Pirwa Blog

Archive for February, 2010

Carnival is celebrated all over the world. Most of the people would first think of carnival in Rio, the parades and dances in the streets, fiestas which last more than 24 hours, the half naked women, who move their hips incredible fast…In Cyprus the people get dressed up and visit their friends and holding masked balls. In Germany the women would cut the cravats of the men on the Thursday before Rose Monday.

Carnival in Peru is very traditional. You finally are able to see people dancing in the streets again with their colorful dresses accompanied by the traditional music.

This is not all! It is also a great happening for the younger generations. You either are fast enough or you got prepared. The Carnival in Peru can be quite different from what you would expect. It is a gigantic water fight. Especially crossing the main Plazas will secure that you will get soaked till the last bit of your cloth. It can be quite refreshing on a sunny day, but you better be prepared to be part of the game.

We all know that there are some traditional dishes in every country, which in many cases would not confirm our normal taste, especially in my case coming from Germany. For the local people it is such a normal thing, because they grew up with it. They never would consider certain things to be abnormal.

When we are travelling we are usually more open for new things and to have a try of the local taste. This is the time to eat things you probably would never, when you are at home. Some of the dishes you might not even be able to buy and prepare in other countries. The idea of eating insects is still very exotic in Europe, but people are getting customized to it, as being a source of protein. It is possible that the reality TV-shows had their contribution to it. But does that mean you would try it?

Arriving in Peru brought me into a complete different culture. One after another I tried the local dishes such as Chicharron, Aji de Gallina, Ceviche, Alpaca Steak…. Those are only some of the traditional dishes. Especially the people in front of the restaurants would remind me that there is something else to be tried. I always denied, since I could not imagine, that I would be able to eat my pet’s brother.

Everybody I asked kept on telling me, they are much bigger here and they would serve it with its head, to make sure, you would not eat a rat.

It took me six month and someone from far away. He wanted to go out to have Alpaca, since I enjoyed eating a good steak at some other time before I joined in. This restaurant had a lot of local specialties on the menu. Before I realized I had my pet’s bother on the plate. Cuy the local specialty people think of in relation to Peruvian dishes. It did taste much better then I would have expected it to be. Would I eat it again?…

Hi

We would like to invite you to check our new Facebook Page! Find out what’s going on?

Help me to win my bet! Need 500 fans in 3 days! Once you are in Cusco I will bring you to THE Bars in town!!!

Looking forward to welcome you at our new page!

This is the link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pirwahostelsperucom/296408642744

Best Regards Kathrin

Hola

Nosotros queremos invitarte a ver nuestra nueva página de Facebook! Encuéntranos

Ayúdame a ganar en este juego! Yo necesito conseguir 500 fans en solo 3 días ¡ Y lo mejor una vez que tu llegues a Cusco, Yo te llevare a divertirte y disfrutar de unas noches maravillosas en los mejores bares y discotecas de la ciudad de Cusco!!! J

Te espero para darte la bienvenida en nuestra nueva página en Facebook.

Este es el link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pirwahostelsperucom/296408642744

Saludos Kathrin

The people who mostly got affected by the heavy rains in the greater Cusco area in the last couple of weeks, are not the people in town, with a job and a secure income. These were the people in the countryside, working hard everyday to till their fields. They had to watch, how all the hard work was washed away within a couple of hours. This means that their alimentation for the next few months got destroyed. These people are not able to help themselves having to deal with the situation, that their entire existence was destroyed.

It was no question that we wanted to help to set a sign. There is always hope with a new beginning. Within our team we did collect cloth and bought some food and water for the people. Early in the morning a couple of our staff members loaded our mini-van and drove to one of the local social organizations, which have a widely extended organization system to drop of our things. We waited a little while until we loaded our van with specially packed care packages, to secure that every family would receive the same support and not one only cloth and the other only rice. We continued our tour to Limatambo with our fully packed van, even on top of the roof, which is a small community about 1 ½ hours from Cusco.

With this action we were able to secure, that the support will reach the people in need.

The sun got its strength back after a couple days of heavy rains. It seems as if nothing has happened. The dramatic descriptions, especially on the international basis, are not as worse as it is broadcasted. This unusual weather phenomena did leave its marks this is undeniable. That the complex of the famous Citadel Machupicchu is closed for a couple of weeks is very disappointing for a lot of tourists who travelled so far to explore it. There is always a possibility to return another time. Jet there are a lot of other impressive places to explore in and around Cusco in the Sacred Valley of the Incas which might give the visitors an idea of how powerful and huge the former empire of the Incas must have been in the older days.


Some of the places are accessible by participating in one of the popular tours such as the City- or the Sacred-Valley-Tour, including sites like Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, Pisaq, Sacsayhuaman, Pukapukara and a lot more. The incredible Inca Gardens of Moray or the huge Salt Mines of Maras are definitely worth a visit. Furthermore it is possible to visit various complexes, which are fairly unknown. This means that there will not be the usual crowds you would meet at other tourist places. Some of these are Huchuy Qoscqo, Pumamarca or Paruru.


Cusco itself deserves to be explored for a couple of days. It has a lot to offer by just walking through the little streets, which could put you back in time. The mixture of Inca and colonial structure creates a unique atmosphere in the city. Walking the city will help you understand of how powerful Cusco must have been in the ancient times. You are able to gain additional information through a visit of the diversity of museums in town.


Come to the Cusco area for an alternative visit, you will not regret it!


For more information check out the webpage of our local partner: www.incaworlperutravel.com