Lima, a city of over 9.5 million, is widely diverse both culturally and economically. Consistent with all cultures, divisions are made by education, access, heritage and location. Peruvian culture can be defined as a conglomerate of distinctive traits; spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional which describe a particular society or a social group. This definition also includes not only arts and literature, but also lifestyle, human rights, values, traditions and a set of beliefs.
Since the beginnings of time, the Andean region has been the center of an important and original civilization. Today, Peru takes-up much of the predominant geographic location which harbored such cultures, thus it can be said to be the center of the archeological patrimonies of America. Its people have managed to keep their languages, worldview, and traditions alive, which are the foundations of their identity and are essential components of their cultural diversity.
Since the beginnings of time, the Andean region has been the center of an important and original civilization. Today, Peru takes-up much of the predominant geographic location which harbored such cultures, thus it can be said to be the center of the archeological patrimonies of America. Its people have managed to keep their languages, worldview, and traditions alive, which are the foundations of their identity and are essential components of their cultural diversity.
Some of the most important archeological remains of the Andean culture (Chavin, Huantar, Nazca, Chan Chan, Machu Pichu) have been registered in the World Heritage List (WHL) of the UNESCO because of their uniqueness, exceptional value and state of conservation.
The Spanish Conquest altered the Andean cultural process which gave way to the birth of new expressions from the criollos and mestizos. These too had special meaning. With the portrayal of the conflicts and other contradictions it symbolized the wide cultural diversity inside Peru. The Spanish legacy was one of the main contributors of European culture in Peru, later came African and Asian influences.
This is how historical centers such as Cusco, Lima, and Arequipa, are understood as outcomes of the acculturation process in colonial and post-colonial times. In the same way "La Obra de los Cronistas", "La Escuela Cusqueña de Pintura" and other artistic, archeological, literary, artisan, and intellectual expressions from the "Barroco Mestizo", the neoclassical and
the Illustration period, form part of the same ordeal.
the Illustration period, form part of the same ordeal. In these last decades Peru has continued to produce important cultural expressions, especially in the fields of artistic creation and intellectual reflection. Is in its survival through domestic and foreign struggles of politics and homogenization initiatives that it's cultural diversity has managed to produce a legacy that is an essential component of the cultural wealth distinctive of Peru.
Today, Peru can proudly say that while new generations have -today more than ever- access to information from all over the world, globalization has not held them away from their cultural backgrounds, thus keeping a firm connection with traditions, Peruvians still practice and enjoy their rich cultural diversity.
Transportation modes, rules, volume and use matches the culture in diversity. Modern cars, buses, motorcyles and trucks regularly prowl the streets. Most of them have more age and higher use rates than we see in North America, but not always. Drivers are courteous but focused. Traffic does stop for lights but at the traffic circles its a dance for position. Measured risk is always the winner. The timid don't enjoy this process.
Public transport in Lima is handled by buses, micros, taxicabs, and the so-called mototaxis. Micros are the most common means of public transportation in Lima and many other cities in Peru. There are also more than 100 km of cycle paths in the city. The word micro is used in common-day Peruvian Spanish as an abbreviation for microbus (minibus). While the bigger vehicles are known as micros, the smaller ones are known as either combis or micros. These privately-owned vehicles are not only known for being very cheap and convenient but can also for being rather risky. Every price is subject to negotiation. Stores are an exception generally. Micros race from one street corner to another along all the major arterial city roads. Stickers saying, for example, "Todo Arequipa" or "Todo Benavides" can be seen on their windscreens, which indicates that downtown Lima: if you need to go from the West Side to the East Side you must walk or take a taxi and micros go north-south only through either the West or East sides' main arteries, Tacna Ave. and Abancay Ave. respectively. 
the micro runs the whole length of Avenida Arequipa or Avenida Benavides. These microbuses dash dangerously fast, frequently crashing and speeding off before their passengers have got both feet into the vehicle. There being few bus stops, micros and combis pick and drop passengers anywhere along their route (although it is not allowed). Tickets became compulsory in the late-80s. No transfer tickets are issued, so double fares are often used by people when a micro passing through downtown does not go to the destination needed, although with the lack of control of routes nowadays there are many routes that go just about everywhere within the city limits. The only places where micros are no longer allowed to circulate is in the crosstown streets within downtown Lima: if you need to go from the West Side to the East Side you must walk or take a taxi (see below), and micros go north-south only through either the West or East sides' main arteries, Tacna Ave. and Abancay Ave. respectively.
There are approximately 60 000 micros in Lima. A lot of them are old school buses brought from the United States or native-made bus bodies fitted to truck chassis engines. A few richer transportation companies use modern bodies made in Brazil or Argentina. Smaller companies use smaller vehicles such as minibuses (e.g. Toyota Coasters) and minivans.
Since almost all of these vehicles are poorly maintained, they produce a great amount of pollution. Statistics show that in July 2001, the amount of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) was of 236.66 mg/m³, the maximum allowable quantity being 100 mg/m³[citation needed]. The presence of small particles of different materials (dust, lead and other metals), was also high during this month: 294.12 mg/m³, while the allowed limit is 150 mg/m
Taxis in the city are very cheap. There are no meters so you must tell the driver where you want to go and agree on a price before you get in. Since there are no meters, many taxi drivers overcharge inexperienced foreigners with high cab fares.
They vary in sizes from small four door compacts (generally Korean Daewoo Ticos) to large vans capable of transporting many pieces of luggage from the airport to your destination. They are virtually everywhere, accounting for a large part of the car stock. Often they are just any random car with a taxi sticker on the windshield. As in other major cities the way to flag them down is to wave your hand up high. Also much more expensive but more secure and professional are the Taxi Seguro's which you call up. They pick you up in their company cars.
There are many different Taxi Seguro companies in Lima. Taxis will take you virtually anywhere in the city. You can tell them to take you to a certain hotel, tourist destination, or mall and they will probably know how to get there. Citizens of Lima commonly joke that they have the most educated taxi drivers in the world. The joke is based on the fact that taxi-running is a major source of income for unemployed or under-employed people, including professionals with a university degree who either rent or own the cars they drive. A whole economy spreads from investments in vehicle acquisition to be later rented as taxi cabs.
Taxis are the most efficient and fastest way of transportation in Lima, however they are also considered somewhat risky since some criminals disguise as taxi drivers and steal from the confident passenger at gunpoint later on.
An indication of the security of the Taxi is to check if it has the label of the Setame on the windshield, which stands for Servicio de Taxi Metropolitano, the administrative authority that regulates taxi cabs. Setame taxis are in most cases painted in a distinctive yellow colour. Taxis without the Setame label are considered to be informal and risky.
Mototaxis and pedicabs are used in peripheral districts such as Puente Piedra and Comas where there isn't larger traffic, although with the spread of urbanization and routes they are losing ground to regular micros.
The "Lima Metro" is the electric mass transit system of the Lima Metropolitan Area in Peru. It currently consists of one 22 km line and sixteen stations, joining the southern area of the metropolis with the center of the city. Six additional lines are planned.
In 2010 the current government of Alan García retakes the project of Lima Metro starting with the construction of Line 1. The construction and implementation of 11.7 kilometres (7.3 mi) (with a total of 22.5 kilometres (14.0 mi)) of viaduct elevated of double ramp from the Atocongo Bridge to downtown Lima. The Lima Metro Line 1 is being built by a consortium made up by two engineering and construction companies. It is estimated by December 2010 the end of the civil works, remaining just the electrification of the line, which is in charge of Siemens. This first part of Line 1 must be completed at June 2011 and starts daily operations in July 2011.
Within the area known as LaMolina, streets are lined with Ficus trees, thousands of them. Residents are set behind security walls guarded by electric wires and personal. This seems to me more a deterant than action required day to day. Those willing to risk their freedom do occasion here but infrequently. Curbs and gutters are traffic management rather than rain collectors. It doesn't rain in Lima, it mists.
Inside these walls are gardens, peaceful areas and parking or playgrounds. Peace fills you immediately as you step from the street into these gardens. This is our garden area for the apartment building we live in temporarily, for anoth six weeks while our Temple apartment is being finished. We enjoy this area but it is a taxi ride to the Temple and shopping for groceries is anothe taxi ride. We're learning names of the friendly taxi drivers. Our favorits is Mario. Not Andretti either ! Our Mario is a senior citizen although no one retires in Peru. They can't afford to because there is no retirement system. Another reason to be thankful for saving and SSA, rich kids who plan to start sending us on cruises soon. That could be a two edge sword.
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