PERU is a Republic. The Peruvian currency is the Nuevo Sol,(SL). The population is about 26 millon people,(54% Indian, 32% Mestizo, 12% Spanish descent, 2% Black and some Asians).
Over 90% of People are Roman Catholics. There are three official Languages, ( Spanish, Quechua, Aymara).The County is about 1,285,215 sq km.
The best time to travel here is in the dry season, (from April to October).
Other than Lima most of the Country very high above sea level and if you have any breathing problems you should never travel here.
If you do travel here and get sick from the altitude, (called Soroche), go to the closest Peruvian Cafe and order a cup of their Tea that is made from Coca Leaves, (an Andes high!).
LIMA:
Lima is the Capital of Peru and I found a lot of poverty here. I suggest you only spend a few days here. Before I begin to tell you what we saw I must warn you that if you travel here you cannot bring any weapons into the Country.
We stayed at the Marriott Lima Hotel in the Centre of the City. It is near the Larcomar that is an open air Mall that has a few Restaurants, Shops and Night Clubs.
WHAT WE SAW:
We went to see the Catholic Cathedral on the Plaza Des Armas (or Plaza Mayor). It was similar to the Cathedrals you find in the main square of every Spanish Country in the World.
From there we went to see the San Francisco Monastery. The Architecture is a mixture of the Moors and Spanish Buildings. There is a courtyard that surrounds it with a beautiful Garden. Monks still live here so we could only see the rooms that are open to the public.
Our next stop was at the Gold Museum to see the displays of Uniforms and Armaments from all over the World. They begin at in the pre-Conquistador era to the post-Colonial era. I loved the Inca art.
After we left the Museum we saw that there were a few Store that sold fake Inca gold Jewry, Sweaters and Wall Hangings.
I loved Archeology Museum of Rafael Larco Herrera. We viewed the Archeological items, Ceramics, Gold and some Tools that showed us the type of things that the different original People of South America made.
CUZCO:
We were only here for two nights and one day on our way on our way to and from Macau Picchu.
We stayed at the small four star, Novotel Hotel. It was built next to Archeological Centre, near the Ruins Of Macau Picchu and four blocks from the Town's Centre.
WHAT WE SAW:
Cuzco was the Capital City when the Inca's ruled this land. If you visit here you can see the influence they left behind in the architecture on the buildings near and around Plaza de Armas, (the Square in the centre of this Town).
This Town is in a valley, (but still over 3,000 metres above sea-level), below the Andes Mountains.
The centre of any Spanish City is always a good place to start. The Plaza at Cuzco is the Plaza De Armas. The Cathedral is the Centre piece of the Plaza and they is a fountain in the centre of it.
The only place that we ate at was the La Retama on the Plaza de Armas. We tried some Peruvian food called ''Seco de cordero and Anticucho'', (a brochette that had layers of lamb and beef of a stick).
We took an Andes Adventure Tour and saw the Sacred Valley in Rio Urabamab, (about 30 kilometres from Cuzco). We saw the Inca Ruins and their Agricultural Terraces.
Surrounding the Plaza are a lot of Shops, Restaurants, small Cafes and a few Hostels.
MACHU PICCHU:
We had to take a Train from the San Pedro Station in Cuzco, (it's over 10,000 feet above sea-level), to reach Macau Piccu that is in the Andes Mountain Range.
The train chugged up the winding Mountain and every time I look out of the window I thought the train would go off the rails while it was making the turns.
When we were approaching Machu Picchu it had began to get misty. Through the mist I could see the stone walls that were part of the Citadel.
We took a taxi to the Hotel de Tristas to arrange for a Guide. Jose arrived in about half an hour and we were off on our tour.
Jose told us that, ''The Villagers who lived nearby helped Hiram Brigham find Machu Picchu. He was looking for a lost city and didn't realize he was standing above it until the Villagers showed him where to dig''. The People of Peru aren't very happy with him because he took many of the artifacts back to the United States with him.
Jose then took us to each building and emplaned what they were use for. The Inca's appeared to have a lot of know how to build their stone buildings. Each stone block fit together without any cerement.
We could see a cone shaped hill above Machu Picchu and Jose told us that it was called ''Huayna Piccu'' and this was the most sacred Mountain of the Inca's.
We walk up a very steep trail to reach it. When we arrived we were amazed to see that it had a sundial on the Temple of the Sun god.
We took the last train back to Cuzco.
FOOD:
Try some Peruvian meals. I enjoyed the way the made Creole Soup, Mussels and peppers in a cebiche vinaigrette, Beef Stew with Cilantro Based Sauce, pan fried Chicken with Oregano and Rice with Chicken or Seafood. The desserts I had were all yummy. The make so many different types of Flan, boiled condensed sweet milk with port and meringue and purple Corn Pudding.
HEALTH ALERT:
The water is not safe to drink so that means no fresh fruit or vegetable, (unless you can peel them). You shouldn't have ice in your water and I suggest you carry bottled water with you when you go out and keep some in your Hotel Room.
We were advised to take Malaria pills before, during and after we returned.
We were vaccinated for Yellow Fever.
Use a Sun Block that is 15-25 SPF.
If you get Altitude Sickness expect feel nausea, have a headache or not be able to sleep. I take Gravol but that pill is only available in Canada so pack a pill that is used for motion sickness.
Always go out with some one and never alone because their are thefts and some terrorism. Leave any valuables you don't need in the Hotel's Safe.
