Can you believe that two and half months in Peru and I still find Bimbo brand bread endlessly amusing? And the taxi drivers´dashboard alters? And the propencity to view rubbing alcohol as a nice mixer? My trip is winding down, but there are still many a Peruvian thing that I have to sing the praises of.
Semana Santa: Now, I am not particularly religious, but I love anything that could pass for an anthropology experiment. And Holy Week is perfect for people watching and peppering any Peruvians I know with a million questions. What´s the deal with all the guys in purple robes with white ropes around their necks? And why are they carrying a glass coffin all full of Jesus? What happens if I buy one of those floral wreaths? Why do we have to go to seven churches on Wednesday? Can I just go to one and then eat some mini donuts? (Answer: yes) And why does everybody go out to the clubs on Saturday night and then show up drunk for mass and the 4 am parade? Fascinating!
Peruvian Kiddos: I´ve spent the last two weeks up in the mountains volunteer teaching at an orphanage and an after-school program. You guys, gringo kids have nothing on these niños. I´ve fallen in love with three of them already and have spent a lot of time thinking about how that Angie Jolie might be on to something. I´m particularly infatuated with a certain 8 year old name (of all things) Jesus. He´s constantly joyful and dirty and frequently pantless.
Ridiculous Fruit: There are few things I love more than paddling through the fruit market, eyeing all the things I´ve never tried. Some thing that look vaguely like a yellow pepper! Prickly pears! Custard apples! Orange Watermelons! Thus far, I have yet to find something that will replace passion fruit in my heart. But I will keep sampling them all!
Peruvian Pride: After traveling through country upon country that is doing its damnest to become western, it´s lovely to see a culture that is so thoroughly unique. ¨Screw you, Vogue! We´re going to wear bowler hats, layered skirts and jelly shoes! And wear that while dancing to Cumbia! Then we might drink some frog juice! Or bury a mumified llama fetus!¨ I can´t really go in for any of the above, but I respect Peru maintaining their identity while the rest of the world wears skinny jeans and listens to Justin Timberlake.
What´s floating your boat this week?
Semana Santa: Now, I am not particularly religious, but I love anything that could pass for an anthropology experiment. And Holy Week is perfect for people watching and peppering any Peruvians I know with a million questions. What´s the deal with all the guys in purple robes with white ropes around their necks? And why are they carrying a glass coffin all full of Jesus? What happens if I buy one of those floral wreaths? Why do we have to go to seven churches on Wednesday? Can I just go to one and then eat some mini donuts? (Answer: yes) And why does everybody go out to the clubs on Saturday night and then show up drunk for mass and the 4 am parade? Fascinating!
Peruvian Kiddos: I´ve spent the last two weeks up in the mountains volunteer teaching at an orphanage and an after-school program. You guys, gringo kids have nothing on these niños. I´ve fallen in love with three of them already and have spent a lot of time thinking about how that Angie Jolie might be on to something. I´m particularly infatuated with a certain 8 year old name (of all things) Jesus. He´s constantly joyful and dirty and frequently pantless.
Ridiculous Fruit: There are few things I love more than paddling through the fruit market, eyeing all the things I´ve never tried. Some thing that look vaguely like a yellow pepper! Prickly pears! Custard apples! Orange Watermelons! Thus far, I have yet to find something that will replace passion fruit in my heart. But I will keep sampling them all!
Peruvian Pride: After traveling through country upon country that is doing its damnest to become western, it´s lovely to see a culture that is so thoroughly unique. ¨Screw you, Vogue! We´re going to wear bowler hats, layered skirts and jelly shoes! And wear that while dancing to Cumbia! Then we might drink some frog juice! Or bury a mumified llama fetus!¨ I can´t really go in for any of the above, but I respect Peru maintaining their identity while the rest of the world wears skinny jeans and listens to Justin Timberlake.
What´s floating your boat this week?
7 comments:
It all sounds delightful! But... what, no bowler hat love Sarah? Is this on men or women?
i-LOVE-Peru!! I lived there for a few months in 2007 (Tacna & Cusco) ... It's beautiful, isn't it?
What area are you in?
... Have you tried Maracuya or Cherimoya? I miss those...
Amanda, I love me some maracuya! I´ve been eating them cut in half with a spoon full of sugar (or a shot of vodka). I´m in Huanchaco right now (outside of Trujillo, on the northern coast). We´re beaching it up for a few more days and then heading up to Hauraz for hiking and rock climbling and hot springs. Whee!
I witnessed Semana Santa in central Spain and was floored, but it sounds WAY wackier in Peru!
Big religious festivals and events always provide a degree of spectacle, I'd love to see something like Semana Santa done properly. Your comments on Peruvian Pride really make me want to visit the place!
Nowhere near as exciting as yours, but my TiLT is here http://sparkleandglitter.co.uk/2009/04/things-i-love-thursday-27/
Amazing country! Things that immediately come to mind that I loved:
Ceramics by the Moche civilization
Traditional dancing in Colca Canyon
Chasquis reenactments
Calling their national bird 'Cock of the Rock'
Folkloric clothing
Pisco Sour (and whatever they call that alcohol made from cactus juice)
Complementary ponchos when dining on the rooftop in Arequipa plaza
The sense of national pride
Inka Kola
And of course the people, who are so friendly and were very patient with my poor attempts at Spanish.
So awesome. & hey, I found Filipino brand cookies in Europe endlessly funny. Whatever blows your hair back.
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