Peru

Peruvian culture is very rich because of European and Inca influence, but also because the land itself, like the rest of South America, is varied, beautiful and rich in natural resources, climates and sceneries. In the north there is the Amazon jungle, with a hot and humid climate, rich in fauna and flora. In the center there is Lima on the edge of a desert. And in the south – within the Andes – beautiful colonial cities like Cusco, contrast with the amazing view of the Inca city of Machu Picchu.

In Cusco the temperature is on the other end of the spectrum regarding the Amazon in the north.

Just like the Inca Empire, the amazingly rich Peruvian culture stretches along the country, varying but remaining a whole, making of this country a beautiful one to explore and a little complex to fully understand. The multifaceted society, its turbulent colonial history and its recent economic development seem a whole mess on the surface, but when you take a deeper look, it is possible to appreciate the awesomeness of this country.

In Peru I fell further in love with this beautiful continent.

Peru, just like much of Latin America, presents a very interesting merger of cultures and traditions. It appears as if the Spanish were able to convert the natives to Christianity only on the surface. But beneath, their Inca traditions still prevail and shine through still to this day.

While I was in Lima it was the celebration of Corpus Christi, a catholic tradition. But just behind the image of the virgin that was being paraded around downtown, there were groups of dancers showcasing the traditional Inca dances, celebrating the Pachamama (mother earth) as much as they celebrated Jesus Christ and virgin Mary.

Here there are plenty of churches and Catholic celebrations. But this year Peruvians are also celebrating the 100 years of discovery of Machu Picchu by Hiram Bingham of Yale University, so it was an ideal time to observe the two main influences in Peruvian culture: Spanish and Inca.