Machu Picchu is counted among the seven wonders of the modern world and widely regarded as the most popular international tourist destination in South America — no wonder given its impressive architecture and majestic location. We spent an entire day here, beginning with a tour of the first part…
We had a chance to learn about the Inca culture by visiting three impressive archaeological sites as well as the home of a family living in a stone structure that predates the arrival of the Spanish five centuries ago. Sacsayhuaman contains huge stones that archaeologists believe were cut and…
Spring has arrived in the Southern Hemisphere. Up in the mountains, flowers are in bloom and grasses are changing from gold to green. Insects are emerging, birds are singing and sheep are grazing in the midday sunshine. Visitors to Peru typically travel to places like the Sacred Valley of…
Where are they? The mountains are stunning, but something seems missing. The only forests we see are swaths of eucalyptus planted on the hillsides near each village and town. Though quite useful for firewood or supporting the roofs of adobe houses, these invasive plants imported over a century ago…
What might it be like to live in the highest mountain range in the Americas? We had an opportunity to learn and serve in the Andes during an extended visit and will share our experiences in a series of posts over the next few days. Our adventure began with…
We headed east to Cieneguilla to volunteer at Corazones en Accion (Hearts in Action), an organization that works to prevent child abuse in the eastern cone of Lima. The next day we hiked at Lomos de Lucumo, an area that is unusually green due to the marine layer that…
Nestor Vergara is a psychologist and resident of Lima’s eastern cone. He works for the government ministry that provides services to women and children who suffer from domestic violence or sexual abuse. Mr. Vergara gave an eloquent and informative description of the social problems faced by those living in…
During their first week the students have learned a lot about life near the center of Lima. They have toured downtown, taken part in lectures and language classes and, most of all, interacted with their host families. At week’s end we extended our reach to the outskirts of Lima,…
Learning is fun — especially when it is relevant to life in contemporary Peru. The week began with a lecture by James Plunkett on national politics and current events. Mr. Plunkett moved to Lima in the 1960s. He engaged us by telling the story of his life while simultaneously…
Lima is the capital of Peru in many ways: politically, financially, culturally. Named “City of the Kings” by its founder, the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro, the city is teaming with history from the colonial, republican and modern periods. During our visit we explored the main Cathedral on the Plaza de…
