"Nunca tendrás una segunda oportunidad de causar una buena primera impresión"
"You'll never have a second chance to create a good first impression"
People always talk about the importance of first impressions. In a split second we are able to draw a logical and almost definitive conclusion about a place, as if it were an instinctive perception that makes us like or dislike a place. I arrived in Lima early morning on a flight from Sao Paulo and why am I going deny it, this was one of the few countries I did not have a good first impression of. The reason? My card didn't work in any of the airport's ATM and the mission of finding Peruvian Soles became almost impossible, moreover, to make matters worse, the taxi driver who transported me from Callao to Miraflores neighborhood, where my hostel was, tried to cheat me. The risk of first impressions is not only that they can be completely wrong, but also we no longer take into consideration further experiences that would make us think otherwise.
1. Lima, la ciudad gris.
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Por tu camino aparecen personas que hacen que tu viaje pase de ser muy bueno a ser excelente. En esta ocasión se trató de tres taiwaneses que con un formidable español se presentaron a mí como Iñigo, Francisca y Gracia. ¿Qué pasa tío? me soltaron cuando tomamos el Metropolitano con destino al centro de la ciudad. Lo que más llama la atención al viajero recién aterrizado en esta ciudad son los semblantes inexpresivos y las miradas melancólicas que parecen haber sido absorbidas por el triste y gris invierno, en una ciudad en la que no sale el sol, sumida en una neblina constante y una habitual llovizna que no moja pero cala. Lima ha sufrido numerosos terremotos, incendios y saqueos, quizá es por ello por lo que no queda mucho de la magnifica arquitectura colonial, pero todavía conserva una cultura y tradiciones envidiables.
Su principal atractivo consiste en descubrir su pasado glorioso, a través de los relatos de Vargas Llosa, así como sus episodios históricos y el lugar que Lima llegó a ocupar un día no muy lejano. Fiel reflejo de ello es el centro histórico, sus numerosas iglesias, el Museo de la Inquisición, el Museo de Larco y desde Huaca Pucllana acariciar el plomizo cielo gris. el Lima es una ciudad en continua expansión, con casi 8 millones de habitantes y un tráfico insoportable. Herman Melville, autor de la novela Moby-Dick, la describió de la siguiente manera:
Along the way you run into people that make your trip go from being very good to being excellent. This time I met three Taiwanese guys that, speaking a perfect Spanish, introduced themselves as Iñigo, Francisca and Grace. What's up dude? they told me when we were heading downtown in the Metropolitano (Bus Rapid Transit system). What catches the attention of a traveler who has just landed in this city are the expressionless faces and the melancholic looks that seem to have been absorbed by the sad and gray winter, in a city where the sun does not seem to come out, immersed in a constant fog and a wet drizzle. Lima has suffered numerous earthquakes, fires and looting, perhaps this is why it doesn't have much left of the magnificent colonial architecture, but it still retains an enviable culture and traditions.
Its main attraction is to discover its glorious past, through the stories of Vargas Llosa, the historical episodes and the place Lima used to occupy not so long ago. Its historic center reflects this impeccably with its numerous churches, the Museum of Inqusition , the Larco Museum and from the archeaological site of Huaca Pucllana touch the gray sky. Lima is a city in continuous expansion, with almost 8 million inhabitants and unbearable traffic. Herman Melville , author of the novel Moby Dick, described it as follows :
Su principal atractivo consiste en descubrir su pasado glorioso, a través de los relatos de Vargas Llosa, así como sus episodios históricos y el lugar que Lima llegó a ocupar un día no muy lejano. Fiel reflejo de ello es el centro histórico, sus numerosas iglesias, el Museo de la Inquisición, el Museo de Larco y desde Huaca Pucllana acariciar el plomizo cielo gris. el Lima es una ciudad en continua expansión, con casi 8 millones de habitantes y un tráfico insoportable. Herman Melville, autor de la novela Moby-Dick, la describió de la siguiente manera:
"¿No es el recuerdo de sus terremotos demoledores de catedrales, ni el embate de sus frenéticos mares; ni la infecundidad de sus cielos sin lágrimas, pues que nunca producen lluvias, ni el espectáculo de sus vastos espacios donde se alzan botareles inclinados, yacentes piedras sillares y cruces terciadas (como en un astillero de tumbadas flotas ancladas), ni sus avenidas suburbanas con paredones que se apoyan los unos contra los otros como revueltos mazos de naipes, lo que hace que Lima, la sin lágrimas, sea la más extraña y triste ciudad que usted pueda ver? ”Un siglo después el peruano Sebastián Salazar, autor de "Lima la horrible", describió a su cielo metálico como del color de la "panza de un burro". Lima también es el escenario de grandes contrastes y una desmedida diferencia de clases. Cuando casi el 19% de la población se encuentra en una situación de pobreza extrema, los acaudalados limeños recorren el Parque del Amor con el olor a brisa del océano Pacífico como testigo, mientras tanto, sus relojes se detienen mientras derrochan su patrimonio en los incontables casinos y centros comerciales de los distritos de Miraflores y San Isidro.
Along the way you run into people that make your trip go from being very good to being excellent. This time I met three Taiwanese guys that, speaking a perfect Spanish, introduced themselves as Iñigo, Francisca and Grace. What's up dude? they told me when we were heading downtown in the Metropolitano (Bus Rapid Transit system). What catches the attention of a traveler who has just landed in this city are the expressionless faces and the melancholic looks that seem to have been absorbed by the sad and gray winter, in a city where the sun does not seem to come out, immersed in a constant fog and a wet drizzle. Lima has suffered numerous earthquakes, fires and looting, perhaps this is why it doesn't have much left of the magnificent colonial architecture, but it still retains an enviable culture and traditions.
Its main attraction is to discover its glorious past, through the stories of Vargas Llosa, the historical episodes and the place Lima used to occupy not so long ago. Its historic center reflects this impeccably with its numerous churches, the Museum of Inqusition , the Larco Museum and from the archeaological site of Huaca Pucllana touch the gray sky. Lima is a city in continuous expansion, with almost 8 million inhabitants and unbearable traffic. Herman Melville , author of the novel Moby Dick, described it as follows :
"Nor is it, altogether, the remembrance of her cathedral-toppling earthquakes; nor the stampedoes of her frantic seas; nor the tearlessness of arid skies that never rain; nor the sight of her wide field of leaning spires, wrenched cope-stones, and crosses all adroop (like canted yards of anchored fleets); and her suburban avenues of house-walls lying over upon each other, as a tossed pack of cards;—it is not these things alone which make tearless Lima, the strangest, saddest city thou canst see"
A century later the Peruvian Sebastián Salazar, author of " Lima the horrible," described its metallic sky color as the "belly of a donkey". Lima is also the scene of great contrasts and differences between classes and neighborhoods. When almost 19 % of the population lives in a situation of extreme poverty, the wealthy Limeños (people of Lima) go for an evening walk to the Parque del Amor (Love Park), with the smell of the Pacific Ocean breeze as a witness, meanwhile, their clocks get stopped while they squander their money in the countless casinos and shopping malls in the districts of Miraflores and San Isidro.
2. Cuzco
La que fuera durante años la ciudad sagrada de los Incas, se ha convertido a día de hoy en el exclusivo hogar de mochileros llegados de todo el mundo. Trotamundos que conviven en armonía con los cusqueños y sus milenarias tradiciones y la dotan de un ajetreo y un ambiente seductor, que te empuja a conocer cada uno de sus misterios.
¡Qué tráfico hay por todos los lados! ¡Qué mal conducen estos peruanos!
You can read part two in the following link //Puedes leer la segunda parte en el siguiente link: Peru (Part 2)
Vídeo sobre mi viaje a Perú a continuación // You can watch the video about my trip to Peru in the following link.
Cuzco o Cusco sigue siendo un impresionante reducto donde las construcciones coloniales y los palacios de piedra incas se fusionan para dar lugar a un paraje donde caminar por sus calles, dejar pasar el tiempo en una de sus numerosas plazas y contemplar sus fastuosas iglesias, se convierte en un deleite. Pero lo que hace de Cuzco uno de los destinos turísticos más interesantes del planeta son sus leyendas, mitos, ritos y folclore. Ataviados con sus trajes, los oriundos de Cuzco pasean sus llamas, borregos y tocan sus instrumentos locales, para que los asombrados extranjeros, con recelo, retraten el momento en una instantánea a cambio de un par de Soles.
Pero, de lejos, lo que más disfruté de Cuzco fue callejear, darme cuenta que su arquitectura no distaba mucho a la de los pueblos de la sierra extremeña con sus característicos soportales, con su olor a antiguo y, por ende, sentirme como en casa, sumergirme en los mercados de comida, interactuar con los cusqueños que amablemente me recomendaban restaurantes locales, aquellos con precios para peruanos y no de atraco a mano armada; e inspeccionar con mi amigo Fer de Argentina los puestos de comida callejera que abundaban cuando la noche se cernía y el frío invadía las calles. Anticuchos (brochetas) de pollo, vaca y, para los más atrevidos, de corazón de res, decenas de tipos de patatas, choclo, ceviche, chicha morada (bebida hecha a base maíz morado) y mucho mucho mate de coca, para combatir el soroche, también conocido como el mal del altura, que me tuvo mareado un par de días.
For years it was the holy city of the Incas, today it has become the exclusive home of backpackers from all around the world. Globetrotters who live in harmony with the cusqueños (people from Cusco) and their ancient traditions and add to it a bit of hustle and bustle; a seductive atmosphere that pushes you forward to get to know each of its mysteries.
Cusco or Cuzco still remains as an impressive stronghold where colonial buildings and stone Incan palaces merge to create a city where walking through the streets, letting the time goes by in one of its many squares and admire their sumptuous churches becomes a delight. But what makes Cuzco one of the most interesting tourist destinations on the planet are its legends, myths, rituals and folklore. Dressed in their costumes, the natives of Cuzco walk their llamas and yearling sheeps and play local instruments to the amazed foreigners that, with suspicion, try to picture the moment in exchange of a couple of Peruvian Soles (the national currency).
But by far, what I enjoyed the most about Cuzco was wandering around , realizing that architecture was not far from the villages of the mountain in Extremadura with its characteristic colonnades, bringing back those old smells and, therefore, feeling at home, immersing myself in the food markets, interacting with the natives that kindly recommended me local restaurants with local prices for Peruvians, avoiding being ripped-off, finding out, with my friend Fer from Argentina, that street food stalls that were plentiful when the night came and the cold invaded the streets. Anticuchos (skewers) of chicken, beef, and for the brave ones, beef heart anticuchos, dozens of potatoes types, corn, ceviche, chicha morada (drink made from purple corn) and so much coca tea to combat the altitude sicknes (soroche) that had me dizzy for a couple of days .
For years it was the holy city of the Incas, today it has become the exclusive home of backpackers from all around the world. Globetrotters who live in harmony with the cusqueños (people from Cusco) and their ancient traditions and add to it a bit of hustle and bustle; a seductive atmosphere that pushes you forward to get to know each of its mysteries.
Cusco or Cuzco still remains as an impressive stronghold where colonial buildings and stone Incan palaces merge to create a city where walking through the streets, letting the time goes by in one of its many squares and admire their sumptuous churches becomes a delight. But what makes Cuzco one of the most interesting tourist destinations on the planet are its legends, myths, rituals and folklore. Dressed in their costumes, the natives of Cuzco walk their llamas and yearling sheeps and play local instruments to the amazed foreigners that, with suspicion, try to picture the moment in exchange of a couple of Peruvian Soles (the national currency).
But by far, what I enjoyed the most about Cuzco was wandering around , realizing that architecture was not far from the villages of the mountain in Extremadura with its characteristic colonnades, bringing back those old smells and, therefore, feeling at home, immersing myself in the food markets, interacting with the natives that kindly recommended me local restaurants with local prices for Peruvians, avoiding being ripped-off, finding out, with my friend Fer from Argentina, that street food stalls that were plentiful when the night came and the cold invaded the streets. Anticuchos (skewers) of chicken, beef, and for the brave ones, beef heart anticuchos, dozens of potatoes types, corn, ceviche, chicha morada (drink made from purple corn) and so much coca tea to combat the altitude sicknes (soroche) that had me dizzy for a couple of days .
3.Machu Picchu
Cuando lo avistas por primera vez, un escalofrío te recorre el cuerpo. ¡Por fin te conozco! Me habían hablado tanto de ti... Estamos nada más y nada menos que ante una de las 7 maravillas del mundo moderno. En julio de 2011 se celebró el centenario del "descubrimiento"de Machu Picchu, pero el término "descubrimiento" es engañoso. El sitio inca, de hecho, estaba allí mucho antes de que Hiram Bingham lo diera a conocer al mundo.
Machu Picchu, armoniosamente insertada en un lugar de estratégico encuentro entre montañas y selva tropical, es uno de los sitios arqueológicos más famosos e importantes del mundo. Símbolo de la espiritualidad mística, de la relación entre lo humano y lo divino, de lo mundanal y lo mágico. En este lugar, las fuerzas de la naturaleza nos transportan a una aventura única y, si la muchedumbre nos lo permite, a un estado mental incomparable, a un encuentro único con nuestro interior.
Si llegar hasta las ruinas representa hoy una pequeña odisea, no me quiero ni imaginar lo difícil que sería llegar aquí cuando lo descubrieron. Para ello me monté en un tren temprano de madrugada con origen en Cusco y destino Aguascalientes, la población más cercana. Tanto el billete de tren, como la entrada a Machu Picchu las había comprado en las respectivas páginas web de PeruRail y Ministerio de Cultura de Perú con bastante antelación, y fue una buena decisión, porque en el mes de julio, al tratarse de la temporada alta, los trenes llegan abarrotados de turistas. Una vez llegados a Aguascalientes, existen buses que por 15 Dolares americanos te trasladan hasta la entrada en la cima y te traen de vuelta. Yo pagué la mitad, subí en bus y la bajada la realicé andando. ¡Fue una magnífica idea! Vistas espectaculares, caminos despejados de turistas, aire puro, buena música y simpáticos niños que me adelantaban sin mucho esfuerzo y se paraban para tomarse una foto con el extranjero.
When you sight it for the first time a chill runs down your spine. I met you, finally! I had heard so much about you ...We are nothing more and nothing less than in front of one of the 7 wonders of the modern world. In July 2011, the centenary of the "discovery" of Machu Picchu was held, but the term "discovery" is kind of misleading. The Inca site, in fact, was there long before Hiram Bingham made it known to the rest of the world.
Machu Picchu, harmoniously inserted in a strategic place where the mountains and the rainforest meet, is one of the most famous and important archaeological sites in the world. It represents a symbol of mystical spirituality, the relationship between the human and the divine, the mundane and the magical. Here, the forces of nature take us to a unique adventure and if the crowd of tourists allows us, to an unique state of mind where we can even find ourselves.
Arriving to the ruins represents a small odyssey today, I cannnot even imagine how difficult it was to get here when it was discovered. To do this I got on an early morning train and departing from Cusco and with destination Aguascalientes, the nearest town to the site. I had bought both the train ticket, and the entrance to Machu Picchu well in advance in their respectives web pages: PeruRail and Ministry of Culture of Peru, and it was a smart thing to do, because July is within the peak season and the trains arrive packed with tourists. Once in Aguascalientes, there are buses that take you to the entrance at the top and bring you back for $15 American Dollars. I paid one way, and walked the way down. What a great idea that was! Spectacular views, cleared of tourists , fresh air and friendly children who overtook me without much effort and stopped by my side to take a photo with their old celullar phones.
¿De qué parte de España eres? Me preguntaban siempre durante el viaje. Soy de Extremadura, contestaba con orgullo. Los muchos no lo sabían ubicar, algunos lo conocían por el equipo de fútbol que estuvo dos años en primera división o por el grupo de música Extremoduro y los pocos sabían que la mayoría de los conquistadores de América provenían de esta región. La historia que os cuento a continuación, no es más que una muestra del espíritu de superación y el coraje de los que buscaron el progreso y la prosperidad en un nuevo mundo, con el mérito añadido de no contar con los avances ni la tecnología de hoy día:
5. La vida y arte callejeros
5. Life and street art
Cuando lo avistas por primera vez, un escalofrío te recorre el cuerpo. ¡Por fin te conozco! Me habían hablado tanto de ti... Estamos nada más y nada menos que ante una de las 7 maravillas del mundo moderno. En julio de 2011 se celebró el centenario del "descubrimiento"de Machu Picchu, pero el término "descubrimiento" es engañoso. El sitio inca, de hecho, estaba allí mucho antes de que Hiram Bingham lo diera a conocer al mundo.Machu Picchu, armoniosamente insertada en un lugar de estratégico encuentro entre montañas y selva tropical, es uno de los sitios arqueológicos más famosos e importantes del mundo. Símbolo de la espiritualidad mística, de la relación entre lo humano y lo divino, de lo mundanal y lo mágico. En este lugar, las fuerzas de la naturaleza nos transportan a una aventura única y, si la muchedumbre nos lo permite, a un estado mental incomparable, a un encuentro único con nuestro interior.
Si llegar hasta las ruinas representa hoy una pequeña odisea, no me quiero ni imaginar lo difícil que sería llegar aquí cuando lo descubrieron. Para ello me monté en un tren temprano de madrugada con origen en Cusco y destino Aguascalientes, la población más cercana. Tanto el billete de tren, como la entrada a Machu Picchu las había comprado en las respectivas páginas web de PeruRail y Ministerio de Cultura de Perú con bastante antelación, y fue una buena decisión, porque en el mes de julio, al tratarse de la temporada alta, los trenes llegan abarrotados de turistas. Una vez llegados a Aguascalientes, existen buses que por 15 Dolares americanos te trasladan hasta la entrada en la cima y te traen de vuelta. Yo pagué la mitad, subí en bus y la bajada la realicé andando. ¡Fue una magnífica idea! Vistas espectaculares, caminos despejados de turistas, aire puro, buena música y simpáticos niños que me adelantaban sin mucho esfuerzo y se paraban para tomarse una foto con el extranjero.
When you sight it for the first time a chill runs down your spine. I met you, finally! I had heard so much about you ...We are nothing more and nothing less than in front of one of the 7 wonders of the modern world. In July 2011, the centenary of the "discovery" of Machu Picchu was held, but the term "discovery" is kind of misleading. The Inca site, in fact, was there long before Hiram Bingham made it known to the rest of the world.
Machu Picchu, harmoniously inserted in a strategic place where the mountains and the rainforest meet, is one of the most famous and important archaeological sites in the world. It represents a symbol of mystical spirituality, the relationship between the human and the divine, the mundane and the magical. Here, the forces of nature take us to a unique adventure and if the crowd of tourists allows us, to an unique state of mind where we can even find ourselves.
Arriving to the ruins represents a small odyssey today, I cannnot even imagine how difficult it was to get here when it was discovered. To do this I got on an early morning train and departing from Cusco and with destination Aguascalientes, the nearest town to the site. I had bought both the train ticket, and the entrance to Machu Picchu well in advance in their respectives web pages: PeruRail and Ministry of Culture of Peru, and it was a smart thing to do, because July is within the peak season and the trains arrive packed with tourists. Once in Aguascalientes, there are buses that take you to the entrance at the top and bring you back for $15 American Dollars. I paid one way, and walked the way down. What a great idea that was! Spectacular views, cleared of tourists , fresh air and friendly children who overtook me without much effort and stopped by my side to take a photo with their old celullar phones.
4. Pizarro, abanderado de Extremadura, tierra de conquistadores.
4. Pizarro, Extremadura's flag bearer, land of conquistadores.
4. Pizarro, Extremadura's flag bearer, land of conquistadores.
¿De qué parte de España eres? Me preguntaban siempre durante el viaje. Soy de Extremadura, contestaba con orgullo. Los muchos no lo sabían ubicar, algunos lo conocían por el equipo de fútbol que estuvo dos años en primera división o por el grupo de música Extremoduro y los pocos sabían que la mayoría de los conquistadores de América provenían de esta región. La historia que os cuento a continuación, no es más que una muestra del espíritu de superación y el coraje de los que buscaron el progreso y la prosperidad en un nuevo mundo, con el mérito añadido de no contar con los avances ni la tecnología de hoy día:
Francisco Pizarro nació en 1478, en Trujillo, Extremadura, en un lugar humilde. Fue hijo del Capitán Don Gonzalo Pizarro y Doña Francisca González, el primero de condición noble, la segunda de condición humilde. Durante su infancia sufrió pobreza, ya que nunca fue reconocido por la familia paterna, por lo que tuvo que vivir en condiciones muy duras realizando actividades agrícolas y ganaderas, entre las que se encontraba la cría de cochinos. Ya en su pubertad, su padre lo reconoció como hijo, por lo que se embarcó en nuevos proyectos. En su juventud fue soldado de las tropas españolas en Italia. En 1502, llegó a América como soldado. Participó en en diversas campañas y expediciones en Centroamérica y Colombia. En 1519, se estableció en Panamá, donde se dedicó a una lucrativa actividad comercial. En 1524, interesado por los relatos acerca de un majestuoso reino al sur del continente, se asoció a Diego de Almagro y Hernando de Luque, con quienes creó una compañía para el descubrimiento y conquista de aquella misteriosa tierra: el Perú.
Después de dos viajes duros y llenos de dificultades, Pizarro regresó a España y en 1529 firmó con la Capitulación de Toledo, donde fue nombrado Adelantado, Gobernador, Alguacil y Capitán General. En octubre de 1531 emprendió el tercer viaje...En abril de 1532 con el apoyo de grupos étnicos enemigos de los Incas, cruzó la cordillera andina hasta llegar a Cajamarca donde logró capturar al Inca Atahualpa. Después de estrangularlo marchó al Cuzco y la saqueó en 1534. Un año más tarde fundó Lima, donde vivió hasta que fue asesinado por los almagristas el 26 de junio de 1541. Pizarro se defendió valientemente de sus atacantes, recibiendo muchas heridas, siendo la de mayor importancia la recibida en la garganta, feneciendo no sin antes haber luchado gallardamente. Hoy sus restos descansan en la Catedral de Lima. (En la foto, mi visita a su sepulcro).
Which part of Spain are you from? People kept asking me during the trip. I'm from Extremadura, I answered proudly. Some of them knew about Extremadura because of the football team that spent two years in the first division or because of the music group Extremoduro, but only a few knew that most of the conquistadores of America were originally from this region. The story that I am going to tell you next is just a sample of the spirit of perseverance and bravery of those who sought progress and prosperity in a new world, with the added merit of not having any of the technology of progress that we have today:
Francisco Pizarro was born in 1478, in Trujillo, Extremadura, in a humble place. He was the son of Captain Don Gonzalo Pizarro and Francisca González, the former of noble status, the latter coming from a poor family. During his childhood he suffered poverty, due to the fact he was never recognized by the father's family, so he had to live under harsh conditions making farming activities, including breeding pigs. In his puberty, his father recognized him as his son, so he had the chance to start with new projects. In his youth he became a soldier of the Spanish troops in the campaigns in Italy. In 1502, he first came to America as a soldier. He took part in various campaigns and expeditions in Central America and Colombia. In 1519, he settled down in Panama, where he started a lucrative business. In 1524, intrigued by the tales of a majestic kingdom in the Southern part of the continent, he teamed up with Diego de Almagro and Hernando de Luque, whom he set up a company for the discovery and conquest of that mysterious land: Peru.
After two hard trips, full of troubles, Pizarro returned to Spain in 1529 and signed the Capitulation of Toledo, where he was appointed as Governor and Captain General. In October 1531 he launched the third trip...In April 1532, with the support of those ethnic groups which were enemys with the Incas, crossed the Andes to reach Cajamarca where he managed to capture the Inca Atahualpa. After strangling he marched to Cuzco and plundered it in 1534. A year later, he founded Lima where he lived until he was assassinated by Almagro on June 26, 1541. Pizarro fought gallantly before passing away though. Today his remains rest in the Cathedral of Lima. ( In the photo, my visit to his grave )
Which part of Spain are you from? People kept asking me during the trip. I'm from Extremadura, I answered proudly. Some of them knew about Extremadura because of the football team that spent two years in the first division or because of the music group Extremoduro, but only a few knew that most of the conquistadores of America were originally from this region. The story that I am going to tell you next is just a sample of the spirit of perseverance and bravery of those who sought progress and prosperity in a new world, with the added merit of not having any of the technology of progress that we have today:
Francisco Pizarro was born in 1478, in Trujillo, Extremadura, in a humble place. He was the son of Captain Don Gonzalo Pizarro and Francisca González, the former of noble status, the latter coming from a poor family. During his childhood he suffered poverty, due to the fact he was never recognized by the father's family, so he had to live under harsh conditions making farming activities, including breeding pigs. In his puberty, his father recognized him as his son, so he had the chance to start with new projects. In his youth he became a soldier of the Spanish troops in the campaigns in Italy. In 1502, he first came to America as a soldier. He took part in various campaigns and expeditions in Central America and Colombia. In 1519, he settled down in Panama, where he started a lucrative business. In 1524, intrigued by the tales of a majestic kingdom in the Southern part of the continent, he teamed up with Diego de Almagro and Hernando de Luque, whom he set up a company for the discovery and conquest of that mysterious land: Peru.
After two hard trips, full of troubles, Pizarro returned to Spain in 1529 and signed the Capitulation of Toledo, where he was appointed as Governor and Captain General. In October 1531 he launched the third trip...In April 1532, with the support of those ethnic groups which were enemys with the Incas, crossed the Andes to reach Cajamarca where he managed to capture the Inca Atahualpa. After strangling he marched to Cuzco and plundered it in 1534. A year later, he founded Lima where he lived until he was assassinated by Almagro on June 26, 1541. Pizarro fought gallantly before passing away though. Today his remains rest in the Cathedral of Lima. ( In the photo, my visit to his grave )
5. La vida y arte callejeros
5. Life and street art
¡Qué tráfico hay por todos los lados! ¡Qué mal conducen estos peruanos!
En la carretera se aplica la ley del más fuerte. Esas prisas al volante, los acelerones y frenazos bruscos, los cláxones sonando a doquier, el girar sin usar el intermitente, no se corresponden, para nada, a la disposición que tienen los peruanos ante la vida, sin prisa, todo a su tiempo, sin un mínimo lugar para el estrés. Para gente que está acostumbrada al ritmo frenético de las ciudades, esa actitud pasota le puede resultar desesperante, pero, tiempo al tiempo, te acabarás acostumbrado.
La vida en Perú está marcada por una notable y muy definida jerarquía en todos los ámbitos de la vida, así como una excesiva burocratización. Muchos de los barrios y calles todavía mantienen su separación por gremios, mientras que las paredes, bañadas de graffitis, gritan y nos mandan mensajes, intentando avivar un ambiente que en ocasiones parece muy decadente y desolador. Los peruanos no son tan ruidosos como la mayoría de sus vecinos, pero por el contrario, con un más que correcto español, saben como embelesarte y te transportan a la cortesía que pensabas que sólo existía antaño y que, muy a nuestro pesar, se ha ido perdiendo en otros países.
Las ideas preconcebidas vuelve a aparecer en este apartado. Siempre pensamos que los pueblos de Sudamérica son atrasados y pobres. Sí, en el Perú existe pobreza, especialmente en los suburbios de las ciudades, donde los inmigrantes se aglutinan con la esperanza de un mañana mejor, pero lo importante es que se trata de un país que, poco a poco, va generando los medios y la infraestructura para la subsistencia y la mejora de la calidad de vida.
¿Con cuánto dinero puedes sobrevivir a diario en Perú? Dependerá en gran medida del ritmo de vida que quieras llevar. De almorzar un menú ejecutivo por 10 Soles (3 €), a degustar un menú de degustación de 60 a 100 Soles en un restaurante gourmet de Miraflores. El micro (bus) son 1.5 Soles. En Perú no funciona el taxímetro, todos los trayectos tienen que ser negociados. Si vas en plan mochilero 50 Soles deberían ser suficientes para vivir decentemente.
There is so much traffic! Peruvians drive so badly !
On the road the law of the jungle is the only one that applies. Rushing, sudden acceleration and braking, horns sounds everywhere, turning without using signal, but these behaviours do not match at all with how the Peruvians face life, slowly, all comes in the right time, no place for stress. For people who are used to the frenetic pace of the city (except for the traffic), this easygoing attitude may seem frustrating, but let matters take their course, you will end up getting used.
Life in Peru is marked by a astounding and very defined hierarchy in all areas of life, as well as an excessive bureaucracy. Many neighborhoods and streets still maintain their separation by trades, while the many graffiti bathed walls, try to speak and send us messages, reviving an environment that sometimes seems very decadent and bleak. Peruvians are not as noisy as most of its neighbors, but on the contrary, they know how to captivate you with a more than correct Spanish, transporting you to the kind of courtesy that used to exist years ago, and that much to our regret, is getting lost elsewhere.
First impressiones reappear in this section. We always think that the people of South America are backward and poor. Yes, there is poverty in Peru, especially in the big cities suburbs, where immigrants coalesce with the hope of a better tomorrow, but the most important thing about this country is that, little by little, new sources and infrastructures are being generated for their subsistence and improving their quality of life.
How much money do you need to survive in Peru? It will depend on the lifestyle you want to lead. You can find a so called n executive lunch menu for 10 Soles ( 4 USD), or a gourmet tasting menu for about 60 to 100 Soles in a chic restaurant in Miraflores distric. The micro (buses) are around 1.5 Soles. In Peru the taxmeter does not exist, so all the routes have to be negotiated beforehand. If you are backpacking 60 Soles should be enough to live decently.
Las ideas preconcebidas vuelve a aparecer en este apartado. Siempre pensamos que los pueblos de Sudamérica son atrasados y pobres. Sí, en el Perú existe pobreza, especialmente en los suburbios de las ciudades, donde los inmigrantes se aglutinan con la esperanza de un mañana mejor, pero lo importante es que se trata de un país que, poco a poco, va generando los medios y la infraestructura para la subsistencia y la mejora de la calidad de vida.
¿Con cuánto dinero puedes sobrevivir a diario en Perú? Dependerá en gran medida del ritmo de vida que quieras llevar. De almorzar un menú ejecutivo por 10 Soles (3 €), a degustar un menú de degustación de 60 a 100 Soles en un restaurante gourmet de Miraflores. El micro (bus) son 1.5 Soles. En Perú no funciona el taxímetro, todos los trayectos tienen que ser negociados. Si vas en plan mochilero 50 Soles deberían ser suficientes para vivir decentemente.
There is so much traffic! Peruvians drive so badly !
On the road the law of the jungle is the only one that applies. Rushing, sudden acceleration and braking, horns sounds everywhere, turning without using signal, but these behaviours do not match at all with how the Peruvians face life, slowly, all comes in the right time, no place for stress. For people who are used to the frenetic pace of the city (except for the traffic), this easygoing attitude may seem frustrating, but let matters take their course, you will end up getting used.
Life in Peru is marked by a astounding and very defined hierarchy in all areas of life, as well as an excessive bureaucracy. Many neighborhoods and streets still maintain their separation by trades, while the many graffiti bathed walls, try to speak and send us messages, reviving an environment that sometimes seems very decadent and bleak. Peruvians are not as noisy as most of its neighbors, but on the contrary, they know how to captivate you with a more than correct Spanish, transporting you to the kind of courtesy that used to exist years ago, and that much to our regret, is getting lost elsewhere.
First impressiones reappear in this section. We always think that the people of South America are backward and poor. Yes, there is poverty in Peru, especially in the big cities suburbs, where immigrants coalesce with the hope of a better tomorrow, but the most important thing about this country is that, little by little, new sources and infrastructures are being generated for their subsistence and improving their quality of life.
How much money do you need to survive in Peru? It will depend on the lifestyle you want to lead. You can find a so called n executive lunch menu for 10 Soles ( 4 USD), or a gourmet tasting menu for about 60 to 100 Soles in a chic restaurant in Miraflores distric. The micro (buses) are around 1.5 Soles. In Peru the taxmeter does not exist, so all the routes have to be negotiated beforehand. If you are backpacking 60 Soles should be enough to live decently.
You can read part two in the following link //Puedes leer la segunda parte en el siguiente link: Peru (Part 2)
Vídeo sobre mi viaje a Perú a continuación // You can watch the video about my trip to Peru in the following link.
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