PERUVIAN COOL.
A write up from my trip to Peru (in the wake of the Brexit vote) June 2016.
“Did I mention I was travelling to Peru?” At the time I was setting off for Latin America, two colleagues were also planning their summer holidays in Peru. So what was it about Peru and why is it so popular? I was keen to find out…
Though it wasn’t so much the big hitters like the treks or the landscape that did it for me. This country boasts some of the most exciting and adventurous cuisine in the world…
Food, glorious food:
There’s been an explosion of Peruvian inspired restaurants shooting up in London and we love their export grain – quinoa. We’re loving it so much that the locals are moving onto a new grain in town (don’t tell the kids).
One could become obsessed with its restaurants alone. I wanted to try them all! Ticking them off my list with militant verve. You could go mad the Ceviche, Pisco Sours. Favourites include:
Story-telling colour
Peruvians are masters of colour woven textiles. Using the wool of the alpaca, the locals capture their history through a combinations of patterns and designs. So when you’re not eating it, you’re wearing it!
Places to see:
Cusco:
A people watching paradise. Imagine every Sunday, your town holds a parade, the communities gather to celebrate a moment in time. That’s Cusco town. Why? Because they can! Cuscoans love to celebrate. No matter how small, they’ll say it with a parade. Staying here during the celebrations of independance (which lasts about a week), you could be mistaken for thinking you’ve hit Mardi-Gras season.
Barranco:
Travel can often remind one of home. I heard remarks of, San Francisco or Melbourne’s St Kilda, but Barranco is quite simply one of the coolest places I have been to. The home of Mario Testino and his excellent museum, Barranco is a mix of tree lined, terraced avenues with splashes of colour.
Manchu Pichu:
They come in busloads by the hundreds. They come from miles around and across the globe. Manchu Pichu does not disappoint. She puts on quite a show. As the gem in Peru‘s crown, whether you trekked along mountains, or snaked across from Cusco by train (like I did), the view is quite literally, breath-taking. For all those ‘selfies’ and FB shout-outs, Manchu Pichu makes for a killer photo bomb.
Scared Valley:
It was at Sacred Valley I had my ‘aha’ moment. Sacred Valley is a warm breeze through snow capped mountains, of sunny hillsides and quiet joy. I would have made my home there. If only I could find my panpipe. A must visit surprise gem.
People:
The people are warm, friendly and content. Proud of their history and progressive by nature. There’s a feeling of integration across their multicultural population. I guess it helps when your country is enjoying an economic boom and the Peruvians are doing just that. The last ten years has seen rapid rise in the economy, largely due to political stability and a roaring tourist trade. During a moment of reflection, I pondered Europe from a distance…
Recommendations:
Barranco
Cusco
Manchu Pichu
Lima
Posted onOctober 23, 2018CategoriesUncategorizedLeave a commenton Peruvian cool.
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