With Machu Picchu as the trump card, Peru is more touristy than any other country we visited in South America but it’s not without its rugged charms. From our journey up through Lake Titicaca, Colca Canyon, Arequipa, Cusco to Lima…You know you are in Peru when…
– Ancient ruins are so commonplace they double as playgrounds
– When church service is held atop the deepest canyon in the world and communion is taken with jungle juice
– A national statue is commissioned to be built with a crown of flames and instead is interpreted as a hat of llamas
– You secede from the government by building your own island state out of reeds and rope
– The staple soft drink, Chicha morada, is a concoction of purple corn, cinnamon, and lime.
– The local beer is fermented corn brewed in the bathtub (below)
– You get pulled you over not for a traffic violation but to join in for a town-wide dance party (above)
– Llamas reign supreme
– When the entire taxi stand looks like they were featured on pimp my rickshaw
– You have to spend three days in Cusco museums just to acclimatize to the 15,000-foot elevation
– The stone ruins are so massive and bountiful they put Stonehenge to shame
– Lava rock is so abundant you have to build a city like Arequipa just to get rid of it.
– The ceviche so cheap and plentiful, blue stone crab is a garnish
Love love love that format… Well done; you always capture the essence of your visits. 15,000 feet ? Wow . Funny about being “pulled over”! Hahhahahahahaha I always go to a map after I read your posts. Looking forward to Africa… I need to know! Hahahahaha take care of each other.
Like the bullet point approach to support the pictures…which are as terrific as always.
laspots
Thanks Pat, glad you like the format, and the photos. Peru was fantastic!
” You get pulled you over not for a traffic violation but to join in for a town-wide dance”
Tell us more about the dance party!
the dance party was something the town “organized”, basically most of the town in traditional dress had some home brew and a bunch of instruments. and we rolled up in our cab, and the lade in the photo wouldnt let us pass, and in spanish told Anne she needed to get out and dance if we wanted to get past….well 45 minutes later we were 3 sheets to the wind, and dancing up a storm with the locals….it was really a blast. we want to mail them a few photos. even though we dont have their address. we thought that would be fun.
glad you like that format Jim. Peru was amazing, especially the things off the tourist track. yeah 15,000feet, was crazy. slow steps 🙂 Africa is the NEXT post, that Peru post was the last from South America! Woot Woot
Yep. So true… You’ve made me miss my llamas now!
I miss the llamas already! At least you have that llama figurine you girls snagged, what was his name again? No joke, whenever we saw a funny, furry one, we thought of you 🙂
I’ve been reading your “you know you’re in…” posts and they make me smiley. Can relate to a lot of the things of the places we’ve also been too!
Keep it up, guys! 🙂
Zara
Zara, so glad you like them AND even better…get them!
We loved the chica morada in Peru! It was so different and unique!
Love the pimped out tuk-tuks of Peru! Even better are the ‘cool’ drivers who plaster Ben 10 stickers all over the windows and pump Justin Biever from their crackling speakers.
Totally! For these tuk tuk guys, somehow I have a feeling driving is secondary to looking totally awesome