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.
Category: "Life"
The Chaski
Chaskis (Chasquis) were the famous Inca messengers, highly athletic runners who were capable of running great distances along the Inca’s extensive network of roads called the Qhapaq Ñam – the royal roads.
Not Pleased with Indiana Jones
“It´s hardly a secret that Hollywood films frequently misrepresent the details of “exotic” regions. Let´s face it, those films are made primarily for American audiences, and for most Americans the world consists of the US surrounded by a vast, nebulous mystery-land (sad, but true).”
Peru’s Firefighters
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.
Cusco sells its soul to McDonalds, KFC and Starbucks
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?
The Condor
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.
Wong, superstar of supermarkets
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.
APEC Preparations
Peru is hosting a glut of international conferences this year, from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summits to the Latin America, the Caribbean and the European Union summits. Vast sums of money are being spent renovating the major thoroughfares of cities that will host meetings, such as Lima and Arequipa.
Software Libre
According to Microsoft, in 2007 the software industry in Peru lost $59 million to piracy. Much is lost of course, but the truth is that S./10 spent on a CD at a market stall is not S./900+ lost to Microsoft or others.
The software industry’s pressure on the Government to crack down on piracy, unlike that from the movie industry, is likely to cause them far deeper losses as customers are forced to discover free alternatives.
News of universities in Peru taking advantage of these free, “open source” alternatives might mean this change is already on the way, potentially saving the Peruvian economy hundreds of millions of dollars a year.
Huaycos
Huayco (also Huaico) is a Peruvian term for the flash floods that occur regularly during the rainy season in the Andes. Often they are regular but minor, such as the one that affected me yesterday in the Chillón valley, blocking the road with mud, boulders and a torrent of water for several hours. Other times they can be more violent, washing away bridges and even towns.
Lima’s other side
The fertile green mountain valleys of the Andes were traded for the rocky desert wasteland that is the Peruvian desert coast. There were no homes for the new arrivals, nor land, nor money to buy either – so they had to invade.
Larcomar
A sunny day in Miraflores, as new penthouses tower over the up-scale Larcomar shopping mall, which sits embedded in the cliffs of the Coast Verde overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
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