With a reckless disregard for their own well-being and a commendable regard for the well-being of others, Peru’s firefighters are nothing short of heroes. And it’s not just their physical health they put at risk, it’s their financial health too – Peru’s bomberos are all unpaid volunteers.
May 29, 2008 | Culture & History, Lima City Guide, Opinion
Quinoa, the grain of the Incas, has been cultivated in the Andean highlands of South America for over 7000 years, yet it is a relative newcomer on the international market. Pronounced “keen-wa”, quinoa comes from the Quechua language spoken by many indigenous people in South America.
It was one of the most sacred foods of the ancient Incas, a plant so nourishing, delicious and vital, they called it chesiya mama; the ‘mother grain’.
May 27, 2008 | Culture & History, Peruvian Food
About 50km west of Chivay, Cruz de Condor is a lookout point over the Colca Canyon that is considered one of the best places to witness Condors in flight in their natural habitat.
The lookout, 1,200m above the canyon river, fills up with crowds each morning hoping that conditions are right for the condors to fly.
May 23, 2008 | Arequipa Guide, Nature
The small town of Chivay is most people’s entry point into the Colca Canyon. It sits near the Colca Valley’s wider end, the mouth of the valley, and from here a small road travels a slow couple of kilometres to Cabanaconde via several other small villages.
May 21, 2008 | Arequipa Guide
Twice as deep as the Grand Canyon in the United States, the Colca Canyon in Arequipa is the second deepest in Peru and the Americas, second only to the Cotahuasi Canyon just a short distance away.
It’s difficult to measure the exact depth. Do you measure the deepest point or the average depth, how do you choose the deepest point, do you measure from the peaks that line the canyon, peaks that tower not only over the canyon but also over all the surrounding area?
May 19, 2008 | Arequipa Guide
In the coming months ancient Inca architecture may not be all that draws your attention in Cusco’s historic plaza, as a pair of Golden Arches is raised over it.
This very same plaza was the centre of the Inca’s world for hundreds of years before the Spanish arrived and destroyed it. Could this be the end of the colonial plaza in the face of US destruction?
May 15, 2008 | Opinion
The largest bird in the Americas is the Andean Condor, having a wingspan of sometimes more than 3 metres, or 10 feet, and weighing as much as 15kg.
I previously confessed my love of the Wong supermarket chain, and explained its history here, but this article in a British newspaper goes further to explain just how wonderful the service can be compared to the simple supermarkets you find elsewhere in the world.
May 13, 2008 | Lima City Guide, Opinion
Peru’s government has dropped plans to open up uncontacted Indians’ reserves to oil exploration. The latest round of concessions, announced this week, do not include any of the uncontacted Indians’ reserves.
May 8, 2008 | News
In an expedition organised by the Geographical Society of Lima and led by Polish explorer Jacek Palkiewicz, the origin of the Amazon river is now confirmed to be in a remote location in Arequipa, starting at a creek by the name of Apacheta on the Nevado Quehuisha mountain.
May 7, 2008 | News
Perhaps Arequipa’s signature entrée is the Rocoto Relleno. The rocoto is a chilli of Andean origin used for over 5000 years – one of the first to be domesticated. It looks very similar to a bell pepper but as one of the world’s spicier chillis, you can bet it doesn’t taste like one. In fact is is about 50 times spicier than a jalapeño.
May 3, 2008 | Arequipa Guide, Peruvian Food
Camina El Autor - Juancho's Travels in Peru
My Slice of Peru - excellent personal Chiclayo blog
Unpaved South America - Exploring culture, places and people
Rachel in Peru - Commentary on life and events in Peru
An American in Lima - life and times in Lima
Ward Welvaert - life and times in Cusco
Tarapoto Life - Tony Dunnell
What We're Eating - what Peru is all about
All About Peru - snippets of Peru info
View from Peru - Laura in AQP
Peruvian Cuisine - more excellent food
The Ultimate Peru List - moving to Peru? Look no further
Streets of Lima - by Ben Jonjak in Lima
Malarkey en Perú - Alan's stays in the Imperial city of Q'osco, Piura and Cajamarca
Darryl Menges - Exploring Peru, trying to see it all
PeruInside - fotos, entretenimiento, musica, noticias
Bolivia Blog - a blog about Bolivia similar to mine
Brazil Travel Blog - a blog with travel information on Brazil
Travelojos - The Latin America Travel Blog
Karikuy - Honest tour company
IncaRentals - Find a place to rent in Peru
So Much World Peru Hotel Bookings and Travel Guide
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