Thanks for Shout Out, NatGeo
Got a minor thrill yesterday when I learned that An American in Lima is mentioned in the latest edition of National Geographic Traveler. Writing for the Sept. ’09 Lima destination guide (“48 Hours in Lima” by Nicholas Gill), Marisa Petrich observes that this blog “began as a way for author Barbara Drake to document her transition to a new culture, and now offers comments on local events, news, and culture. The site also includes links to local news, blogs, and videos in Spanish and English.”
Yep, that’s what this old blog does.
I’m glad that Petrich picked up on the fact that this is an opinion, not a travel, blog. As much as I enjoy recommending restaurants, hotels and destinations to travelers, I only do so in this blog when I feel something is really, really worth it (like a visit to the restaurant Pescados Capitales, for example). That approach frees me to focus on my current interests obsessions (like glacier pilgrimages, dog poisonings and Anderson Cooper’s hair), something I’d find hard to do if I were blogging solely about travel.
NatGeo Traveler also gives a nod to Stuart Starrs’ En Perú blog, which is crammed with several years’ worth of excellent posts about Peruvian history, archaeology and ancient cultures. Stu not only knows his Peruvian history, he’s also meticulous about including accent marks in his copy, a detail that I comply with only when I’m not pressed for time (in other words, rarely). I am pleased to see such a class act as En Perú get its due in the travel pub world.
NatGeo Traveler lists seven “must-do” experiences for visitors to Lima. Check them out and see how they compare to my suggestions, which I’ll post…soon.
Barbara
I am an American writer who lived in Lima for seven years (2007-2014), where I covered Andean traditions, melting glaciers and daily life in the capital for Miami Herald, MSNBC and Huffington Post. I now live and work in northern Florida where I champion climate change advocacy and compassionate, affordable eldercare.
13 Comments
Stuart
Haha! I am a meticulous «accenteur» ?
It’s probably only due to the fact I have a Spanish keyboard and so doesn’t take any time to do. You’ll have a US-bought laptop, right?
I avoid all accents on my tags, and never put an accent on the last letter if I need to use a possessive apostrophe. You’ll never see me write “Perú’s” for example. 🙂
Barb
So that’s your secret! And here I thought you were inserting special characters in every other word….:)
Yes, I have a US-bought laptop. Inserting the accents slows my writing to a crawl.
Stuart
I’ll show you some keyboard short cuts if you liked. I don’t know what OS you use, but an accent is usually just a Alt-Shift away.
Jude
Congrats on the NatGeo mention!
Most travel blogs, unless the writer is extraordinarily talented, are a bore. They barely brush the surface, and give little to no insight into the target country’s culture. And don’t even get me started on the historical inaccuracies… visits to “Incan ruins” at Chan Chan, or “cultures older than the Incas” at Marcahuasi…
Far better to read this blog, Enperu, and the blogs of various peace corp volunteers.
M. Isabel
Congrats, hugs and kudos 🙂 for you and for Stu as well.
and send my regards to little Anderson POOPer 🙂 who has made us laugh so much !!!!!!!
Ward Welvaert
You go girl!
Barb
Thanks, Jude. You’re right that many travel blogs about Peru get their facts wrong about ancient cultures, esp. if they’re written by foreigners (Peruvians seem to be able to keep the details straight). LOL re “Incan ruins” at Chan Chan. One doesn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
For more mind-boggling inaccuracies, check out the last Indiana Jones movie, which situates Cusco next to the Nazca lines. It’s not only careless travel writers who make these mistakes. Hollywood does it too.
Yes, as I’ve posted before, I am a fan of the Peace Corps blogs. I met a few PC workers/vols last year in San Eualalia and was very moved by their tales from the field. Their blogs give a realistic, non-santized view of life in the provinces and Lima slums. Quite refreshing to read if you want to know the real Peru.
Isabel, thanks from me and APooper for the good wishes. He makes us laugh too.
Barb
Hugs back at you, Ward.
BTW: about the cold emergency in the Andes, if you hear of any local businesses or institutions in Cusco that are bringing medical supplies, blankets, clothing, etc. to affected communities (and are accepting donations), please let me know. So many tourists pass through Cusco and I am sure that some would like to help out with the relief effort, if they knew where to drop off stuff, like a jacket or a blanket (easy to stuff in a suitcase).
Jude
Not sure I agree about Peruvians being that much better at keeping the details straight, especially when it comes to the Incas. I’ve read more that a few Peruvian blogs in which the writer seems to think that the Inca Empire was run like a hippy commune. Apparently the Inca were much loved by all the people they conquered, and spent the majority of their time in spiritual pursuits.
Barbara
Well, yeah, maybe I’m being a bit too kind to the Peruvians. Let’s say that some know more than others. (But I do think they know more than most gringos do, in general, with the exception of archaeaology buffs.)
Jude
OK, yes, I’ll give you that, generally speaking Peruvians have a better grasp of South American history than the average gringo. It just seems, sometimes, that many of them have some idealized vision of a past golden age that never really was.
The Inca were a great civilization, but their rule was hardly egalitarian. I suppose I see a willed blindness on the part of some Peruvians to ignore that, and other inconvenient truths of history. It’s become a part of their identity to exalt that era. Partly for political reasons, partly to do with issues of national self-esteem.
Barb
Well said, Jude. That urge to idealize the Incas can get the better of people — it’s a more complicated act to view the Inca society in its many facets, good and bad. Yep, there were forced labor and human sacrifices . And there were storehouses full of food, inclusion of the gods of conquered tribes, order, meaning to daily life. It is important to remember both side, not to whitewash the truth.
Rachel
I’m a month late to the party, but congrats to you and Stu! I definitely agree that you two have the best (foreigner) blogs on Peru.