visiting the sacred city of Caral

Caral is the oldest civilization of America. Built in 3000 b.c. it is changing the way world history has been written. As the guide was telling us, it took years for the "archaeological international community" to accept that Caral was a developed civilization that flourished as the same time as Mesopotamia, Egypt, India and China (meaning, we aren't the "new world").

We visited it yesterday and I definitely recommend you to come if you are in town. It takes about 4 hours to get there from Lima and, since they are still working on it, the road is not "perfect" but the trip is definitely worthy. It is a life experience to be part of the change of world history.

There are two ways of getting there. We took the one that avoids the river but goes through chicken farms. Before getting there, our car had to be sterilized (it reminded me of the time I left NY for Xmas and the plane had to be defrosted!!). This is the machine they used to sprayed us with disinfectant.



Everything, from the restaurant to the office there is environmentally balanced. No bricks, nothing that doesn't fit into the archaeological site. We put our hats on (it was amazing to feel how hot it was in Caral and how cold in Lima!!) and we were ready for the visit!!!

Miguel Palacios, our guide, also works in the restoration area. He explained us how they have to do a drawn of every single rock they find, they catalogue it, measure it and then put it back in its place. An artist job!! and a job that has taken them more than 12 years.

There are several pyramids. The most important people lived in the centre of the city and the rest of the people lived in the periphery (what is now the valley of Supe). It hosted 3000 to 4000 people and it is thought to be a sacred city visited by many people with a theocracy.

They are still working on it, since not all of the pyramids have been completely cleaned nor all of the sacred city.

If you would like to see more on Caral, visit: http://www.caralperu.gob.pe/principal_ing.htm

going to Cuzco / and racist soccer

Cuzco city at night

I am very excited! In less than two weeks, I will go to Cuzco. I haven't been there for 13 years and can't wait to see my family, have fun in Cuzco city and go for the fourth time in my life to Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu (picture taken from http://www.toddadams.net/images/wallpaper/)

I can't also wait to see the reactions of the people from Cuzco after the racist and discriminatory decision of the FIFA (the international football association) that no international games can be played in stadiums that are located over 2,500 meters (8,202 feet). Which means that the stadium located in Cuzco city (which is at 11,155 feet) and the one in La Paz (Bolivia), among other stadiums in Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador, cannot be used. This is Eurocentric, racist, xenophobic, to say the least. Their excuse is that it can be dangerous for the players to play beyond 2800 meters. The Andean countries have complained. They say that playing in our high cities can be as dangerous as playing under the rain and less dangerous that playing in extremely hot temperatures (like European cities during the summer). So, the regional government of Cuzco has declared FIFA president Joseph Battler persona non-gratta. And I can't agree more.

People from Cuzco are very proud of their city, of their history (the capitol of the Inca's empire), and of the fact that Cuzco still is the "bellybutton of the world." And if you come to Cuzco city, you'll understand why.

More to come....

waiting in line with pride

There is a law in Peru that says that if you are older than 60, pregnant or disable you should not make a line for anything. So, at banks, grocery stores, pharmacies, phone companies, energy companies, etc, there is always a window for "people with special needs."

The funny part of this is that the line is always made of old women. My mom, as soon as she turned 60 this year, took advantage of the law and now leaves every place after 5 minutes. While I have waited, sometimes, at the bank for 40 minutes!! But, there are almost no men in those lines. Yes, you see the old guys in the normal line. Their stupid pride does not allow them to go for the "old people" line (the same problem that makes them go after girls in their 20s that look younger than their actual daughters). I laugh at them when I go with my mother and we leave a place after 5 minutes and they are still there standing, waiting, with their grey hair and their wrinkled faces.