Flor de Huaraz and Gringo Karl
June 28, 2008
Karl arrived in Peru from South Africa four years ago, full of hopes and dreams and with a job repairing classic cars. Not knowing anyone, or speaking Spanish, it was all the more of a shock to him when the company folded and he was left penniless.
Unable to pay the rent of his small apartment he then found himself homeless. Wandering the streets of Callao, his only friend was a woman with a stand selling burgers and sandwiches.
It was during this rough time that he was approached by a street comic who offered him work. Karl, an extrovert, jumped at the chance to earn a bit of cash and quickly became Gringo Karl. His life in comedy was cemented when Maria, the mother-figure who ran the fast food, stall introduced him to Katty, a struggling artist trying to make her name in light-hearted folkloric music.
The two paired up, first personally then professionally to become The Flower of Huaráz and the Gringo Karl. Living happily together in La Victoria, they now perform their shows in parks and plazas around Lima. The strange gringo who has learnt folkloric dance and the silly lyrics being major draws.
Their most popular song is Gringo Chikchisiki.
Invited onto a variety of TV shows over the past year they are becoming well known.
As well as selling CDs and DVDs of their songs at their organised performances and street performances they also make money on the side from teaching folkloric music classes.
Karl’s future is now firmly in Peru.
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You missed a bit of his story, probably because he was trying to cover it up, but apparently (and I just learned of this guy’s existence about a month ago via You Tube) he had come to Peru and was trying to fly to Europe when he got busted for drug trafficking. He was actually in jail (I think, in Lurigancho) for a couple of years, before being let loose in Lima and the rest of the story which follows. They are quite ‘la pareja dispareja’ but when love calls…..it’s all good.
BTW, I see Stirk is a reader of yours, we’re all in good company then, he has excellent taste in his blogs…
Saludos!
I was aware of this but Karl says it happened in “another life” and has left this behind him. Good enough for me.
El gringo esta rico, pero creo que hace una buena pareja con la la chica de huraz esta bonita ella.Ojala se arreglen sus cosas.
El gringo esta rico, pero creo que hace una buena pareja con la la chica de huraz esta bonita ella.Ojala se arreglen sus cosas.
tu ma caias muy bien hasta que cometistes la stupides de dejar sola a belen en el baile eres de lo peor y para tu mujer que fue la que planeo todo como ya esta vieja le da colera ver a belen linda y rejia se me callleron ahora ni los voy a ver cuando se presenten en ningun lado adios perdedores
estupido, no das cuenta que magaly queire seperar a flor de huaraz y el gringo carl. ahora esta picona porque el gringo carl no caio en sus trampas. magaly ya puso tres mujeres para seducir al gringo carl y no cayo en su trampa, belen, daysy y una brasileña.