This is the entrance to the Casa Diez Canseco mansion located in the quiet residential district of Surco, Lima. It used to be the house of the old Monterrico Chico Hazienda. Partly restored by Francisco and Josilu Diez-Canseco, the mansion preserves the characteristics of a traditional Peruvian country house of the republican period (1824-1884). From the beautiful stone facade carved by craftsmen from Cajamarca to ceramics that decorate the dining room, the Diez-Canseco mansion is full of magnificent objects of pre-Hispanic, colonial and republican art. Doctor Francisco Diez Canseco Tavara is the descendant of a very old Peruvian family whose first member arrived in Peru at the end of the 17th Century. Since then this old Lima family has acquired a large collection of paintings, sculptures and other works of art. This prominent, wealthy and well-connected family has made this mansion available for tours conducted by European Travel. The tour included a brief history of the family through the centuries, the inspection of the various rooms which included an explanation of the various objects of art. One of the pictures was of President Kennedy indicating the political connections of the family. The tour also included a multi-course meal of local cuisine with several local alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. My impression after this visit was that these old, upper crust families sure knew how to live. This picture was taken on 24 August 2014, Sig...