Peru

[squirrelboutique]

I'm starting this thread because there aren't many threads in the South America forum, and because I'm mildly obsessed with visiting Peru someday.

Also, today I learned that Peru was the first country in the world to cultivate the potato.

[RAK]

It also borders on the south to another country you should definitely visit.

[lynsosaurus]

Which country could that be?

Hoho!

I think I'm going to stay on in South America after my fieldwork this time, so I'm going to go to either Peru or Argentina. Where should I go?

[RAK]

It depends on what you mean by Peru or Argentina, if Peru includes Machu Pichu, definitely Peru.

[darvé]

Any excuse to post a picture of Macchu Pichu cant be skipped, it just looks amazing, i would just love to go there more than anywhere else i reckon.



Argentina's great though, well, i've only been to Buenos Aires and Iguassu falls but i cant reccomend them enough. Buenos Aires is a lovely city, so much colour and history and the people are really proud of it and just dead friendly. Iguassu falls is the most stunning natural wander i've ever seen, but then i have a thing for waterfalls anyway, if i ever get the chance to go back i'm there in a shot.

[Roque]

yay! let me know if anyone visits Peru, we'll (Plastilina) give you a tour around Lima for sure. There has been a couple indiepop people already that we've gave a tour around second-hand vinyl stores, thrift stores and the best food ever (and everything is cheap if you bring euros!)

But yeah, Cuzco and Machu Picchu are much more beautiful than the big gray rainless city. You should visit that first :p

[xime_na]

how have i failed to see this thread is BEYOND me right now. you have to go to to Peru, definetely!!!

we have so many things besides Macchu Pichu... jungle, deserts, manglars, beaches, mountains (Andes, duh)... let me know, if you go, i'll go back to show you around my homeland and my wonderful neighborhood... :D :D :D

and Lima is not that bad...you should ask marksby ;)

[jayen_aitch]

I also endorse Peru. It's a wonderful country and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there.

[lynsosaurus]

yay! let me know if anyone visits Peru, we'll (Plastilina) give you a tour around Lima for sure. There has been a couple indiepop people already that we've gave a tour around second-hand vinyl stores, thrift stores and the best food ever (and everything is cheap if you bring euros!)

But yeah, Cuzco and Machu Picchu are much more beautiful than the big gray rainless city. You should visit that first :p

OH! i just saw this! i am arriving in lima TONIGHT and everyone has been saying bad things about it in the hostel here in santiago and now i'm all nervous and i'm travelling on my own. are you still in peru? would you like to meet up and/or give me some handy hints?

[Roque]

Aaaahhh those Chileans haha... they would say ugly stuff about Peru all the time (this goes waaaaaay back in history... but in short, Chile and Peru don't like each other). Lima is a much bigger city than Santiago of course but it's not more dangerous than New York or Sao Paulo. You just have to be street smart.

Im not there at the moment, but get in touch with Jalito (http://www.plastilinarecords.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;). I already talked with him and he'll be more than happy to give you a tour around... :)

[lynsosaurus]

thank you for replying to me so quickly! i´m really looking forward to the next few days in the city now. yay!

[bodgers_badger]

Hey :)

I'm thinking of applying for a job in Lima. I knew very little about it until this time last week and the whole thing seems both exciting and daunting all at once.

While it seems an wild, busy place I thought I'd ask a few questions:

1.) It seems that nobody can mention Lima without mentioning crime in the same breath (one of these was from a Chilean friend though). I was expecting pickpockets and what not, but one thread on an expat forum talked about kidnappings and stabbings as if they were an everyday occurrence. Is it really that dangerous a city?

2.) In short, would you recommend moving there for a while?

3.) The all important one: Is there a decent music scene?

Cheers :)

[lynsosaurus]

a friend of mine lived there for, like, a year and she never had any trouble with serious crime. i don't ever recall her mentioning being pickpocketed or anything either. i guess it's just like any other big city. i found it a bit insane when i was there, just because i got hassled a lot by men on the street and was female and alone, and had spent the preceding month travelling around the chilean countryside (compared to being around lots of people and lots of cars in lima). i'm sure the resident anorak peruvians can offer you more realistic advice!

i can highly recommend meeting up with jalito and having him show you around. he and his friends really looked after me when i was there and it made my time there so much more enjoyable.

[TheAlex]

I'm going to South America at some point in the next two years and Peru is one of the main reasons. My plan at the moment is to spend 6ish months in Southeast Asia and New Zealand, then Hawaii, Mexico and Guatemala, then to South America - some Spanish lessons and voluntary work - at which point what was my house deposit might have disappeared...I aim to get a job teaching English somewhere for up to a year, and then do some travelling around the rest of the continent. :D

As for safety in Lima, I've read that it's always advisable to get a taxi to your destinations if out at night...