Peru: 3rd Most Globalized Country in Latin America

How do you like us now, Argentina?!

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10th Annual National Mime Festival in Lima, Peru

They have been doing this for 1o years?!  I didn’t know these guys were that popular.  Does France know about this?  Maybe they are a silent investor? 🙂  Apparently there will be workshops and a few plays/performances.  They say all in Spanish, but they are mimes – how much “talking” will they be doing?  Is miming in Spanish any different than in English or French?

You will only find this in Lima…I don’t see people in Cusco or Iquitos really being into this.  Peru – never at a loss for surprising finds!

Why have I never seen this on the streets before?  Oh, right…probably because I live in Miraflores, which is “too good” for this sort of theater.  Or should I say “theatre”?  Must…get…there…but…trapped…in…a…box…HELP!

 

10 Things To Do For Free in Lima, Peru

Found this on Wanderlust Magazine online.  Thought it was a pretty decent smattering of free things to do in Lima.

Exactly 100 years after the rediscovery of Machu Picchu, it’s a good time to peruse Peru. And you needn’t spend a single sol exploring its colonial capital.

Lima, Peru Tops Bing.com’s Most Searched Locations List

So, it used to be that Lima was the gateway city to Peru; not much going on and people couldn’t get out of it fast enough.  Okay, maybe that was the case many years back, but the city has been cleaning up its act and apparently it is working!

I wouldn’t have thought that Lima would make the number 1 searched locations of 2011, but it has every right to be up there.  A great culinary scene that is just becoming discovered by the world, great historical preservation, the beach and a booming economy that is attracting more and more foreign business and development…well, yeah it is number 1!

Summer is upon us here in Lima and as I write this, the sun is about halfway through its final rest for the day.  As I gaze out of the window of my apartment, all I can see are the para-gliders lazily floating along the coastal skyline, taking in those last rays on what was a wonderful Saturday. (Okay, so this isn’t my photo because my view is also full of tall buildings and the Canadian Embassy, but I can see the ocean and the paragliders.  And I can vouch that the sunsets really do look like this!  I just wanted to give you a better, more enjoy able view…one that I wish I had!!)  It is good to be number 1.

Thank you to Horiwood’s Blog for posting this information!  Check out their post to see the other top locations.  I spent an incredible year living and working in Auckland…heaps of great memories made there!  Kia ora!

LIMA, PERU MAKES BING.COM’s MOST SEARCHED LOCATIONS OF 2011 LIST.

Photo of the Week

Apparently the Asian theme continues, as I just found these photos my friend took while she was visiting Peru. Obviously the proprietors have no idea how this sounds/looks in English…and they shouldn’t worry about it, they are in Peru, not an English speaking country. Nevertheless, it makes you chuckle a bit!

This first one my friend says: “I like to think of this as Chinese Food: Dang!”

This second one, well, all I have to say is that chickens can be a nuisance sometimes!

As my friend says, "I like to think of this as "Chinese Food: DANG!"

Well, I mean, chickens CAN be bothersome sometimes...

Caral, a city as old as Mesopotamia!

While there are plenty of things to do in Lima to keep you busy, if you fancy a trip outside of the city, there are numerous places you can visit. Lima is a great place to make your home base, as it is close to the popular weekend beach getaways in the North and South, the Central sierra mountains and numerous smaller cities with lots of ruins and not a lot of crowds. Nothing against Machu Picchu, as it truly is something everyone should see, but it is great to have options closer to home that are not as packed with tourists and that you can afford to visit many times. Plus, these sites are only a few hours by bus from Lima, making them easy day or weekend trips.

Aerial view of pyramids in Caral

One city that is only 3 short hours north from Lima is Caral. Located in this city is the Conjunto Arqueologico Central de Caral, which is one of the best known sites in the area. This city is home to what scholars believe to be the oldest civilization in the Americas. The ruins date back over 5,000 years, which means there were cities and life in Peru around the same time as Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt. Over the years, other sites have been found in Peru that have been traced back to around the same time as Caral, but none can compare to the immense size and complexity of Caral: nearly 160 acres of pyramids, sunken plazas and residential structures. It has been suggested that the city also influenced the development of other pre-Inca and Incan urban designs.

View of the amphitheater and city

Getting there is easy: You can rent a car or go by bus.  Going by car is good if you plan to stop along the way for side trips, but if your main destination is Caral, the bus is the easiest and most comfortable option. Most bus companies have daily departures to Caral; the trip can be done in one full day, but if you want to spend the night and explore the surroundings more, there are many affordable hotels around. The parts of the city visitors are able to walk around are primarily focused around two sunken round plazas and various pyramids and residences. The site does not allow you to be in the park alone, therefore you will be required to have a guide accompany you. A local archaeological team is available and will give you tours of the ruins or you can sign up ahead of time in Lima at one of the many tour agencies. This site is something worth seeing and does not get as much international attention as Machu Picchu.

Make some extra $

So, I had the bright idea of making a little extra cash by selling some stuff from the States here in Lima.  It seems like people are so hungry to get products from the USA because they are either 1. Cheaper or 2. Not available here.

I talked to a friend here in Lima and he tole me lotions from Victoria’s Secret were very popular and since he is a gym guy, that the protein powders and pills were pretty popular (but expensive).  So when I went home for a visit, I stopped by Victoria’s Secret and stocked up on lotion and Vitamin Shoppe for some protein powder and weight loss pills that my friend mentioned were popular here.

Anyway, if anyone in Lima is interested in purchasing or knows anyone that would like, I have created a new Facebook Page: USA Shop which you can find at www.facebook.com/usa2peru

Here you will find pictures and prices of everything that I have now, and the next time I go home I will pick up more stuff and update the page as I have new stock.  If you have any questions, ask me here or on Facebook.