Berfin's chef breakfast in the morning. Then we go to the historical city, that is, the square where the Spanish founded the city: Centro Histórico. A place like Sirkeci-Şişhane. Old buildings, small shops, hardware stores, chandelier shops... This place is far from us, the weather is cloudy again, with a slight wind and there are more local people.
There are election preparations on the streets in Peru. The first round of general elections was held on April 12, 2026. When the presidential election goes to the second round, the second round will be held on June 7, 2026. The race is reportedly between Keiko Fujimori and Roberto Sánchez. Fujimori is the daughter of former president Alberto Fujimori.
For one section of society, Alberto Fujimori was:
“A strong leader who ends terrorism and recovers the economy.”
For another section, he was:
“An authoritarian president who weakens democracy and is responsible for human rights violations.”
Keiko Fujimori is doing politics on this legacy. So the Peruvian election is not just between two candidates; it is experienced through the dilemma of security or freedom, order or democracy, lessons from the past or longing for the past.
We are walking around the square. Female figures with half their faces visible attract our attention: La Tapada.
“Tapada” means “covered, covered” in Spanish. La Tapada Limeña can be translated as “The veiled woman from Lima”.
During the colonial period, especially from the 16th century to the 19th century, women in Lima wore a special outfit when going out:
Saya: Long skirt that hugs the body.
Mantle: A covering that covers the head and most of the face.
In this outfit, usually only one eye of the face remains exposed. That's why the figure has become a symbol of Lima that is both mysterious and well-known.
Although the Lima Archaeological Museum fell short of my expectations, it was good for understanding pre-Inca art.
We had the last meal of our holiday at Central. We met the chef and founder Virgilio Martínez Véliz once again after the dinner at Mil. Chef Martínez, together with his wife Pía León, is a chef who offers innovative menus that bring Peru's local ingredients and different altitude ecosystems to their plates.
We have truly never tasted so many different flavors together. Also, it was good that we visited Peru and came here. We knew both the places and the products. From the Andes to the Amazon, from the savannah to seafood, all kinds of flavors were available. Its presentation, story and taste were truly different. Like a laboratory; everything was stripped of its essence and mixed up. There were piranhas from the Amazon, ducks from the Andes, and even seaweed from the sea; many separate blends and of course sweet cocoa…
We celebrated Derin's upcoming birthday. The last night of the holiday was again unique and unique.
Peru will continue to live far away from us with its different cultures, geography and tastes. In our memories too...
The location of the next holiday has been determined: South Korea.