Faces

Faces full of expression. Some laughing, some pleading, some satisfied, some yearning. Faces are what one holds onto. Landscapes may inspire awe, cuisine can broaden horizons, ambience will pull on in, but faces bring one back. When all other memories are fading, when the excitement has grown cold, when the mystery has dwindled, the faces remain.
Boasting such sights as the grandeur of Macchu Picchu, the mysterious Nazca lines, the enormous Amazon, and the towering Andes mountains, Peru holds it’s place in the world as having some of the most spectacular scenery in South America. With three distinctively different regions, the coast, the mountains and the jungle, the amazing sights of creation seem endless. A glimpse of the beautiful Pacific Ocean invites one to partake of its vastness and hear it’s deafening roar. The towering Andes Mountains, with their jagged peaks reaching to the heavens beacon the stout hearted to scale their intimidating heights. And the tangled intricacy of the Amazon jungle whispers in the ear of the stranger of the mysteries and adventures found within its depths. One would be a fool to miss the grandeur of God’s creation found in Peru, yet that is not what truly brings one back to this enchanting country.
Scenery is not the only draw to a new place, but the new tastes as well. Who could speak of England without mentioning “a spot of tea,” think of China without a thought of their array of dishes, or Germany without sauerkraut? Peru is home to many tasty and tempting foods, and also to meals that may turn the average American’s stomach. Ones horizons are directly proportionate to their thrill for an adventure. So it is with food. One may stick to the rather safe chicken and rice, or lomo saltado (a fried dish with beef, peppers and onions on top of French fries) or can reach out into the unknown with anticucho (grilled beef heart), caucau (fried cow intestines), or the favorite of the mountains, cui (a complete guinea pig). Other dishes include fish and bananas, sheep head soup, pollo a la brasa (rotisserie chicken), and many more. The possibilities are seemingly endless, and only increase as one begins to experience delicacies prepared by street vendors!
The Peruvian setting, a unique blend of the three different regions, welcomes one in. Each subculture has its individual feel and atmosphere. The fishing villages of the coast are characterized by oneness with the ocean. They are tied to the sea just as tightly as the fish they pull from it. As a fish out of water so is the fisherman without his nets. To understand this person without understanding their surroundings is impossible.
The mountains themselves hold an exclusive flavor preserved in the Incan heritage. Once the proud rulers of an Andian empire, the people still retain their closeness to the mountains their ancestors once worshipped. Although the life they lead is hard and rugged, the heart of these Andean people is still soft and inviting.
Deep in the jungle another distinct lifestyle is evident. The darkness of animism and corruptness has held these people in its icy fingers for centuries, and yet one can see their desire for the Light. As the lifeblood of ancient Egypt was the Nile, so is the Amazon to these people. Food, work, transportation, and sport all revolve around this amazing river. It connects countless villages speckled over thousands of miles, and unites one heart with the next. One may find a majority of the village swaying in their hammocks, passing the days with ritual tasks and hopes for a brighter tomorrow.
There is also a fourth major culture that can be found in Peru, and it is found in Lima. As the capital city of Peru, Lima is home to nearly a quarter of the population. In this vast sea of humanity, a very different culture emerges. One may think of it as a melting pot, much like the United States. A mixture of the other three major regions, and countless others, forms an amazing blend only found in this diverse city. In addition to these unique lifestyles is the significant influence of the Europeans from the Spanish conquistadors dating back to the early 1500’s. From towering cathedrals to shanties in the foothills, Lima has it all.
But there are always the faces. Each unique adventure to a different place, whether near or far, will only be as memorable as the faces that are etched on the canvas of ones life. Faces are what bring you back to a place. They make it home. They inspire, convict, encourage, influence. They are what you see, what you remember, what you love. Don’t overlook the faces.