Lima, Peru

Here are some things I observed in my travels around Peru:

Futbol - It´s well known that futbol is very popular in Latin America. In the US people like the sport becasue they played it as a kid or simply because it´s a sport, but that´s not the case here. In Latin America I think it goes beyond just being popular. It´s part of their culture and possibly part of their DNA. As I traveled through Peru I noticed the importance that futbol was in every community. Sundays were pretty much dedicated to the game. Boys and men of all ages (sometimes girls) would be playing the game. The fields in each town almost always had a fence around it as if it was the most prized possesion. In one town I passed through everything ws dead and brown except for the futbol field which was as green as could be. It was as if everyone in town limited their water use in order to keep the field green.

School Kids - In several towns I would pass by schools as the kids got out. Often times the parents and/or grandparents were there to pick them up. Dads would be there and take their daughters pink backpacks and wear them as they held hands for the walk home. Somtimes the kids would walk home by themselves. Kids as young a five with their tinkerbell or powerranger backpacks navigating the streets all alone. Everytime I saw this it made me think about the fact that in the US most parents are afraid to let their kids play alone in their own front yard.

Shoe - Most of us tourist did a little homework to decide what type of shoes to bring. It wasn´t unusual to see guides and even construction workers to just be wearing flip flops

80´s and 90´s Music - If you have been missing music from the past this is the place to be. On the buses and in the restaurants I would here more music from these times then local music.

Dogs - It´s not unusual to see unclaimed dogs just roaming the streets. The more remote an area the more dogs you´ll see. In some places I saw them running in the fields in packs (like in the movie Up). They´ve learned to cross the street without being hit (most of them) and to find food wherever they can.

Hillside Politics - Since it does not rain a lot here the sides of hills are used to display the political parties that are running for any upcoming elections. With the lack of rain the names stick around for a long time, sometimes well after the political party even exsist. In smaller towns the sides of houses are painted with the names of the people running.

Passing Lanes - When passing on highways here there doesn´t seem to be any particular time when it´s not a good idea to pass. For me passing on a curve in a bus when a gas tanker truck is coming the other way is not a good idea, but our driver didn´t think twice about making this move. There were times when a bus would go to pass only to have to break and get back in the proper lane as another car/bus/semi was coming the other way.

Take Your Kids to Work Day - For many mothers this was an everyday occasion. There were those that would use their kids to plead for money from tourist. However most either had a booth where they were selling snacks and drinks or they were trying to sell the handmade arts and crafts. The kids would be there all day often times with nothing to play with but maybe a rock or an empty bottle that they found. If the kid was really young they were strapped to the moms back (all day).

Travel Fashion - I´m always surprised to see what some tourist wear and bring. Most seem to dress sensibly, but there are those that forget that they are in a place where some people make less in a year then we spend in one day. It´s one thing if you are strolling down the Champs Elysees in Paris, but in a small town in Peru you probably don´t need your high heels, $200 sunglasses or your Juicy Coutre handbag.

Digital Film - I cannot imagine taking a trip like this back in the days of actual film. When you had to pick and choose when to take a photo and you had no idea if it was good until you developed the roll. It´s great being able to just shoot away.

Affection towards Children - You see men and women alike carrying babies or holding the hand of a child (or sometimes even a teenager) and there is an open amount of affection that is being given. It´s hard to explain and it´s not to say that parents in the US don´t feel the same about their kids, it just seems like here the emotions are displayed more readily for all to see. I was talking to some new friends in the hostel and one of the guys talked about the same observation.

When I arrived in Peru I came with a general idea of what I wanted to see and do. I had no idea all that Peru had to offer. There is no question that Machu Picchu is as they would say in the NFL the "franchise player", but it´s teamates aren´t too bad either. There are so many different cultures and environments packed into this country. I´m sure that I just scratched the surface with the few places I was lucky enough to visit. The food was amazing. The people were fantastic (both locals and tourist alike). It´s a great place to visit solo or with family and friends.