Pros and Cons of Perú

My first week and a half has been rather difficult here. I’ve had a bad cough and infrequent Internet. With that said, now I can talk about what I miss about America: 

1. The Bathroom

-You cannot flush toilet paper down the toilet. I have learned this the hard way very early in the morning when I have forgotten I am in Peru.

-Hot Showers: Not easy to find. Due to the price of heating water and the fact that Peru has a warm climate, hot showers are not a guarantee. When the winter nights reach 60 F, a cold shower isn’t exactly a comfortable when to relax into bed. 

2. Heat, in General

-The low here in the coldest winter night is only around 50 F, but no buildings in Peru have heat. It’s fairly difficult to sleep if you unprepared for cold nights. I wear two thick shirts, alpaca socks, pants and sleep with my head underneath the sheets. This usually keeps me warm.

 

Now what I love about Peru:

1. The Food. The Food. The Food. 

Always fresh. However, if you are a vegetarian (assuming you eat fish) the inner lands will be difficult for you. Lima, a costal city, has plenty of seafood to choose from at most restaurants unless you go to a “Pollo a La Brasa” . These are  rotisserie chicken houses found nearly at every corner for fairly cheap. Typically Peruvian food has a lot of wonderful, grilled meat. Most places (with some tourism) will have some sort of alternative, vegetarian food or you can always settle for some potato dish and vegetables at most places. 

The price of food is also something to brag about. A decent breakfast only cost about 2-4 soles ($.67-$1.34) A “menú” lunch is usually a large soup and the choice of three different lunches. This usually cost between 4-6 soles ($1.34-$2.01). And finally, a fancy dinner usually includes soup, sometimes salad, a main dish and glass of wine cost about 14 soles (4.69).  

2. Alpaca Socks

So for about 60 soles ($20.10), I bought: alpaca socks, alpaca slippers, a pair of woven pj bottoms, and three unnamed gifts. Sweet. 

Okay, I know this isn’t very interesting. In short, I love the food and things here are dirt cheap compared to pricey, Chicago.  Since, I’ve been almost bedridden with a cough since I’ve arrived to Arequipa (June 24th), I’m not entirely too interesting. But please stay tuned. . .