Iquitos-Entryway to the Amazon River Basin

Two days after arriving in Lima, I flew out to Iquitos, located in the middle of the Amazon River Basin.  There are only two ways to arrive in Iquitos, by air or by boat via the Amazon River.

The small three wheel vehicles are the norm in Iquitos.  Only the very rich can afford to have a vehicle brought in.  Iquitos is the primary town in the basin and has a population of 500,000.  There are now two universities, the public university and a private university.  Public education is free up to the age of 15, although most people who can afford it send their kids to private schools for a better education.  Public universities cost about $200 year, versus the private universities cost $3000 a year.  Even though that sounds very inexpensive to an American, compare the average teacher makes only $200 a month. 

 

The main town square.  There was a religious festival going on so there were lots of people and activities.

Our group walked past the main square on to another park where we had dinner at the El Mason Restaurant.  Traditional peruvian dishes were served.  I had grilled fish, potatoes and yucca.  

Did you know Peru claims to be the first country to cultivate potatoes?  They also claim to have over 3000 different varieties.  They serve potatoes with everything.  They also serve yucca and cassava as regular side dishes as well.  Corn is also a regular staple at most meals.  Their corn is more of a field variety and they don't serve it with butter, just a small piece of corn on the cob which you eat without any seasoning at all.

The park outside the restaurant. I really liked the fountain.

Casinos are very popular in Peru, even here in the Amazon.

The center courtyard of our hotel in Iquitos.  It was open to the sky, so when it rained, everything below got wet.  At the bottom was a pool, but unfortunately I didn't have time to make use of it

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Early the next morning, some of us accompanied our trip leader to the local open air market.  It was a full square block of almost anything you could want.  Those things which look sort of like Brazil nuts are actually bread fruit.  We ate them after they had been boiled and they reminded me of boiled peanuts.  They were good.  I tried star fruit, camu camu, dragon fruit, sweet pepino, custard apple, the amazon tomato, sapote, ice cream bean, and shimbillo.

They grow many spices which are also available at the market.

Bijao leaves.  Used to wrap and cook/steam foods (their tamales).

Here are some tamales wrapped in the bijao leaves.  They are purchased and eaten similar to our fast foods.  Inside may be a mixture of rice, meats, vegetables, potatoes, yucca and seasonings.

He was exceptionally proud to show off this pigs head.  We are so finicky about keeping everything refrigerated all the time, but the meats were left out in the open all day.  When the market closes anything left over is taken back to a freezer unit to be brought back out the next day.  I ate lots of food from these markets while I was there and never did get ill.  I just didn't drink the water or even brush my teeth except with bottled water.

Along the Amazon River Basin the main protein is fish.

Caimans are also a regular in their diet.  I had eaten alligator many times before, so eating caiman wasn't a big deal.  And no, it doesn't taste like chicken.

These are suri palm grubs and yes you eat them.  But not raw (at least not me).

They can be grilled or fried.  I tried them and actually liked them.

Some type of rodent was also for sale in the market.  And no, I didn't try this type of rodent.

These are all medicines made from various plants and trees, insects and animals which live in the Amazon.  Notice the one bottle which says Boa.   I was told most of these medicines are various types of viagra.  I guess even in Peru.....

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Instead of just chopping up their heart of palm, they shred it.  I think I prefer it shredded.  It is served on most salads.

And of course there were the chickens.  For those people that are squeamish eaters, don't come to Peru.

  

More of Lima, Peru

Following our time at the museum, we ventured into the historical district. 

In many ways the city looks like any other modern, urban city.

But there are districts of abject poverty as well.  These buildings are very pretty on the outside, except for the graffiti, but many are empty shells inside and where once a single family lived in a palace, now 20 families live and share a single bathroom.

One of the many plazas, the Plaza San Martin

Lima has been known as the City of Kings, City of Gardens and even City of Balconies.  Lima was founded and organized by the Spanish, but the balconies reflect the Moorish influence.  The balconies were enclosed so the women could see out, but people on the streets could not see in, thereby maintaining the Moorish tradition of women not being seen except by family.

As time went by, the covered opening on the balconies were replaced with glass.

And eventually, balconies become completely open, which is how most balconies are built today.

Basilica and Convent of Our Lady of Mercy held the first mass in 1534 in the orginal wooden structure, before Lima was officially founded.  The current church was built in 1591.

Although as noted by the date in this picture, some parts were added later.

I like the Inca Sun God figure above the seated Saint.  Peruvians are 85% catholic, yet they infuse their native culture of animism into their daily religious lives.

Looking across the Plaza Mayor is the Cathedral of Lima, building started in 1535, and most of the current buildings were added in the 17th century.  I learned only Cathedrals are allowed to have three doors.

This is the inside of the smaller chapel next to the Cathedral.  The inside of the Cathedral is a museum during the day (and they charge) and pictures are not allowed.

As the group was preparing to return to Miraflores for lunch and back to the hotel, several of us decided to stay in the historical area, have lunch and dinner downtown and return by taxi to the hotel later that night.

This is the three musketeers who dared to defy the group schedule.  R-L is Cynthia, Jean (my roommate on the tour) and myself.

We proceeded to continue to wander and explore.  This is the Church and Convent of Santa Domingo.

Around the Plaza Mayor were horse drawn carriages for the tourists.

The restaurant we went to for dinner is run by nuns and they sing the Ava Maria every evening at the close of the meal.  

There is also a train/tram you can catch at the Plaza Mayor too.

We were supposed to see the Church and Convent of San Francisco as part of our earlier tour, but because we spent so much time at the museum, there was no time for exploring this church.  By the time we found the church it was closed except for a private function.  The church building was started in 1673 and completed in 1774.

The Church and Convent San Pedro was built by the Jesuits in the 17th Century.  It also has three doors, but is not officially a cathedral.  Before a cathedral can be built, it is supposed to be approved by the Pope.  The Jesuits built the church with the three doors before gaining approval, and then were turned down for a cathedral because one already existed in Lima.  It may be the only catholic church with three doors which is not a cathedral.

Inside the Church and Convent San Pedro

Looking across the Plaza Mayor at the Presidential Palace.  Plaza Mayor is the oldest public plaza in Lima.  Lima was founded on an the site of an existing indigenous settlement by Conquistador Francisco Pizarro.

This fountain in the center of Plaza Mayor replaced the original fountain in 1651.

My next blog will start my adventure to the Amazon River Basin.  

Peru

Finally, I'm home and can start my blogging about my big trip to Peru.  I flew into Lima, Peru, the capitol and a town of 10 million people.  It consists of the original old historical center, surrounded by 43 districts, with each district having its own mayor and taxes.  Very busy, very urban and very different from the rest of the country.

I wanted to take my hiking boots, but they took up too much room in my luggage, so I wore them.  I'm sure I made a fashion statement with my hiking boots and skirt.

My hotel in Lima, the Jose Antonio.

Our trip leader, Edgard, serving us our welcoming Pisco Sours.  

I love this logo, but notice the English translation.  Even though they speak English, their translations on signs and brochures is difficult to understand at times.

Just a few blocks from the hotel is the Pacific Ocean.  I was staying in the district of MiraFlores, one of the more affluent areas.

The community is built right on the cliff edges next to the ocean.

The next day we explored the city of Lima by first going to the National Museum of Archeology, Anthroplogy and History in Bolivar Square.  It was a great museum and the tour only had allowed 45 minutes, but our group had so many questions, it extended for another hour.  I would love to discuss the history of Peru and its culture, but that would take too much time.  So, I am just including a few pictures and a little history.

This granite slap, called a stella, was discovered in a peasant's hut in 1874 by an Italian traveler. The stella was carved in the image of a deity known only as the Staff Bearing God, and was worshiped between 1500-500 B.C.  Over 3000 years old.

Since Peru dates back over 4500 years, there is pottery from every civilization throughout its history.  Each culture had its own unique signature for dating the pottery.  I believe these pots were of the Wari Culture, 500-1000 A.D.  These fancy pots would not have been used for everyday, but were signs of wealth to be buried with its owner.

I was most fascinated with the woven cloth, some of which is over 1000 years old.  The detail and intricacy of the weavings and the colors are wonderful, especially knowing how old some of these cloths are.  

This is a burial bundle.  Ancient cultures believed death was simply a rebirth to another life.  So in preparation, they placed the body into a fetal position.  They did not embalm the body, but the dry conditions in many parts of this country allowed them to place the body in the desert where it would mummify.  After mummification, it would be wrapped and buried in a cave.

More weavings.

And more weavings.  Look at all patterns.  This Inca design is called a Tocapu.

This loom, of the Paracas Culture, produced weavings 800-100 B.C.E.

The Paracus men wore hairdressings and even fox pelts as a wig, to denote hierarchy and masculinity.

I now know why they say aliens were in Peru many years ago.  These skulls have been found that are approximately 2000 years old.

A baby's head was wrapped, forcing the soft skull to shape into the elongated head.  It was done primarily to royalty to show their superiority.

Lima has several different archeological sites of ruins dating from several different cultures as far back as 200 A.D.

I will be updating the blog daily over the next week or so as I share my visit to Peru.

Two Cajun Festivals, One Weekend

Anhalt Dance Hall, orginally known as the Germania Farmer Verein or German Farmer's Club.  The Verein organized in 1876 and in 1887 built the first meeting hall, which was enlarged in 1896.  In addition to the annual spring and harvest festivals held here, it is used for a variety of music venues.

This dance hall addition was added in 1908 for a cost of $2500.  We were attending the Cajun Fest 2014.

I don't think they enforce this anymore.

I guess you better not be provocative out there on the dance floor or you will get kicked out.

And of course, we had to have some crawfish.

Traders Village in San Antonio was host to the Cajun Festival put on by the Medina Lake Community Association.

Kevin Naquin and the Ossun Playboys played some awesome music that day.