Day 3: Barranco & Victor Delfin

I am loving my hotel--Villa Barranco.  This is my room--it's very charming.

Most of the people I've met at the hotel stay one or two nights and then head up to Cusco.  Having 5 nights here is wonderful.  I feel like I'm getting to know the city a bit.  Today Sandra and I walked through the Barranco neighborhood.

Since it was Saturday there were tons of families out.

The street art is terrific.  Here are a few examples.

This is a Brazilian cardinal.

These kids were part of a project where they take people on tours of the city.

It was elementary school graduation and the young people were out in force.

Our first stop was at Museo Pedro de Osma.  The museum is in his former home. 

He collected religious art.  This painting of Mary is really interesting (and I've seen many in this style).  The Peruvian artists always painted her as a mountain--so they could still worship their own gods, while appearing to the Spaniards that they had converted.  Also, Mary has dark curly hair in all of these types of paintings.  In this one, even Jesus is a mountain.

Then we visited the Museum Mario Testino.  He is a famous fashion photographer who has worked for Vogue and many other outlets.  Here's one of his many photos of Kate Moss.

He also had done a series on indigenous fashion called Higher & Higher.  These were pretty amazing.

He did the last photo shoot of Princess Diana before she died.  I really enjoyed seeing his work.

But the highlight of the day was getting to visit the home and studio of one of Peru's most famous and influential artists--Victor Delfin.   He's the artist that has the giant "The Kiss" sculpture in Parque del Amour along the shore.  He made a likeness of himself and one of his wives for the statue.

There are wonderful views from his hill top home & Studio.

I took tons of photos of his work.  I especially liked his bird paintings and sculptures.

Here I am with Victor.  He is 92 and still working.  It was such a pleasure and honor to get to meet him.  I didn't expect this.

I also met his lovely wife.  You can see his painting of her behind us.

I was telling Ana Maria how much I loved her husband's bronze and metal bird sculptures, but I could never afford one.

She found this little guy--and gave me an amazing deal.  He's coming home with me.

We ended the day by walking around the and viewing the colorful houses of Barranco.

I had a very, very late lunch on the terrace at Hotel B right around the corner from my hotel..  I can't get enough ceviche.  It is sooooo good here in Lima.

That's all for now.