Bien Peruano

       Peru is a country with a rich and varied cultural and architectural heritage. Facing the Pacific, it enjoys spectacular and varied scenery, including Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake, and has a strong Inca and pre-Inca heritage, which includes the famous Lake Titicaca area, the Nazca Lines, and the ancient Inca capital of Cuzco, with its Inca Trail to the lost city of Machu Picchu. It's a fantastic place for a holiday and in this article, we'll be looking at some hints and tips to make sure you can get the most out of your holiday in Peru!

Language - The primary language in Peru is Spanish. This is almost identical to the Castilian Spanish of Madrid, albeit with slightly different pronunciation and a few vocabulary changes. In the high Andes, particularly around Cuzco and Puno, many people still speak Aymara or Quechua (the language of the Incas) as a first language, although almost all will also speak Spanish. Some English is often spoken in areas popular with holiday-makers and in staff of services that deal with international customers (eg: airports, banks, etc.) will invariably speak some English.

People - Peruvians are renowned even in South America for their friendliness and they are always keen to engage you in conversation. Even if they are hoping to sell you something they are still often curious to find out something about you and where you come from. The British are quite popular in Peru, although we still have something of a 'Victorian' reputation; we are usually seen as very polite and efficient but somewhat lacking in passion and, of course, quite unable to dance! The Peruvian expression for being on time is 'A la hora ingles' (English time) and if you try and explain about the current situation on British railways you are usually met with polite disbelief and an assumption that you are just being kind...

Geography and Transport - Peru is split into 3 separate climatic zones: costa, sierra and selva (the coast, the mountains and the jungle). The character and culture of the three areas is remarkably distinct and can give your Peru holiday real variation although nowadays the country is inter-connected by a good road network, some amazing railway lines and excellent air services.

       The coast mainly consists of a small fertile strip along the Pacific which merges slowly into the desert at the foothills of the Andes. In the very north and south of the country it is not unknown for it not to rain for years at a time but complex irrigation systems (some of which date back to Inca times) keep areas like the Pisco valley surprisingly fertile. The Panamerican highway travels the length of the coast, making travel within the coastal region both comfortable and speedy.

       The Andes range covers the entire central region of Peru, from north to south. They offer some of the most spectacular views and some of the most interesting cultural experiences in the world. As mentioned above, in many areas you can still hear Quechua - the language of the Incas - spoken as a first language and the spiritual ideals of Inca culture remain strong. Today cities like Cusco combine stunning Inca and colonial architecture with thoroughly modern services but just a short distance away from the major urban areas, life carries on in a way which would be instantly recognisable to the Incas. The Andean areas are where most travellers spend the majority of their time while on holiday in Peru.

       The Peruvian jungle is some of the most unspoilt rainforest in South America and much of it is protected under international law. The only access to large sections of the jungle (including the few cities) is by boat or plane and so it feels very different to the rest of the country - you get a real sense of arriving somewhere! The rainforest is home to a bewildering and spectacular array of wildlife, with more unique species being discovered every year!

Food and Drink - Peruvian cuisine is excellent and a real highlight of any Peru holiday, with all the regions having different specialities. Coastal dishes owe a lot to African and Spanish influences, tending to be quite rich and often reasonably spicy. Seafood is, unsurprisingly, excellent and anything with chicken is usually a good bet. The coast is also the birthplace of the national dish: ceviche. This is a selection of fish pieces marinated in lime juice and is absolutely stunning - we urge you to try it even if you're not usually too keen on fish! Good chicken dishes include aji de gallina - chicken in a spicy, creamy sauce.

       Highland dishes tend to be more simple than coastal (and especially Limeño) cuisine, concentrating on the excellence of the ingredients, but is just as delicious! Particular favourites include rocoto relleno (stuffed Andean peppers). These are the size and shape of the peppers we eat in England but have a rather spicy edge to them. They are usually stuffed with small pieces of beef and vegetables, although most places will do them with just vegetables on request. We'd also suggest that you try an alpaca steak at least once during your holiday in Peru: it's a kind of heavenly mix between pork and beef and has to be tasted to be believed. Of course, for the adventurous then nothing will do but the Arequipa speciality of cuy - roasted guinea pig! It's surprisingly good so long as you can deal with the guilt...

       Rainforest cuisine features a great deal of fresh fruit - both on its own and as part of main dishes. An unusual one to try is chirimoya (which you can also find in fruit juices and milkshakes outside the jungle). It looks a bit like an apple but tastes like strawberries and cream! Chicken dishes are popular in the jungle, as they are elsewhere in Peru but tend to be served with yucca (a kind of manioc) rather than the usual rice or chips.

       Of course, if you're on holiday in Peru then you may well be wanting a couple of beers to unwind! Peru has several excellent national beers, probably the best of which is Cuzqueña. All the beers are lagers but you can often get cerveza malta - a kind of dark, hoppy lager which is similar to an English Brown Ale. Peru is starting to make some good wines, particularly reds but is not as far down the road as Chile or Argentina in this respect. The country does, however, produce one of the great world brandies: Pisco. This is also the source for what must be one of the world's best cocktails: the Pisco Sour. Made from Pisco brandy, egg-white, cane sugar syrup and limes it is a great aperitif, although you may find yourself drinking more than just one...

       Also worth a mention is the fact that Peru is one of the only countries in the world where the local soft drink outsells Coke! The local 'Inka-Cola' is bright green and very sweet but is very refreshing and 100% Real Peru! Apart from fizzy drinks, Peruvians love milkshakes (often known as yoghurt) and all kinds of fruit juices and these can often hit the spot when you fancy a break in a shady café.

       Currency is the money circulated within an economy in the form of coins or paper notes. It is the medium of exchange that is generally accepted for use all over the country. This unit of exchange facilitates the transfer of goods and services. The control of currency is in the hands of the government of the country. It is the ministry of finance that takes care of its governance. The currency in Peru is nuevo sol. Nuevo sol is broken down to 100 centimos. Currently bank notes of 200, 100, 50, 20, and 10 nuevo sols are in circulation in Peru. The coin denominations for nuevo sol are 1, 2, and 5, and that of cents or centimos is 50, 20, 10, and 5.

       The exchange of currency is an easy affair in Peru. Most of the hotels and resorts in various parts of the country accept U.S. dollars in lieu of payments. The safest method of exchanging money is banks and other authorized financial institutions. The banks offer security and a guarantee of the exchange. It is advisable to avoid unauthorized money exchange offices, as they do not offer any security or guarantee despite the fact that they are registered in municipalities of different districts of Lima.

       The exchange rate of Peruvian currency can be obtained through embassies that are situated at different countries. Travelers also can find this information on many of the currency exchange websites on the Internet. Currencies other than the U.S. dollars are not easily exchangeable in Peru. People traveling from foreign countries preferably change their home currency to U.S. dollars before visiting Peru.

       Most of the resorts of Peru advise travelers about the banks where exchange can be done reliably. It is also possible to use international credit or debit cards for most of the payments in Peru. These cards have a systematic method of conversion that enables the travelers to keep a tab on the expenses incurred in Peru's currency.

When walking Peru you'll come across a country that's so different from the western hemispheres that walking the landscapes can prove to be both awe-inspiring and at the same time disconcerting. You can make your Peru walking trip a little easier by making sure that you're fully prepared before your travels.

What languages do they speak in Peru?
When walking Peru you'll come across a whole range of different languages and dialects. Spanish and Quechan are the two official languages of the country. Although when you pass through the Lake Titicaca area you'll hear Aymara spoken. In the jungle areas many different dialects are spoken, but English is widely spoken in the tourist areas of the country.

Do I need a visa to travel to Peru?
If you hold a British, Australian, Canadian, American or EU passport then you won't need a visa to travel to Peru, unless you're a Latvian national. You will need a return ticket though and at least six months remaining in your passport.

What is the Peruvian currency?
When walking Peru you'll be buying your souvenirs in New Sol (PEN). There is roughly 4.1 PEN to 1 GBP. However, US dollars are also widely used and accepted in the major tourist areas. All major credit cards are accepted but outside of Lima and the tourist areas usage is somewhat limited. Traveller's cheques are also limited outside of Lima.

What vaccinations do I need to travel to Peru?
Vaccinations are set to change at short notice, so it's important to check the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website at least two months before your date of travel. Most inoculations need to be taken at least eight weeks before you travel, so make sure you're up-to-date. At the moment the Hepatitis A, Tetanus and Typhoid inoculations are the only ones needed for travel in Peru. A yellow fever vaccination is also required if you're planning on visiting the jungle areas, but is not needed for travellers only visiting Cusco and Machu Picchu.

Can I drink the water in Peru?
No, the water in Peru isn't safe to drink and it is recommended that guests only drink bottled water, which is widely available.

Is it safe to eat meat and dairy in Peru?
Whilst walking Peru visitors should avoid eating dairy products that have been made from unboiled milk. This shouldn't be a problem as pasteurised milk is widely available in most hotels and guest houses. As in all countries, visitors should only eat meat and fish that has been well cooked.

Do I need to tip in Peru?
Most restaurants will automatically add a service charge of 10% to your bill. However, additional tips of 5-10% are expected in better restaurants, whilst smaller restaurants generally appreciate you just rounding up the bill.

What's the time difference in Peru?
GMT -5 is Peru's time zone.

What kind of plug socket will I need when walking Peru?
Whilst walking Peru you'll need to bring a 220v standard Continental Europe or Europlug plug socket. Both these plug sockets are widely used on the European continent so should be fairly easy to get hold of within the United Kingdom.

Why is the very small and poor country of Peru so important to the world?

Why do the UFOs or the beings who fly them, wander over to Peru in the first place? Next, this seems to happen in such a Streamate Cams manner that for the average Peruvian, they have no fear at all about the ships but are disappointed if they miss seeing them?

My name is Joshua Shapiro and as a friend of ours told us in Asheville, N.C. related to her Xlovecam.com boyfriend (who is not so open to spirituality) called us "One of those" - I am one of those people who has this very deep soul connection to Peru.

Since I assume, you the reader, are "one of those" people open to the new BoundGangBangs age, metaphysics or the paranormal then as I tell you why this is happening to me, I am willing to bet you will probably say, its believable and it makes sense. I have definitely had FuckingMachines lifetimes In Peru before. I am sure I was an Inca - why you ask? --well the first time I went to Peru and visited Cusco (now mind you, at this early time in 1989 I didn't have any idea of what I was doing Hog Tied in the least) some local Peruvians who I just met on the street recognized me as an Inca!! Also, when I go to Peru, I feel very much at home and relaxed and to tell you the Kink BDSM truth -- if you spoke to some of the people who just traveled with us to Peru in November (2009, a tour we led, believe it or not?) - they might have said I was a bit BoundGods crazy (you know off me rocker). But I wasn't really crazy, it was just the energy inside Peru -it was helping me to be myself, to enjoy myself and allow my Device Bondage and creativity to come out freely and easily (as after all, who knows me inside of Peru, they probably figured this is how normal DivineBitches Americans are??) -- so what do I mean by these last few comments? Let's give some examples:

First, ask yourself this question - is it normal to just get up and dance and Everything Butt sing (of course I was using my MP3 player and my crystal skull) within your group at an ancient or sacred site when doing a group ceremony or a Free Hardcore meditation? Probably not right? Well I actually did this very thing as I was inspired at time by the wondrous and powerful Kink On Demand energies around such places we visited like Cusco - near Machu Picchu or in Lake Titicaca -- the feeling of these places and Men In Pain energy was remarkable. I would have hurt myself, if I did not allow these strong energies to move through me and inspire my Public Disgrace actions!! Or another time was on the bus headed to our hotel after visiting the Naked Kombat site Tipon near Cusco, I took the microphone on the bus and started to tell SexAndSubmission jokes and be funny.

Now I am not saying this is how the energy in Peru is going to affect everyone, some people become very emotional when they visit certain place or others go into a TheTrainingOfO alternated state of consciousness or for some people they will go through The Upper Floor transformational process that will release deep emotional - mental - past life blocks and be forever and profoundly changed.

So I think people are drawn to Peru for these reasons:

a) past life connection - to receive home bound Ts Seduction energy or be re-energized

b) the energy in Peru is so amazing and not in some many places, your soul feels called to go through an Ultimate Surrender awakening

c) possible interest in the shamanic traditions still held by the people who never left their traditional ways

d) time to have your UFO connection

Why is Peru like this?

1) outside of Lima the modern world really hasn't caught up

2) the Spanish couldn't suppress the true traditions and religions of the people

3) there has to be some very power energy vortexes in the ground in the country where its natural or were engineered by superior Water Bondage cultures of the past is the question

4) there is a prophecy known as the Condor and the Eagle - the Condor representing the bird of South America and the Eagle representing the Whipped Ass bird of North America and when the two great birds meet (which is happening as the Elders and Shamans of North America - meet the Elders of South America) - a time of peace will happen. So I believe Peru was a colony of Atlantis and has buried within it key knowledge and sacred objects that when the Condor meets the Eagle, will be released to help our world see a Golden Age.

Oh I forgot, I also had a link to a past life I had from Atlantis (some visions I saw when I was in Peru) that when it was destroyed, I helped to bring goodies to Peru. The challenge is, I can't remember yet what I brought or where we placed it.

Anyway if you can follow my crazy Wired Pussy ideas here (as I didn't edit this article, just written spontaneously) you might know a bit more about what is going on in Peru.