S 16º 23.578 / W 071º 30.984 From the somber mood on Good Friday, the Arequipeños came out in full procession from the main Cathedral to one just down the road. The faithfull crowds, with candle´s in hand outlined the route which the Cross of Christ was to lead, along with the Virgin Mary - in a much more elaborate and magestic promendade. All of this, with the masses and the elite of the Roman catholic Church in Arequipa in tow... Along the procession route, the police, national guard, explosives details, fire brigade accompanied the wide variety of food, beverage and [View Full Entry]

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Arequipa, the capital of the state of Arequipa is located at 7300ft asl in the central cordillera de los andes - an old colonial style town, with buildings, churches and the plaza de armas (town square) just as it was some two hudred years ago when the spaniards conquered peru. Upon arriving from the coast of arequipa, via the twisting, turning and long nine hour ride on the cattle bus (locked inside a compartment with two stops for nature breaks), several stops to take on interim passengers (the driver picks up people to make a little extra cash), and leaving behind [View Full Entry]

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S 15º 50.318 / W 074º 18.707 Some people, places and things can not be properly described - a photo seems to be a lacking solution to properly reflect the true nature... Puerto Inca is such a place. The Inca, a direct decendant of the Sun - would be carried by from Cusco to Puerto Inca, some 400KM away for him to enjoy the beach, sit at his gold plated seat, and discuss whatever it is god´s discuss amongst themselves. With a complete sense of isolation from the world outside, this Inca city, built in 1300 AD for the purpose of [View Full Entry]

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Thirty years ago, my poor table manners led me to the kitchen to eat with what we called the ´servants´. At that point in time in my life, we were affluent with four ´servants´. Between the live-in gardner, cook, houskeeper and nanny we were well served. Tonight I found myself choosing between eating some chicken and fries alone at the table, or joining one of the ´servants´ in the kitchen - the choice was obvious. Throughout my travels in Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru and a few other countries where the class system is disfunctioning as it was designed, [View Full Entry]

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At 13,178 ft (4016m) the air is clean, clear and thin in oxygen. A most austere and harsh environment for human survival, yet perfect for the national animal of Perú - the Vicuña, the condor and a few other robust animals. Pampa Galera is the largest reserve of Vicuñas in the world, containing roughly 6500 vicuñas in 6500 hectares. The animal is considered an endangered specias, sa the camel-like animal is coveted for fiber worldwide. One kilo of the raw material sells wholesale for USD$600 in the closed market controlled by the Peruvian government. Rosulo Sarmiento and four [View Full Entry]

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As the day starts at 4am, the group of four men prepare to repalce their counterparts in the segment of the mine which belongs to the cooperative of two families. A total of about twelve men and boys and an equal number of women and girls, ranging from the age of eight to sixty. I suppose the reason why it stops at sixty is the nature of the work. Before the four men climb into the hole they work with their hands, steel rods and sticks of dynamite, they prepare for the day by smoking a cigarette, loading their cheek with [View Full Entry]

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Sunday is a good day to spend developing a web site for the people of Nasca... For over twenty years, i accumulated money and stuff, working like a mad man to get to the top of corporate america - VP Sales for the Americas, Australia - VP Consulting, VP Sales EDS, VP Sales blah blah blah - At fourty i realized the top of the 1% of wealth in all of the world was a shame badge not an accomplishment. It works for many people, and I do not intend to insult or slam or question any motives or results or [View Full Entry]

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have you ever spoken to a sheep and heard a response back? if you have not spoken to an animal, perhaps try it, first when no one is around, and then as you become comfortable with your sanity, try it around others - after spending the day walking in 100 degree weather in the hot desert of nazca, looking for Petrogliphs which created before the nasca civilizatition ' i came upon a herd of sheep ' which when promted as to which way i should go to get out, they responded .... vaaaaaa yyyya aaaayy yaaa, translated into human - español [View Full Entry]

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the last time i went from close to sea level to over thirteen thousand feet without oxygen in something other than a commerical airline, i was skydiving for a rush and to feel alive - today it was to go to the neighboring state to ica (where nasca is located) into ayacucho - where at a little over 13K feet, the air is clean and pure, the landscape oposite to the coastal town of nasca, climate went from dry and 90 to wet - cold and 40... vicuñas are the most prized fur for spinning cloth of all the animlas in [View Full Entry]

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something funny happened to me on the way to the hamock - cocks, and men have several things in common - no not that - that they want everyone to know how important they are, and want everyone to look at them - and then the yeventually etiher go away or shut up... if you are at a small provincial restaurant, and out of courtesy the owner, you are served a bowl of soup - caution it may be hot, and it may be soup from fish heads... once again, smile (and unlike the guiny pig) swollow all of it... and [View Full Entry]

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