all things peru

Well, its hard to believe that we´ve already spent a month overseas, and moving on from Peru to Bolivia.  I have enjoyed taking in all that is Peru, and feel like we´ve seen quite a bit of what the country has to offer!  Some observations I´ve had about the place are as follows, and I certainly don´t claim to be an expert...just some of the things I´ve noticed passing through...

*  There are stray dogs everywhere.  But they´re not beggars, mean or aggressive.  Generally, they look a lot happier than "leashed" dogs to me!

*  Every city has a "Plaza de Armas" the main center square where people hang out and enjoy treats.

*  Streets are filled with taxis/collectivos (small crammed buses)/tuk tuks/buses - there are very few "owned" vehicles on the streets, and public transport is heavily used.

*  In the cities the smell of exhaust fills the air.  Also the smells of the toilet fill the air (probably due to the stray dogs and the fact that public restrooms cost money to use).

*  Items sold on the street:  snacks like chips (Pringles are big), soda, ice cream, gelatin, empanadas, sandwiches, sweaters, knicknacks, and boys offering to polish your shoes.

*  What´s to eat?  Most restaurants serve lots of pizza, hamburgers, "samiches" (sandwiches consisting of chicken, "meat," cheese, or yes, my favorite - hot dogs...all of which sit unrefrigerated for hours), Chifa (Chinese food) and fried chicken and fries.  They more typical or classic Peruvian food includes a large bowl of soup, lots of rice and potatoes, a small salad of cucumbers & tomatoes, and chicken or beef (usually pounded really thin and not of the best quality).  Seviche is the country´s "dish" which is uncooked seafood marinated in lime juice.  Lomo saltado is another popular dish, which is rice, fries, tomatoes, and pieces of beef all in a tomato sauce.  Lots of tea, Inca Cola (the bubblegum flavored pop original to Peru), and Pisco Sours (what tastes like a mix between a margarita and lemon drop martini) and drank here.

*  Most stores and restaurants are small and in frequent number.  Not many "superstores" here.  Its hard to go even a few feet without being offered something to eat, drink or buy!  You definitely won´t go hungry.  People will bring the food to you!  We also found it interesting that different types of stores were grouped together on one street.  You want a mattress?  Go to the street with 10 different mattress stores right in a row!

*  Peru has quite a variety of landscapes, and we didn´t even see them all: desert, mountains, oceanside, rainforest, plains...

*  As in many countries, there is a large economic gap, more apparent in some places than others.  Poor street beggars that can´t walk to the business man in a suit and tie.

*  Bathrooms.  As I mentioned above, public restrooms cost money to use.  It is imperative to carry toilet paper and sanitizer (and sometimes a flashlight) into the bathroom because toilet paper, soap and sometimes electricity are hard to come by.

*  Speaking of bathrooms, many (if not most) showers are powered by electricity.  It is important not to touch the apparatus so you don´t get shocked (I never did).  It is a delicate balanace to get hot water...by letting it trickle it gets warmer, but if you turn the pressure up too high the water might get cold.

*  Altitude can be brutal, the Andes can cause "soroche", or altitude sickness which causes stomach upset, headaches, breathlessness or general awful feeling.  If you´ve read my blog at all, you know this has been a close "friend" of mine.

*  Many local people depend on tourism for their livelihood; many have humble jobs of selling snacks and goods.  Before coming here I felt a bit guilty about that.  Now I just feel like we have helped contribute to stimulating their local economy in a positive way.

So that´s about it.  Now that we´ve been on the road for a month, I have begun to feel the pangs of homesickness, and felt a little travel weary at times.  I´ve had a blast doing "touristy" things, and also felt a little burnt-out by them.  One of the things that has been most difficult for me has been seeing the poor/homeless population as we´ve been doing our traveling.  I feel very conflicted about spending money for a nice dinner and then passing by a man who can´t even walk his feet are so gnarled.  When confronted by those asking for money everyday, what is to be done?  It certainly brings very strong feelings to the surface everytime I have these encounters, and struggle with what to think, what to do with these feelings.  I guess its something to keep pondering about, because I know this is just the beginning of so many more of these encounters to come...