Welcome to Schefferville ...So I'm curious, what did you think of Schefferville? How was your stay? What are you studying?
I'm curious. I'm a native of the town.
my great great grandpa hello, i am Oswaldo's great great granddaughter. I have met him, and he loves me so dearly!! he even gave me a painting of a dog just for me, because of my love for dogs. It was such a tragedy when he died, i could help but cry and hold my painting. I did go to his funeral though, it was so depressing. I know live a few blocks away from the Chapel of Man where he used to live. Thanks, i neede to share that. please, contact me.
Cheers,
Mari-Carmen
Blah blah I find this blog as an insult to the city which it was called by the spaniards "City of Kings"; perhaps you haven't visited cities such as miami, detroit, washington...etc. Many of these cities are ugly as well!! I will not over protect Lima because even do I'am limean I dont find Lima pretty neither. In fact I find lima ugly as well but if by any reason you are going to visit another country and do not like what you see you may described in a less insulting way. Reporting from Montreal, Canada one of the most beautiful cities and a lot better than any other city in USA well maybe not better than San francisco. Ciao
Lame... I just ran into this travel log... I wasn't gonna write anything in the comments sections after I read the idiotic words coming from jonovision. But before I close the window, I read one of the pictures that comment about a stranger talking to Mike wanting to practice his English.. and the comment from Jonovision of Weirdness. OMG, you should not visit Peru anymore. Peru is known in the traveller's community by its unusual hospitality to the tourists. Most tourists would find a stranger talking to us in our native language.. super cute and nice. Not you though. Make us all a favor and do not go back to Lima, if you gonna rate a city in an afternoon visit, when Lima was considered the most cosmopolitan, cultured, rich city in the Americas for centuries.
BTW, I´m Canadian After reading some comments and other blog entries, I thought I should also add that I am, in fact, Canadian, NOT American. It seems to be a common fact that many citizens don´t like to be compared (or worse, mistaken for) a member of a neighboring country (i.e., Peru and Ecuador, Canada and the U.S., Finland and Sweden, that I´m aware of). There are often subtle, but important differences, even if they are mainly cases of self-perception. Such rivalries can sometimes be the most deep-seeded.
It´s not that I think I´m better than ALL Americans (I have good friends who are American), or any other country, for tha matter. But I am happy and proud to be Canadian and living in Canada, with all its qualities, good and bad.
Carification (or inflamation)? I apologize if other Lima residents (or Peruvians) felt slighted by my comments, but I can´t change the fact that I just didn´t really enjoy myself during the afternoon I spent in Lima (and that horrible night in the airport, but a night in any airport is pretty crappy). I also found these 2 comments obviously harsh, but admittedly difficult to understand, other than the outraged tone. It´s too bad you think I´m arrogant, but your comments really don´t make me feel any more affection towards Lima.
I don´t hate all Peruvians, or expect them to behave in the middle-class manner I grew up in. My comments are just one perspective. I prefered Cuzco to Lima for sheer atmosphere. Some of the people we met were quite nice and surprisingly friendly. I don´t find all Peruvians "annoying". Perhaps that was a poor choice of words. But, we did find that many of those whose livelihoods depended on tourists (shoe-shiners, restaurant owners, travel agents, etc.) were relatively pushy, compared to what I experienced in Ecuador. That´s the only other South American country I have as a reference point.
As for the safety aspect, Mike and I were in a part of the city that was not very safe for tourists. That´s what the person on the street told us. We were a little suprised that a complete stranger (obviously a local resident)warned us and spoke in english, since we were accustomed to speaking to people in Spanish. I don´t think so little of peruvians that they can´t speak other languages, Indeed, many of the people we encountered in Cuzco spoke english to us, perhaps an indication at the sheer number of english-speaking tourists who visit the area. But it is nonetheless a bit suprising when you are in a foreign country where another language is more prevalent, to be approached in what is locally a foreign language. We obviously stood out as tourists out of place, and this event was a reminder of that fact. We were defintely grateful for the warning, and the actions I took were precautionary and is good practice for tourists anywhere, particularly in areas that have a history of tourists getting mugged, robbed, etc. I have since been surprised by stories from fellow travellers of close calls with robbery even in Quito, where I have felt relatively safe. Given the situations I have been in on this trip, I am grateful and amazed that I have not had anything stolen, although I had accepted that it was a likely eventuality. So far, so good (touch wood).
For the record, French and English are both my mother tongues, and I have studied Latin. Unfortunately, I haven´t time to learn Spanish to a conversational level, but I am surprised at how much I can understand, given the similarities with languages I am familiar with. I have been surprised at how easy it is to get around in this area without having to be fluent in Spanish and I would encourage others to travel even if you don´t speak the local language perfectly - it is still a worthwhile experience. Speaking the local language is definitely easier, and opens up a great many more opportunities to get to know the people you meet. But that is for another discussion...
La Hermosa Lima
I as well as my Peruvian friend think this to be a most unintelligible comment, now I am an American From New York, But I used to Live in Lima, actually near what they call, Barrios Altos, or El Centro,(downtown area) Near to where you were... Just thought that, thought and just that I'd give, so first let me say that you made such a mistake by publicizing such a thought which held such a well reflection to that of Idiocy, and was it necessary to compare Quito to Lima, Such a Comparison is not fair because Lima is quite incomparable, but as you stand to confirm, someone as yourself cannot see such beauty, especially one whose probably from the Suburbs anyway, and also, I’d like to know if you could get back to me, Mr. easily annoyed by people who haven’t yet perfected their other languages, how many do you speak yourself (white, American, and English counts as one) but all this I hope shall be for your learning... And by the way, I’m the guy who gets annoyed with people like you thinking that such a people as these are more so than you.... So please keep in your what appears to be so closed and almost hopeless mind, within such must lie a reason as to why I would waste my time, have it be just a little constructive Criticism for most sporadic is for me to insult a man so you may better, and never please never let others make you feel better, especially when within them lye your strength.... that For one to think himself as more civilized than his brother, here may be born his own demise... next time, Don’t go away from home for to long of an extended period of time in order to prevent such atrocious conditions from occurring, to such an individual as yourself . Insincerely Matthew Papworth- matthewandmatteo@yahoo.com
Another arrogant visitor...
Hello Jonovision,
Do you what's the problem of people like you? that you come from "gringoland" expecting that the whole world is made to meet your particular taste.
You were so afraid in Lima, poor you... and so shocked when someone spoke to you IN ENGLISH!... what now do you think Peruvians can't learn other languages? what's up with your shallow mind mister scientist?
Now, I might sound upset. Well, yes I just read this part of your post :
"Fortunately, not all Peruvians are annoying"
Perhaps not as annoying and paranoid as you sound. Obviously Lima is so ugly it requieres only the visit of less sterotypical and open minded people.
Perhaps you are afraid of dangerous cities? I recommend you to begin an intensive training tour in NYC, Newark, DC, Detroit or LA for starters.
Sincerely,
Annoyed Peruvian.
glad you're feeling better mike said you were a bit on the rough side for a while! glad to here you are up and about again...getting sick in a foreign country is never a good thing. enjoy the rest of your amazing trip!
Agreeing on the dog! Hi Jon-
am keeping up on your travels through this journal- thanks for posting!
France used to have a 'window tax' if they were large or ornate- maybe something similar happened there?
Glad you are well- hugs,
S
... you make flight connections sound so interesting, haha...
if you planning on visiting Peru, I definitely recommend venturing out to Bolivia as well, since you'll be so close.
wow So suddenly (for me not you I guess!) you're off to the outer reaches!
How exciting.
I will be following your blog and will email when I can.
Jim and Duke say hi!
Best wishes on your travels Hi Jon! I hope you have a fantastic time in your travels around South America. I am glad you made it for my farewell bbq and hope you enjoyed the fond wishes from everyone there for you--we will all miss you very much! Give Mike a big hug for me when you get there! Have fun..and remember, no worries! Hasta luego mi amigo!
I recently completed a Master's and decided to get some travelling in while I still had the time & money, before "the next big thing" (whatever that happens to be). So, I decided to make the pilgrimage to Ecuador and the Galapagos (the Biologist's Mecca), with a short detour to Peru along the way.... full info
Benjamin Jancewicz
non-member comment
Welcome to Schefferville
...So I'm curious, what did you think of Schefferville? How was your stay? What are you studying? I'm curious. I'm a native of the town.