during mid-century Peru. I came early to the park to have time to walk around.

At one end of the park is the Roman Catholic Virgen Milagrosa Church, 1939.

Closer-up view.

Closer-up view.

Inside the church.

Inside the church.

Walking around the park. A whimsical sculpture of a bull.

Here's looking at you!

Kennedy Park is known for its large number of stray cats, but abandoning a cat or dog at the park is prohibited. The fine is 41.50 soles--$1261.15 U.S.

I didn't see too many cats in the park and no abandoned dogs. There is an organization that takes care of the cats. Cats can also be adopted.

This was a very smart cat. The grass had been watered and was wet, so the cat gingerly investigated the rake before sitting on it to keep dry.

More of the park and bust of Oscar R. Benavides, who was a field marshal, diplomat, and the 45th president of Peru.

Beautiful flowers in the park.

Close-up of the snapdragons.

You could get your shoes shined here. Artists also come to paint and also to sell their paintings, but perhaps later in the day or on weekends.

Zone of Concentration sign--a meeting place in case of emergencies: earthquake, fire, tsunami, and other. You have to worry some about what that "other" is. I was told that there are Zones of Concentration in other areas of Lima.

I met my guide, Dan, and my tour mate from Philadelphia. Dan is a Frenchman living in Peru, an owner of the company giving photo tours.

Starting our photo walk. A building next to the church. I think it is a meeting hall.

From the side.

Passing the fast food restaurants. Burger King special: two hamburgers for 10 soles (about $3.00 U.S.). Good price.

Pizza Hut special: personal pizza or pizza rolls for 5.90 soles (about $1.80 U.S.). Very good price.

A hamburger at the Sanguchon Campesino is 13 soles (about $4.00 U.S.) but it comes with a banana and an egg.

Passing a colorful old building.

A billboard featuring the Peruvian futbol star Paolo Guerrero, and at the bottom, an NFL cheerleader and insignia of U.S. sports organizations.

Paolo Guerrero.

An NFL cheerleader.

We are now passing the modern buildings in the San Isidro District on El Metropolitano, Lima's bus rapid transit system which started being built in 2006. You wait for the bus at a station near the highway. The bus has its own lane and buses come quickly one after another and stop only for seconds at each stop so you have to get on very quickly. Lima doesn't have a subway system but does have a sky train from the suburbs. Other transportation is by street buses and taxis.

Passing the stadium.

Now walking through the El Metropolitano station. There is a demonstration across the street.

Entering the Historic Center of Lima, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, also known as the Ciudad de los Reyes, the City of Kings, and founded by Spanish conqueror Francisco Pizarro in 1535.

Many balconies were built in this area both during Spanish colonial Peru and during the Republic of Peru in the 17th and 18th centuries, though most during the colonial period.

Close-up. There are day tours given just to see all the balconies.

A beautiful colonnade.

The beautiful Plaza Mayor, at the spot where Pizarro founded Lima.

More of the plaza.

Close-up of a balcony.

The Renaisssance pool of the Vicerory Count of Salvatierra, one of the viceroys of New Spain.

At least three birds are perched on the statue.

On one side of the Plaza Mayor is the Cathedral of Lima. Construction on it began in 1535. It is dedicated to St. John, Apostle and Evangelist. Eighty-five percent of Peruvians are Catholic.

Close-up.

Close-up.

Next to the cathedral is the Archbishop's Palace. It was built in 1924 in the neo-colonial style. The old palace was demolished.

Balcony on the Archbishop's Palace.

Also on Plaza Mayor is the Government Palace, construction of it being started in 1535.

Some of the friendly police who guard the Government Palace.

Next to the police was a chocolate store. This man was giving out samples.

Walking from the Plaza Mayor.

The building at the end of the street is the Casa de la Literatura Peruana (House of Peruvian Literature). It is housed in an old railroad station.

The old clock at the Ferrocarril Central. The time wasn't right.

Walking on the cross street to the Plaza de la Vera Cruz.

A balcony along with way though it looks new.

A vendor on the street. I bought some nuts from her.

At the Plaza de la Vera Cruz and the 17th-century Basilica and Convent of San Francisco.

The Basilica of San Francisco.

Close-up.

Closer-up.

The Convent of San Francisco. We went inside to tour the convent. However, photos were not allowed of the beautiful convent, but if you Google "Photos Convent of San Francisco," you'll find some photos of the inside. On the tour, we went down to the Catacombs, where an estimated 25,000 bodies were buried. There are skulls in the catacombs but mainly leg bones. The Catacombs served as a burial place until 1808. The convent has many paintings including The Last Supper painted by Diego de la Puente but with Peruvian dishes being served and guinea pig, a national dish of Peru.

A vendor in the plaza. She is carrying her wares in the blanket on her back.

A beautiful building on the plaza.

A little girl feeding pigeons in the plaza.

She decided that it was easier to sit while feeding them.

Onward from the plaza.

These cakes look oh so good.

We are on the party store street. If you want decorations for a party, this is where you go.

A party store.

Party dresses. This slideshow continues at Slide Shows, South America, Peru, Lima, "Photo Tour-2."