Lima like many large cities all over the world are reservoirs of cultural, historical, artistic, and visual wealth for the traveling photographer, yet one major pain about most large cities is figuring out how to get from point A to point B.  For many this could mean a ride in a taxi cab (of which there are many in Lima) or it could mean renting a car, but if your a traveler on a low-budget or a recent expat residing in Lima you probably need a more inexpensive form of transportation.  Luckily Lima has hundreds of bus and combi routes that are spread throughout the city like a spider's web, which is great except when you don't know which bus to take.

In the past, I have resorted to age old practice (often loathed by men and advocated by women) of asking for directions which usually worked well when you wanted to figure out which bus to take, granted it helps if you at least know in what direction your destination is.  This methods seems practical enough however for a tourist it can be to their disadvantage as it isn't usually safe to announce that "your not from here" (overlooking the fact that your thick accent doesn't help much either).

Unfortunately the public transportation in Lima is privatized which might not sound like a bad thing at first until you either see it in action or come to the realization that there exists over 600 hundred (roughly, could be more) bus and combi routes run by several syndicates companies.  Fortunately, now there exists an option for those who want to find the best route/bus line to take to get to their destination thanks to Jeroen Prinsen's useful website called Rutas Recomendables or Recommended Routes.

Rutas Recomendables is Prinsen's realized vision of a functional transit map for Lima similar to that used for the London Tube.  His website and map are the products of a project that took him over a year in field research to finalize, but is now available to the public and is well worth a look for those who are not familiarized yet.


I was recently contacted by Prinsen who had found my blog through an article I wrote earlier about public transportation in Lima, anyways he told about his project and website which i found amazing so I decided to post it here.  His website is put together well and is very easy to navigate with clear and concise information about some Lima's most important bus routes.  You can purchase a high resolution version of his map for ONLY $5 USD or download his low-res map from his site for FREE, either way you should check it out!


WEBSITE: RUTAS RECOMENDABLES

The website How To Peru has posted a wonderful article recently about the importance of photography etiquette for those visiting Peru.  The author Tony Dunnell puts together a rather useful guide to taking photos in Peru and how it is important to always ask for permission or to check for restrictions before taking the shot. 

I will agree with Tony on the fact that in Peru it is important to try to ask an individual before attempting to take their photograph, especially if it is a portrait photo, however other times an opportunity presents itself that just can't be missed (this is where reward usually outweighs risk).  Just be prepared for the consequences that will follow your shot. 

Another good issue that Tony addresses is that of photographing military and police personnel in Peru.  In cities like Lima police officers (especially men) tend to shy from camera's especially when they are being photographed while "questioning" (note the use of quotes as this word is used lightly and can be left to your imagination.  Those who have or currently lived in Lima will understand) a driver.  Anywhere outside of Lima and unsolicited photography of police officers will more than likely get you in trouble (remember its just you and him out in the vast open, far from protection of the city.  Basically he/she has the upper hand in this situation).  As far as military personnel, I agree with Tony, always ask these uniformed individuals since their power and authority FAR surpasses that of most national police, except perhaps a high ranking police officer. 

Well I´m officially calling it, it´s winter in Lima!  As the days become shorter and the grey clouds begin to dominate the sky, the people of Lima begin to settle in for the harsh (by Limeñan standards) months to come.  With the change in climate I can finally put on my winter clothing I brought from Portland, which makes up about 70% of my wardrobe.  The early mornings are chilly with light winter winds that make every bone in your body tremble as you huddle in your bus seat desperately trying to stay warm all while trying to ignore that the only seat available to you was next to a window which is missing both panes of glass (god knows how they wound up broken!).  By mid day the suns warmth manages to permeate enough through the dense grey blanket of clouds so as to bring your body temperature back to a manageable level.  In terms of photography, the days cloud cover casts a blue tint over every conceivable color only to intensify the cold felt by everyone who wanders the streets.  The evenings come quick and it´s hard to fight the feeling of perpetual drowsiness one must battle with on a daily basis just to make it through the week. Yet in spite of all the winter weather the weekend nights are just as busy as ever, fulbito (mini soccer) matches continue to be played in every district, and the dedicated and hardcore surfing aficionados, dressed in their wetsuits ride the waves through the fog and light rain, all evidence of a city in pure defiance of the season.

Gone is any remote trace of summer, as people suit up in warm clothing and ditch the shorts and sandals.  Along the coast all the large commercial billboards have been removed and put away until next year when they will be put back up to greet the thousands of Peruvians and tourists who drive up and down the Panamericana Sur highway visiting the popular beaches like Asia, Puerto Viejo, Punta Hermosa, and Leon Dormido.  Gone are the street vending raspadilla (fruit flavored shaved ice cones) carts which seemed to innundate city with there delicious and refreshingly cool fruit flavors made from 100% all natural fruit pulp!  No more beach parties or wild summer nights of drunken debauchery and Pisco induced Plan B mistakes.  Probably the only thing I don´t miss about summer is the dread of having to ride in an old, rundown and dirty bus or micro, which turn passengers into living Limeños a la brasa (think Pollo a la Brasa)!  Try siting in a heat-stroke inducing sweat bath for more than an hour in rush hour traffic all while cramped up with 30 to 40 other complete strangers all generating an equally proportionate amount of body heat and sweat.  Add to this equation the collaborated body odor and the door man yelling at every one to move to the back when clearly there is no room as another wave of passengers attempt to break a Guiness World Record.

Among tourists traveling abroad to Peru there seems to be this misconception about Lima as a city similar to Los Angeles, a city that experiences a perpetual summer.  Many are quite surprised when they travel to Lima only to discover the winter season that dominates close to half of the year, not something one would expect from a South American coastal city.  Luckily for many travelers the winter is still rather tolerable thanks in part to the lack of rainfall (the worst one will experience is a light drizzle from time to time) Lima receives each year.  In general, I would describe Lima's climate as being rather mild, despite being a city located in a coastal desert.  Lima's winter usually sees average temperatures ranging from 12 °C (54 °F) to 20 °C (68 °F), which is rather manageable, especially if you come from the Pacific Northwest or any other region up north.  July through September are by far the coldest and wettest months during the winter season.  

Tom Filipowicz in Chiclayo gives a rundown on the northern Peruvian city of Lambayeque

Article brought to you by Mochica Hostess Tours

If I were to decide to move to another city in northern Peru, Lambayeque would probably be my choice. It’s got a lot going for it in a quiet sort of way. By quiet I mean it doesn’t have the hustle and bustle of Chiclayo. You won’t find the taxis so prevalent on Chiclayo’s streets, and with a population of about 50,000 there is not the constant crush of humanity at every turn. There are a ton of motos for transportation, but somehow they seem less intrusive.

Lambayeque boasts at least three major parks, all beautifully landscaped and well maintained. The principal park with its surrounding well preserved colonial architecture reminds me of Lima’s Plaza de Armas, though of course on a much smaller scale. The town also has the only national university in the entire Lambayeque Region.

Lambayeque has made and is making an attempt to preserve some but not all of its colonial buildings, probably because the first calls for independence from Spain were voiced here. Two of the more noteworthy are Casa Descalzi (now a tourist restaurant) and Casa de la Logia known locally as Casa Montjoy, with its 400 year old 220 foot balcony. Casa Cùneo shown here dates back to the 1820s and according to printed information on the door supposedly played some part in the design of Peru’s flag. Many visitors voice the sentiment ‘if you’ve seen one colonial home you’ve seen them all’ but for me it’s not possible to look at what remains of this home and not get lost in thought wondering about the home and its inhabitants nearly 200 years ago.

The facade of this ancient church dates back to the mid 1500s according to local residents. It is probably the most photographed object in town. I always think of the Alamo when I see it. The church two doors to the right of the ‘Alamo’ is either being renovated or demolished. I wasn’t allowed access inside but in peeking over the thatch sheets was able to see many beautifully carved massive wooden columns inside the building.


 Lambayeque has two major museums to house and display the artifacts found at the many archeological sites in the area. The Museum of the Royal Tombs of Sipân (Museo Tumbas Reales de Sipân) is the newest and is considered one of the finest in all Peru. My personal favorite is the Bruning Archeological Museum (Museo Arqueologico Nacional Bruning) located near the center of town.


There are several fine restaurants in town, including El Rincon del Pato, El Pacifico and Algarrobos. El Pacifico is a favorite of many Chiclayanos, and particularly on Sunday afternoon lines of cars can be seen dropping of customers for lunch. What puzzles me is that the restaurant is only open until 5:00pm. I suppose they have their reasons for that.


If there is any night life in Lambayeque I am not aware of it. I suspect there must be something available because the town is the home of Peru’s 7th Infantry Brigade, headquartered in this impressive colonial structure. I don’t know how many men are in a brigade, but unless things have changed since I was in the army these guys aren’t just sitting in the barracks at night writing letters home.

If you’re in the area set aside a half-day or more to visit Lambayeque. The town is clean, safe and most attractions are centrally located or easy to get to. I think you’ll like it.

If you’d like to experience events like this and get a taste of real daily life in northern provincial Peru, speak to Tom & Maribel via Mochica Hostess Tours

The above photo was taken while traveling on vacation with my family last December to Cusco, Peru.  After photography there is nothing I enjoy more than traveling, it's that sense of adventure and discovery of places unknown that makes it so enticing.  Just looking at the photo you get an idea of how fertile and full of life the  region is.  Most visitors to the city of Cusco are often content with exploring the expansive and vast ancient capital of the Incas, and yes they also enjoy the ruins that are literally scattered throughout the cities perimeter.  This being my second trip to Cusco I was much more interested in the surrounding landscape of the city than the city itself.  In some ways Cusco's topographical terrain reminds me in some ways of Portland's with the exception of the elevation differences, which are practically night and day!

 

Cusco, Peru: 3,400 m (11,200 ft)
Portland, Oregon-USA: 15.2 m (50 ft) 

Cusco is a landscape photographers wet dream, literally!  Everything you could possibly ask for from the large omnipresent mountains which cascade across all horizons to beautifully green hills that seem to roll like ocean waves on a collision course with the city below.  While the rainy season may not be ideal for those interested in visiting Machu Picchu, in my opinion is a great time to visit Cusco, especially towards the first weeks of December.  Usually around this time the bipolar skies offer the traveler the best experience of both worlds with mid-day and evening showers, scattered with the almost as unpredictable clear blue skies where the sun's rays pierce through dark clouds and shine spotlights of golden sunshine down upon the colonial city (all while Edvard Grieg's, Peer Gynt Op23: Morning Mood softly plays in the deep recesses of your unconscious mind).  I guess what I was trying to say (before I got carried away into a mad and incoherent rant) is that the weather is so wonderfully unpredictable that I believe the traveler is give a more vivid impression about live in the highland sierra, that and the COLORS the mixed light produces are literally AMAZING!

If you have already been to Cusco before it might not be a bad idea to reconsider a redux, especially since your first trip was probably so hectic what with all those ruins, churches, and museums you spent most of your time visiting, not to mention the time spent at Machu Pichhu, of course!

**The panoramic photo of the city of Cusco was taken by: 
Photographer: Ricardo Sánchez
*It can also be seen here on the Cusco Wikipedia page

Planning on traveling to Peru in the near future?  Well today while at work I came across this website called "issuu" which offered a complete viewable copy of Frommer's Peru Travel and Tourism Guide.  The website is some form of literary YouTube where members can upload any kind of literary document from magazines to books.  It's an interesting website and frankly I was quite surprised when I came across it, and yet found it odd that I had never heard of it before. 

Anyways the Frommer's Peru travel guide is quite useful as a informational resource for those who are interested in visiting Peru or who are perhaps planning on traveling to Peru.  The guide has everything from places and attractions to visit to recommended hotel accommodations and restaurants.  The book is a complete travel guide/companion.  The book is the 2nd edition and was published in 2004 so it's somewhat outdated but still has lots of useful information that will have not changed since then.

The book is separated into several sections which I have taken the liberty of listing below for those who are curious but not yet convinced.

• What's new in Peru
• The Best of Peru
• Planning your trip to Peru
• The Active Vacation Planner
• Lima
• The Central Coast and Highlands
• Cusco
• Machu Picchu & The Sacred Valley of the Incas
• Southern Peru
• Amazon Basin
• Northern Peru

The book also comes complete with several useful and informative maps that are broken down by region and included in each section.  All in all I would highly recommend checking out the book for those who are going to be travelling to Peru soon, especially for the first time.  The best part is you can save some money on having to buy a brand new travel guide.  I also highly recommend the website Issuu as it is an interesting concept, one which was ranked by TIME.com as one of 2009's TOP 50 websites!

Blogger Tony Dunnell of Tarapoto Life, has written a fascinating article about Lamas Castle, a castle located 22km from Tarapoto.  Tarapoto is a city located in the northern department of San Martin.  The castle itself is fairly impressive and it seems that Peru has its own personal collection of castles.  Lamas Castle is a particularly interesting castle since it was build on a hill overlooking the town it was build near.  

For those interested the article can be found here: LINK

The castle was intended to be presented as a gift to king Alfonso XIII upon his arrival but destiny had other plans for the castle´s fate.  Rospigliosi working hard on the castles construction came across certain building restrictions when he filled with the local municipality to grant him permission to dig a moat around the perimeter of the castle which would in turn serve the function of the installed drawbridge entrance (which was to be the icing on the cake if you will).  Unfortunately for Rospigliosi the municipality more than likely having had enough with the elaborate conception of a medieval castle in district denied the grant for a moat, seeing it as excessive. 

To make matters worse than they already were, when the construction of the castle was finally completed news of a Spanish revolution was announced with king Alfonso XIII and the Republic overturned.  The fall of the Spanish Monarchy led to the inevitable and for obvious reasons cancellation of the king´s scheduled trip to Peru.  When Rospigliosi received word on the situation in Spain he decided it was time to cut his loses and fold the cards he had held is hand,  seeing no other options for this newly constructed castle Rospigliosi took the only decision he had left and used the castle as his new residence where he and his family resided there after.  The castle from that moment on was known as Rospigliosi Castle or Castillo Rospigliosi. 

Today the castle is the under the ownership of the Peruvian Airforce (FAP = Fuerzas Aereas del Peru) and is the site of the Airforce´s Escuela Superior de Guerra Aérea or Superior School of Air Warfare.

Here is a link to their site: http://www.fap.mil.pe/instruccion/esfap/nosotros/nosotros.html

Gunnar Engblom is an avid birder, biologist, owner/manager, and guide of Kolibri Expeditions (based in Lima, Peru) has provided both aficionados and tourists with amazing birding trips all over Peru and has done so since 1998.  Engblom's website is a testament to his dedication and appreciation for birds and nature.  One article in particular was the culprit that originally led me to discover his website a few months back.  


On Engblom's website you'll find an article entitled "11 must-see birds in Peru for everyone!"  The wonderful article includes 11 amazing and exotic birds which are native to Peru or migrate frequently from other parts of the South American continent.  Engblom presents the 11 must-see birds as important tourist attractions that every traveler should see on their vacation (holiday to you Brits).  By far a must-see exotic bird would have to be the cock-of-the-rock or Gallito de la Roca, which is the national bird of Peru (I always thought it was the condor?).  Below is a excerpt from Engblom's article about the "11 must-see birds in Peru for everyone!"

 "Wow! Exclamation mark is necessary! This surreal member of the Cotinga family has a wide distribution from Venezuela to Bolivia. It is one of the most colorful birds of the Andes. The males gather in "lek" - displays - where the perform ritual dances and make noisy grunts and shrieks. In many places leks have become tourism attractions. The most famous is perhaps next to Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge, but there are several places in Central and Northern Peru where leks also can be seen. Locally, it has become good incentives to conserve forest. Since the cock-of-the-rock is also un-officially national bird of Peru kids all over the country learn to appreciate it. Only five years ago, when traveling in Central Peru inquiring where I could see it, I was directed to the zoo or a man that allegedly had stuffed ones for sale! Things have changed now."

 For those interested here is the link to the article: LINK

With the increase in Peru's popularity over the years and hordes of travelers from around the world, it is no surprise that a US TV show like No Reservations would come to Peru to film.  It's not just the tourism that is also helping Peru gain world recognition but also it's cuisine, something which American chef Anthony Bourdain has recognized since his trip to Peru.
I have posted today from YouTube the episode of No Reservations where Anthony travels to Peru in order to sample the countries best dishes and to gain an appreciation of the Peru's culture and heritage.  It's an old episode for those familiar with the show but I couldn't help but not show it here.

The episode has "Tony" (as he is often referred as) traveling to several different regions of Peru's topographical geography.  Enjoy!

Thanks to TravelProject for posting the videos on YouTube http://afarperu.blogspot.com

Being a huge aficionado of photography I often follow several great photography blogs and websites, my favorites of course are those of travel photographers.  Why do I like reading blogs/websites of travel photographers?  The answer is simple, they are photographers who are fortunate enough to travel abroad to far away lands and experience cultures far from what we are accustomed to in the US.  All their experiences in foreign countries are thus transferred to their photographs which captivate the viewer who has perhaps never had the opportunity (and may never have the ability to travel to such places) to visit and travel to such exotic places.  The second reason I enjoy reading blogs from travel photographers is to read about their exploits as well as the deep analytical and philosophical rants/sermons they often give, which I have often found to be a great source of inspiration for me.

The other day I read an article from a favorite photographer of mine, David Du Chemin (sorry if I spelled your name incorrectly).  This guy dedicates his life to his passions of photography and travel and it is reflected in all the amazing photos he has taken traveling all around the world.  The article that I came across was of an analytical nature that examined the all to common issue that most photographers must ask themselves.  I am of course referring to the identity crisis/professional status that plagues many photographers.  I have experienced it myself, when people would ask me about my photography, look at my photos, and then state that I was a professional photographer, to which I would deny and thus proclaim my status as an amateur photographer.

They question is why do many of us (photographers) undersell ourselves?  It's the lack of self-confidence and over comparison of our work with that of so-called "professionals", that we tend not to recognize our own artistic accomplishments.  I often times fall victim to my own aspirations of someday achieving the coveted professional status, that I fail to appreciate the art I have created.  Photography for me is more than just a fun and exciting hobby it's also an outlet for my artistic creativity and imagination, with a camera in my hands I can create unique images that tell stories of the places I have been and the experiences and emotions I have had.  Photography is definitely a learning experience, one where I am sure to be a life student, I learn from my mistakes and as a result I see my photographs evolve with time.  A great way to evaluate your work is to go back and review your very first photos that you ever took and follow them up to your most recently taken photos, this can be scaled down to an observation and review of the photos you have taken over the span of just one year even.  When I do this I am always amazed at how evident my artistic work has progressed.  I am not really worried about ever being a professional photographer but like many I do enjoy the idea of having my work recognized by others (it's that need of all photographers to want to be noticed for what they create).

Here is a extract from Du Chemin's article found on his page, I highly encourage everyone to read it as it is a great source of self empowerment. 

"A while back I wrote a piece about the “I’m only an amateur” mentality. In brief it was an unashamed rally call to photographers everywhere to stop seeing themselves as merely an enthusiast, not yet in the hallowed halls of the professional, and therefore not “really” a photographer. Rubbish. But this is not that pep talk. This is the reverse, the one that, I hope will remind you that this status to which so many aspire, this notion of a higher echelon occupied by the Professional, is equally rubbish. I am an unabashed champion of the amateur, the one who does this for the love of it, and the idea of professionals being better, or creating better work, has to go. I discourage non-professionals from saying, “I’m just an amateur” but I cringe as much when I hear people throw the term “professional” around as though it means something more than it does."

Read More >>

Today I came across this interesting travel article on the National Geographic's blog.  The article was written by author and traveler Andrew Evans, as he sets out on his journey across South America by bus in hopes of reaching his destination of Antartica.  The article that I read was about Evan's two day stay in the urban desert city of Lima, Peru.  Here the reader gets to see Lima through the perspective of a exhausted traveler and his initial impressions of Lima.  Below I have included an extract from the original article along with a link for those interested in reading more...

" In Spanish, the word "Lima" means "under construction." OK, that's not true. Really, I think it derives from the ancient Inca phrase meaning "perpetual traffic." Alright, that's another lie--but honestly, those were my first two impressions of Lima when I arrived.

Maybe it's because I'd been sitting on buses for 30 consecutive hours and was a little bit cranky. After a 621 miles of desert (that's 1000 kilometers down here), I stared out the window at what I hoped would be my own special urban oasis and jumped to some harsh conclusions. I immediately shot out a tweet that Lima was "the brownest city in the world." Everything I could see was brown--the ground (no grass), the buildings (brown brick)--even the overcast rainy season sky was filled with dust and shone a kind of dull brown-grey.

Let me be clear: I am not on a sightseeing trip. Rather, I'm on a "seeing" trip. I am traveling 10,000 miles on an open itinerary with the ultimate goal of Antarctica--I just try to see what I can see along the way. Admittedly, it's been hard to pass up wonders like Machu Pichu or the greater Amazon, yet the real glory of travel is the unexpected things that pop up all along the way. "

<< Read More >>

As I stated in my last post about Mt. Putucusi, I have posted more photos below.  I will try to post more photos later this week also.

It's almost embarrassing how long it has taken me to write this article, but regardless I have decided to finally get it over with.  Last December while my family was in Peru on vacation we decided to travel to Cusco.  The goal of the trip was to take my grandmother to Machu Picchu since it was more than likely that should would never return to Peru.  Traveling in Cusco during the early months of the rainy season made the trip interesting, as the sun would shine most of the day with the random rain shower throughout the day.

Arriving in Aguas Calientes it was amazing to see just how much the small town had grown since the last time I had been there.  We arrived in Aguas Calientes roughly around 11pm and we were up at Machu Picchu about an hour and a half later.  The weather was awful that day and I had almost given up hope trying to take photos in the rain.  Thankfully the sun god Inti must have heard my prayers as the dark clouds were abruptly pushed away and the mountain was bathed in golden light.  It was the next day (our last day in Aguas Calientes) that my brother Dumenico and I decided to go on a hike in search of a waterfall that everyone had been taking about in town.  About 10 minutes walking along the train tracks, heading roughly in the direction of Machu Picchu we came across a small sign and a clearing.  Our curiosities peaked we decided to take the detour that would eventually take us to the TOP of Mt. Putucusi (Quechua for "Happy Mountain").

The initial part of the trail was rather easy and effortless until we reached what became the first of many vertical wooden ladders, with one as tall as 100 ft.!  Looking up the first ladder that literally seemed to disappear into the vegetation and flora above, I could feel the intimidation begin to set in and thoughts of falling several feet to my death in the middle of the Sacred Valley began to play in mind.  Lured by the Siren's Song of Mt Putucusi, we climbed the environmentally worn ladders one after another to the top until reaching a small rock wall that required the climber to use a secured cable to climb the approximately 15-20 ft. high wall.  At this point we were veterans after having climbed some of the tallest ladders in my life and made the climb rather easily.  It is after the rock wall that we reached the mid point of the mountain, roughly 30 minutes from when we had started.  The vegetation opens up and we were presented with an almost 360 degree view of the valley (at this point the town of Aguas Calientes can be viewed in its entirety).  The last hour consisted of a switchback trail made up of stone steps (moderate difficulty), which becomes rather steep towards the top.  My brother at this point was exhausted and was having difficulty catching his breathe, which caused our pace to slow considerably.  When we finally reached the top our dehydrated (did I mention neither one of us had brought water on this hike, smart I know right?) and overheated bodies were revived by initial drops of rain that would eventually lead to the monsoon amounts of rain we experienced on our way back down.

At the top the climber is rewarded with a truly amazing view of Machu Picchu and Wayna Picchu.  The flag of Cusco along with a sign that reads "Mt. Putucusi" - 2,500 meters (8,500 ft.).  While resting on the two large rocks atop the mountain it was evident from all the carvings just how many people had climbed to the top.  We enjoyed the view of Machu Picchu and Wayna Picchu as we watched all the buses climb and descend along the switchback road that leads to Machu Picchu.  When the rain began to pickup strength we decided to head back down, a trek which took us about 1 hour to accomplish.  Back in Aguas Calientes we discovered from our conversations with many tourists that Mt. Putucusi was by far a favorite site in the Urubamba river valley.   We even met up with a man who had decided to turn around and head back down the mountain when he was only about 20 minutes from the top, needless to say when we spoke with him his face was full of disappointment after receiving the news.

Mt. Putucusi is a site I would highly recommend to anyone who is deciding to travel to Aguas Calientes in the near future.  For those who are thinking about climbing the mountain I would recommend that you condition for it a little in advance as it can be quite taxing on the body, especially for those who don't hike very often.

UPDATE:  I WILL POST MORE PHOTOS OF MT. PUTUCUSI ASAP!

 Travel Resources

* Foreign Embassies and Consulates in Peru
* Working in Peru

Guides for Peru

* Embassy of Algeria in Peru

    Calle Miguel De Cervantes
    N- 504/510
    San Isidro, Lima, Peru
    Telephone: 551 962 995 54
    Fax: 511 421 75 80
      
   
* Embassy of Argentina in Peru

    Av. Arequipa 121
    28 De Julio 828
    Cercado de Lima, Lima 1, Peru
    Telephone: (+51) 1 433-9966 /3381/4545
    Fax: (+51) 1 433-0769
    Email: embajada@terra.com.pe
         

* Australian Consulate-General in Peru

    Av. Victor Andres Belaunde 147
    Via Principal 155
    Torre Real Tres, Of. 1301, San Isidro
    Phone: 51 1 222 8281
    Fax: 51 1 221 4996
    Website: http://www.australia.org.pe/ingles/index.html
   
    Hours of Operation:
    Monday to Friday 9:00am to 1:00pm 2:00pm to 5:00pm
   
    
* Embassy of Austria in Peru

    Edificio 'De las Naciones'
    Avenida Central 643, piso 5
    San Isidro, Lima 27, Peru
    Apartado 853
    Lima 100, Peru
    Telephone:  (+51) (1) 442 0503
        (+51) (1) 442 1807
        (+51) (1) 442 0343
    Fax: (+51) (1) 442 8851
    Email: lima-ob@bmeia.gv.at

    Hours of Operation: 09:00am-12:00pm

                    
* Consulate of Austria in Cusco, Peru     
    Urb. Magisterio K-1, 2a.Etapa
    Casilla 14
    Cusco, Peru
    Telephone: (+51) (84) 227 339
        (+51) (84) 246 595
    Fax: (+51) (84) 262 832
    Email: maubert@albis.com.pe

    Hours of Operation: 10:00am-12:00pm

                   
* Consulate of Austria in Iquitos, Peru     
    Carretera Quistococha 208
    Apartado Postal 164
    Iquitos, Peru
    Telephone: (+51) (65) 261 139
    Fax: (+51) (65) 261 139
    Email: oekonsulat@terra.com.pe

    Office Hours: Tue, Fri: 11.00am-14.00pm


         
* Consulate of Austria in Trujillo, Peru     
    Avenida Cacanueces 120-104
    Urbanizacion Las Palmas del Golf
    Distrito Victor Larco
    Trujillo, Peru
    Telephone: (+51) (44) 263 034
        (+51) (44) 263 017
    Fax: (+51) (44) 224 601
    Email: otord@speedy.com.pe


     
* Embassy of Belgium in Peru

    Avenida Angamos Oeste, 380
    Miraflores - Lima 18, Peru
    Telephone: + (51) (1) 241.75.66
    Fax: + (51) (1) 241.63.79
    Web Site: http://www.diplomatie.be/lima
    Email: Lima@diplobel.org,sclima@diplobel.org (sect. cons.)
    Website: http://www.diplomatie.be/lima/

    Hours of Operation:
    Monday through Friday 8.30 AM to 4 PM
    Consular section : from 9 AM tot 11 AM

         
* Honorary Consulate of Belgium in Arequipa, Peru     
    Francisco La Roza Mz I - Lote 2
    Parque Industrial - Arequipa
    Telephone: + (51) (54) 28.55.08
        + (51) (54) 28.83.05
    Fax: + (51) (54) 28.55.08
        + (51) (54) 28.83.05
    Email: javiervt@lared.net.pe,jorvexaqp@lared.net.pe

         
*Honorary Consulate of Belgium in Cuzco, Peru     
    Jose G. Cosio 307,
    Urb. Magisterial, Cuzco
    Telephone: + (51) (84) 26.15.17
    Fax: + (51) (84) 25.12.78
    Web Site: http://www.cuerpoconsularcusco.org/
    Email: roger@auqui.com

    Hours of Operation:
    Monday-Friday 9am. to 5pm.

    
* Embassy of Bolivia in Peru  
    Los Castaños 235,
    San Isidro, Lima, Peru
    Telephone: (511) 440-2095 or 441-0738
    Fax: (511) 440-2298
    Email: postmast@emboli.org.pe

     
* Embassy of Brazil in Peru     
    Av. Jose Pardo 850
    Miraflores, Lima 18 - Peru
    Apartado Postal 2405
    Telephone: (511) 421-6763
             (511) 241-4066
    Fax: (511) 445-2421
    Email: embajada@embajadabrasil.org.pe,gabemb@embajadabrasil.org.pe


         
* Embassy of Canada in Lima, Peru     
    Bolognesi 228,
    Miraflores, Lima 18, Peru
    Telephone: 51-1-319-3200
    Fax:     51-1-446-4776 (Trade and Public Affairs)
        51-1-446-4912 (Administration)
        51-1-446-4775 (Immigration)
        51-1-446-4949 (Political)
        51-1-446-4985 (CIDA)
    Website: http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/peru-perou/index.aspx?lang=eng

    Hours of Operation
    Monday - Thursday: 8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., 1:15 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
    Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.


         
* Embassy of Chile in Peru

    Avda. Javier Prado Oeste 790,
    San Isidro, Lima, Peru
    Telephone: 51(1) 710 22 11
    Fax: 51(1) 710 22 23
    Email: embajada@embachileperu.com.pe
    Website: http://chileabroad.gov.cl/peru/

    Hours of Operation:
    monday to thursday 9:00 to 17:00 
    friday 14:00 to 17:30
         
         
* Consulate General of Chile in Tacna, Peru     
    Presbitero Andia Esquina Saucini S/N
    Tacna, Peru
    Telephone: 51(52) 7423 063 - 423 081 - 421846
    Fax: 51(52) 424391
    Email: cgtacna@terra.com.pe


         
* Honorary Consulate of Chile in Arequipa, Peru     
    Mercaderes 212, Galerias Gameza,
    4to. Piso, Oficina 402
    Telephone: 51(054)223947
    Email: conhochileaqp@star.com.pe

         
* Embassy of the Peoples Republic of China  
    Jiron Jose Granda 150
    San Isidro, Lima 27, Peru
    Apartadado Postal: 375
    Telephone: 00511-2220841
             00511-99274089
    Fax: 00511-4429467
    Web Site: http://www.embajadachina.org.pe
    Email: chinaemb_pe@mfa.gov.cn

          
* Embassy of Colombia in Peru
    Avenida Jorge Basadre 1580
    San Isidro, Lima, Peru
    Telephone: (511) 4429648 - 4410954 - 4410530 - 4414594 - 2211991
    Web Site: http://www.embajadacolombia.org.pe/
    Email: elima@minrelext.gov.co

    
* Embassy of Costa Rica in Peru 
    Baltazar Street Tower 828
    San Isidro, Lima, Peru
    Telephone: (00511) 264-2999 and 264-2711
    Email: costarica.peru@hotmail.com

    Hours of Operation:
    Monday - Friday 08:00am - 14:00pm

                   
* Consulate of the Republic of Croatia in Peru
    Av. San Felipe 568,
    Jesus Maria, Lima, Peru
    Telephone: 0051 1 460 4506
    Fax: 0051 1 460 4615
    Email: croacia@infonegocio.net.pe

          
   
* Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in Santiago, Peru     
    Ezequias Alliende 2370
    Providencia
    Santiago, Peru
    Telephone: 0056 2 269 6141
    Fax: 0056 2 269 6092
    Email: embajada@croacia.cl

   
     
* Embassy of Cuba in Peru
    Coronel Portillo No. 110
    San Isidro, Lima, Peru
    Telephone: (511) 264 2053
    Fax: (511) 264 4525
    Web Site: http://embacu.cubaminrex.cu/peru
    Email: embacuba@speedy.com.pe

      
* Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Cyprus
    Avenida Arequipa 2450, office 1501
    Edificio El Dorado
    14 Lima, Peru
    Telephone: (00511) 6195000 Ext. 1202, Ext. 1520
    Fax: (00511) 4428292
    Email: ibl@tpsac.com.pe

    Hours of Operation: 09:30am - 13:00pm, 14:00pm - 18:00pm

         
    
* Embassy of the Czech Republic in Peru

    Baltazar La Torre 398
    San Isidro, Lima, Peru
    Telephone: 00511/264-3374,br>00511/264-3381
    Fax: 00511/264-1708
    Web Site: http://www.mzv.cz/lima
    Email: lima@embassy.mzv.cz

    Hours of Operation:
    Monday - Friday  8:00am - 12:00pm, 12:30pm - 16:30pm

         
         
* Royal Danish Consulate General in Peru
    Bernardo Monteagudo 201
    San Isidro, Lima, Peru
    Telephone: +51 (1) 264 4040
    Fax: +51 (1) 264 4050
    Email: mpoac@esola.com.pe

         
* Embassy of Ecuador in Peru
    Las Palmeras N 356
    San Isidro, Lima 27, Peru
    Telephone: (00511) 212 4161; 212 4171; 212 5502; 212 5481
    Fax: 421 5907 422 0711
    Web Site: http://www.mecuadorperu.org.pe/
    Email: embajada@mecuadorperu.org.pe

    Hours of Operation: 9 am - 1:30 pm; 3pm - 6pm

         
         
* Consulate of Ecuador in Peru

    Las Palmeras 356
    San Isidro, Lima 27, Peru
    Phone: (00511) 421-7050
    Email: consulado@mecuadorperu.org.pe

      
* Consulate of Ecuador in Piura, Peru     
    Avenida Chirichigno N 505 y
    Urbanizacion El Chipe
    Provincia y Departamento de Piura
    Casilla Postal 440
    Telephone: (005173) 30 8027
    Fax: (005173) 30 9959
    Email: consulado_de_ecuador@speedy.com.pe

   
* Consulate of Ecuador in Tumbes, Peru     
    Jiron Bolivar 129
    Plaza Armas
    Tumbes, Peru
    Telephone: (005172) 521739
    Fax: (005172) 525949
    Email: consultum@speedy.com.pe

     
* Embassy of El Salvador in Peru

    Tomas Ramsey No. 965
    Magdalena del Mar, Lima, Peru
    Telephone: 0511 460-2239 or 0511 460-2323
    Fax: 0511 461-9327
    Email: embajadasv@infonegocio.com.pe
     
* Embassy of Finland in Peru

    Av.Victor Andres Belaunde 147
    Edificio Real Tres Oficina 502 (5th floor)
    San Isidro, Lima 27, Peru
    Postal address: Apartado Postal 270155
    Telephone: +51-1-222 4466, 222 4480
    Fax: +51-1-222 4463
    Web Site: http://www.finlandia.org.pe
    Email: sanomat.lim@formin.fi

    Office Hours:
    Customer service (visas): Mon - Fri 8.30 - 12.00
    Opening hours: Mon 8.30-16.45, Tue-Thu 8.30-16.30, Fri 8.30-14.00

         
* Honorary Consulate of Finland in Arequipa, Peru     
    Consulado honorario de Finlandia
    Bolognesi 301
    Janahuara
    Telephone: from abroad +51 54 255 858, from Peru 054 255 858
    Fax: +51-54-252 221
    Email: amunoz-najar@pps.com.pe

     
* Honorary Consulate of Finland in Cusco, Peru     
    Consulado honorario de Finlandia
    Avenida Pardo 1046
    Telephone: (51-84) 252 721
    Fax: (51-84) 234 793
    Email: manu@amauta.rcp.net.pe

    
* Honorary Consulate of Finland in Lima, Peru    
    Santa Margarita 350
    San Isidro, Lima 27, Peru
    Telephone: + 511 - 211 0606

              
* Embassy of France in Peru
    Avenida Arequipa 3415
    San Isidro, Lima 27, Peru
    Telephone: [51] (1) 215 84 00
    Fax: [51] (1) 215 84 41
    Web Site: http://www.ambafrance-pe.org/
    Email: france.embajada@ambafrance-pe.org
              france.consulat@ambafrance-pe.org

         
* Embassy of Germany in Peru

    P.O. Box. 18-0504
    Lima 18
    Telephone: (00 51 1) 422 49 19
    Fax: (00 51 1) 422 64 75
    Email: kanzlei@embajada-alemana.org.pe

                    
* Embassy of Greece in Peru

    Av. Principal 190
    Urbanizacion Sta. Catalina
    La Victoria, Lima, Peru
    Telephone: (00511) 4761548, 4760798
    Fax: (00511) 2232486
    Email: emgrecia@terra.com.pe

    Hours of Operation: 09:00 - 15:30


* Greenland Greenlandic Consulate - Royal Danish Consulate General in Peru     
    Bernardo Monteagudo 201
    San Isidro, Lima 27, Peru
    Telephone: +51 (1) 264 4040
    Fax: +51 (1) 264 4050
    Email: mpoac@esola.com.pe

     
* Embassy of Guatemala in Peru

    Calle Inca Ripac 309,
    Jesús María, Lima 11 Perú
    Telephone: (511) 460-2078 / (511) 462-0920
    Fax: (511) 463-5885
    Web Site: http://www.embajadadeguatemalaenperu.org
    Email: visa@embajadadeguatemalaenperu.org
         

     
* Consulate of Guyana in Peru

    Av. José Pardo 231 piso 4 -
    Miraflores Lima 18 Peru
    Telephone: (511) 4476688
    Fax: (511) 4455399
    Email: esalarcon@terra.com.pe

     
* Embassy of Honduras in Peru

    Ave. Las Camelias 491
    Oficina 202
    San Isidro, Lima, Peru
    Telephone: (511) 422-8111; (511) 422-8112
    Fax: (511) 221-1677
    Email: embhonpe@speedy.com.pe
         

    
* Embassy of India in Peru

    Av. Salaverry 3006
    Magdalena del Mar, Lima 17, Peru
    Telephone: 00-51-1-2616006, 4602289
    Fax: 00-51-1-4610374
    Web Site: http://www.indembassy.org.pe
    Email: hoc@indembassy.org.pe

     
* Embassy of Indonesia in Peru

    Avenida Las Flores
    334-336
    San Isidro, Lima 27, Peru
    Telephone: (511) 222-0308, 222-0309, 222-2822
    Fax: (511) 222-2684
    Web Site: http://www.indonesia-peru.org.pe
    Email: kbrilima@terra.com.pe

          
* Honorary Consul of Ireland in Peru

    Av. Paseo de la Republica 5757 B
    Urb. San Antonio
    Miraflores, Lima 8, Peru
    Telephone: 00511 2429516
    Fax: 00511 242 2640
    Web Site: http://www.irishembassy.com.mx
    Email: irishconsulperu@yahoo.ca

    Office Hours:
    Opening Hours: 9:30 am to 1 pm Mondays to Fridays


     
* Embassy of Israel in Peru

    Natalio Sanchez 125, Piso 6
    Edificio Pacifico Washington
    Santa Beatriz
    Lima, Peru
    Telephone: 51-1-4180500
    Fax: 51-1-4180555
    Web Site: http://lima.mfa.gov.il
    Email: info@lima.mfa.gov.il

    Hours of Operation:
    Monday to Thursday: 10:00am - 13:00pm.
    Friday: 10:00am - 12:00pm.

         
          
* Italian Embassy in Peru

    Avenida Gregorio Escobedo 298
    Jesus Maria, Lima 11, Peru
    Telephone: 0051-1-463. 2727
    Fax: 0051-1-463. 5317 / 0051-1-461. 6162
    Web Site: http://www.amblima.esteri.it
    Email: ambasciata.lima@esteri.it,cancelleriaconsolare.lima@esteri.it


         
* Jamaican Consulate in Peru

    Av. Jorge Basadre 255, Of.501
    San Isidro, Lima 27
    Telephone: (511) 442 8828
    Fax: (511) 442 0504
    Email: jcbarrenechea@peru-legal.com

     
* Embassy of Malaysia in Peru

    Av. Daniel Hernandez 350
    San Isidro, Lima 27, Peru
    P.O. Box 41-126
    Telephone: (511) 422 0297 / (511) 441 1939 / (511) 441 0795
    Fax: (511) 221 0786
    Web Site: http://www.kln.gov.my/perwakilan/lima
    Email: mallima@kln.gov.my

    Hours of Operation:
    Work day: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm Holiday
    Weekends and Public Holidays

   
* Honorary Consulate of Malta in Peru

    Avenue 28 De Julio
    818-Ap. 401
    Miraflores, Lima 18, Peru
    Telephone: 0051 (1) 446 0434
    Fax: 0051 (1) 446 0434
    Email: maltaconsul.lima@gov.mt

    
* Embassy of Mexico in Peru

    Ave. Jorge Basadre 710
    San Isidro, Lima, Peru
    Telephone: (51-1) 612-1600
    Fax: (51-1) 612-1627
    Web Site: http://www.mexico.org.pe
    Email: info@mexico.org.pe

    Hours of Operation: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm


     
* Embassy of Morocco in Peru

    Calle Tomas Edison 205
    San Isidro, Lima 27, Peru
    P.O. Box 16 San Isidro, Lima
    Phone: (+51) (1) 440 31 17, (+51) (1) 421 77 89
    Fax: (+51) (1) 440 43 91
    Email: sifamlim@infonegocio.net.pe, sifamlim@chavin.rcp.net.pe

    Hours of Operation: 09.00 - 14:30
         

     
* Consulate of Netherlands in Cusco, Peru     
    Av. Pardo 827
    Cusco, Peru
    Phone: 00-51-84-224322/ 264103
    Fax: 00-51-84-222 122

         
* Embassy of Netherlands in Lima, Peru     
    Torre Parque Mar
    Av. Larco 1301 - piso 13
    Miraflores - Lima 18, Peru
    Telephone: 00-51-1-2139800
    Fax: 00-51-1-2139805 (public)
    Email: nlgovlim@terra.com.pe

         
* New Zealand Consulate in Peru

    Los Nogales 510, Piso 3
    San Isidro, Lima 27, Peru
    Telephone: +51 1 422 7491 / +51 1 9940 0353
    Fax: (+51) 1 422 2999
    Email: alfonsorey@terra.com.pe

     
* Embassy of Nicaragua in Peru
    Calle UNO, No. 1064, Dpto. 202
    Urbanizacion CORPAC
    San Isidro, Lima, Peru
    Telephone: (+51-1) 4459274
    Fax: (+51-1) 4459274


* Consulate of Paraguay in Peru

    Avda. La Paz Nº 596 Piso 2,
    Miraflores, Lima, Peru
    Teléfono/s:    (+51-14) 4441310
    Fax:    (+51-14) 4442391


* Consulate of Philippines in Peru

    Calle 13 #176 Riconada Baja
    La Molina, Lima, Peru
    Telephone: (+51) (1) 368-2648   
    Fax: (+51) (1) 368-0423
    Email: papua@mail.cosapidata.com.pe

    Hours of Operation: 09:00am - 17:00pm

         
* Embassy of Portugal in Peru

    Av. Central, 643 - 4u piso,
    San Isidro, Lima 27 - Peru
    Telephone: (00 511) 440 99 05
    Fax: (00 511) 442 96 55


     
* Embassy of Romania in Peru

    Avenida Jorge Basadre no.690
    San Isidro, Lima 27, Peru
    Phone: (00) (51) (1) 4224587
    Fax: (00) (51) (1) 4210609
    Email: ambrom@terra.com.pe


* Embassy of the Russian Federation in Peru

    Avenida Salavaerry, 3424
    San Isidro, Lima, Peru
    Telephone: (00 511) 264 0036 - 264 0038
    Fax: (00 511) 264 0130

          
* Embassy of Serbia in Peru

    Carlos Porras Osores 360
    San Isidro, Lima, Peru
    Telephone: +51-1-4212423
    Fax: +51-1-4212427
    Email: yugoembperu@amauta.rcp.net.pe


* Consulate of Singapore in Peru

    Av. Saenz Pena 284 Of. 706
    Callao, Peru
    Telephone: +511-4538823
    Fax: +511-4530047
    Email: gerencia@merchor.com


   
* Consulate of Slovakia in Peru

    Angamos Oeste Nro. 1626
    Miraflores, Lima, Peru
    Telephone: (+51-1) 2212585, 2212586
    Fax: (+51-1) 4222249

    
* South African Embassy in Peru

    Av. Victor Andres Belaunde 147
    Edificio Real Tres '3' Office 801
    San Isidro, Lima-Peru, 27
    Telephone: + 511 440 9996
    Fax: + 511 422 3881
    Email: saemb@amauta.rcp.net.pe

      
* South African Honorary Consulate in Peru

    Avenida Camino Real 1252
    Oldeina 2 'R'
Postal Add:
Consulado Honorario de Sudàfrica
P O Box 27-013, L27 Lima, Peru

    Telephone: + 511 422 2280
    Fax: + 511 442 7154


   
* Embassy of Spain in Peru

    Av. Jorge Basadre, 498
    San Isidro, Lima, Peru
    Telephone: +51-1-2125155
    Fax: +51-1-2121909 / +51-1-4402020
    Email: embesppe@correo.mae.es
    Web Site: http://www.mae.es/consulados/lima/default
    Email: cgesplima@correo.mae.es

          
* Honorary Consulate of Sweden, Arequipa     
    Quezada 107
    Yanahuara - Arequipa, Peru
    Telephone: +51 (54) 251499
    Fax: +51 (54) 252499
    Email: promifesa@star.com.pe

         
* Honorary Consulate of Sweden, Lima     
    Pje. La Santa Maria 130
    San Isidro, Lima 27, Peru
    Telephone: +51 (1) 442 8905
    Fax: +51 (1) 421 3295
    Email: konslima@speedy.com.pe

    Hours of Operation:
    Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 12 noon

          
* Representative Office of Taiwan in Peru

    Calle Morales Duarez No. 214
    Urbanizacion Chacarilla
    San Borja, Lima 41, Peru
    Telephone: (002-51-1) 2554379
             (002-51-1) 3725067
    Fax: (002-51-1) 3726506
    Email: oftaipeiroc@yahoo.com.tw

     
* Royal Thai Embassy in Peru

    Av. Los Incas 255
    San Isidro, Lima, Peru
    Telephone: (51 1) 221 6442
    Fax: (51 1) 422 9895
    Email: thailim@mfa.go.th

          
* Embassy of Ukraine in Peru

    Calle Juan Dellepiani, No. 470
    Lima
    Telephone: +51-1-2642884
    Fax: +51-1-2642892
    Web Site: http://www.ukraineinfo.gov.ua/main
    Email: emb_pe@mfa.gov.ua / embperinter@ddm.com.pe

        
* British Embassy in Peru

    Torre Parque Mar (Piso 22)
    Avenida Jose Larco, 1301
    Miraflores, Lima, Peru
    Telephone: (51) (1) 617 3000
    Fax: (51) (1) 617 3100
    Web Site: http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/peru
    Email: belima@fco.gov.uk

    Hours of Operation:
    (GMT) Mon - Thurs: 1300-1800 & 1900-2200
    Fri: 1300-1800
    (Local Time) Mon - Thurs: 0800-1300 & 1400-1700
    Fri: 0800-1300

         
* U.S. Embassy in Peru

    Avenida La Encalada cdra. 17 s/n
    Surco, Lima, Peru
    Phone: (51-1) 434-3000
    Fax: (51-1)618-2397
    Web Site: http://lima.usembassy.gov/

    Hours of Operation:
    Monday through Friday 8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.

         
         
* Embassy of Uruguay in Peru

    Jose D. Anchorena N 084 
    San Isidro, Lima, Peru
    Telephone: +51-1-2640099 / +51-1-2641286
    Fax: +51-1-2640112
    Email: uruinca@embajada-uruguay.com

     
* Consulate of Uruguay in Peru

    Quezada N 110 B Yanahuara
    Arequipa, Peru
    Telephone: (+51-54) 272512
    Email: consuladoaqp-uruguay@speedy.com.pe
     
    
* Embassy of Venezuela in Peru

    Avenida Arequipa, 298
    Lima, Peru
    Telephone: (51 1) 433 4511, 433 0280
    Fax: (51 1) 433 1191.
    Email: embavenez@wayna.rcp.net.pe

Tourism, a huge industry in today's world where millions of people manage to break away from their mundane daily 9-5 routine for a few weeks of rest and relaxation.  Here in Peru tourism is an industry that has helped the country gain more and more recognition in the world, and with beginning days of summer in effect and the yule tide vacations the number of tourists is at its PEAK.  For most people entering Peru the first land they step onto is that of the renovated Jorge Chavez International Airport located in the Constitutional Province city of Callao.  Being the main international airport, Jorge Chavez sees large volumes of people migrating and traveling from all parts of the world, and believe me it gets crowded.  The airport itself is not a large airport in comparison to behemoths like JFK or LAX, and therefore can create a sense of claustrophobia during high traffic seasons like December and June.

Yesterday I traveled with my father to Callao at 11:59PM to pickup my mother, grandmother, and brother from the airport.  We arrived to a full house with almost no place to park.  It made me wonder that with all that open parking lot space why they never thought to build a multi-level parking structure?  After circling around the parking lot like vultures waiting for a meal to hurry up and die, we finally found a spot towards the back of the lot (you know the part where no one wants to park because they don't want to have to actually use their legs and walk 100 meters).  By this time it was 12:20PM and my families flight from LA had just landed and so we made our way towards the arrivals section of the airport and waited amongst hundreds of other people.  After an hour of surveying the ocean of travelers we finally spotted my family and rushed down to meet them.  It is always a great feeling to be reunited with family especially when separated by distance.

For my grandmother this trip marks her very first time visiting the country of Peru or the continent of South America for that matter.  I can sense she is nervous and excited as the mystery of a foreign country and its marvels and perils do tangos in her head.  My brother is excited to be back in what for the last seven years he considered home, free to once again take back the night and reclaim his teenage youth with his old Leoncio Pradiño friends.  Mom is happy to be by her husbands side once again and I'm sure to see her FAVORITE SON of the bunch.    The next few weeks will be full of trips to museums and ancient cities to the south, so I will be posting quite frequently.  This should be an interesting Christmas season, and this American Photographer plans on taking a lot of family memories.