Tour of downtown, History

Interesting day today. We started out downtown Lima at the Museum of Inquision. Hmmmmm. All about the torture chambers. They had wax dummies for the poor souls being tortured. OK....gotta admit, it was very disturbing, but the kids were very engrossed! The English guide was ill today, so we had the tour in Spanish, but needless to say, it was quite explainatory! Brookston and Braeden took pictures and notes and will do a report on it for their class.

Then we went off to the San Franciso Cathedral. We learned a lot about the Franciscan brothers from Italy who came over.......they had catacombs under the church, with about 25,000 people's bones laying in crypts down there. I had been there 2x before, but the kids were quite shocked. I was actually surprised at how much they listened to the guide, and asked questions! Too bad they wouldn't let us take ANY pictures in there though. It was pretty amazing....we didn't get to go in the cathedral though, as it was closed. We got pictures of it from the outside, though.

We saw the government palace where president Alan Garcia resides. Boys were like, "Mom--these guys are armed and ready to kill".....talking about the security surrounding the palace.....

SO much history here! We then went and bought Bridger his set of professional bongos, complete with a carrying case. He still has a smile on his face! Then, we looked all over downtown Lima for an instrument called a Ocarina, made of bamboo. Both Brin and Braeden wanted one yesterday, but only one where we were, so decided to wait.....long story short, we ended up going all the way across town back to the Inca Market to purchase the one we originally saw......the musician said they are rare, and it appears that it's the only one in the city!!
SO-----I now have one very sad girl. I have put out an APB for one in Chimbote......I sure hope someone finds one for her!!!!! As for Brookston, he will play the guitar, and I will play some sort of marraccas (sp?)......hope to have a whole band soon!

Boys are playing pool upstairs, Willy and I are watching Bridger get a bongo lesson from a hotel guest.....More later!
PS---I am REALLY thinking I've had enough 1:4 time with my kids!!!!!!!!