U.S. and Peru Free-Trade Agreement

United States and Peru signed up their Free-Trade Agreement last Friday with the presence of both nations’ presidents, George Bush and Alan Garcia Perez. The FTA may be implemented in about eight months. Total goods trade between both countries reached US$5.8 billion in 2004; it is expected to rise after the Free-Trade Agreement is implemented, which will benefit both economies.

George W. Bush’s Daughter Visits Peru

Jenna Bush visited Peru early this year; she was welcome by personnel from the United States embassy and the Unicef. Her itineraries included visits to tourist attractions in Lima, Cusco and the archaeological site of Machu Picchu as well as collaborating with United Nations aid programs for children.

Since Machu Picchu was designated as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, several celebrities have come to Peru in order to visit the site, among them are Hollywood stars such as Cameron Diaz, Woody Harrelson and Owen Wilson as well as the Australian singer Olivia Newton John, Bill Gates and princess Beatriz from England.

Peru will host International Tourism Events in 2008

The Commission for the Americas of the UN World Tourism Organization has unanimously designated Peru as the host country for the celebration of the World Tourism Day 2008, which is held every year on September 27. Peru will also be the host for the third International Conference about Tourism and Handicraft in March 2008.

The secretary general of the UNWTO, Francesco Frangialli, was positive with the decision to organize the WTD 2008 in Peru and has point up the country’s tourism potential plus its many archaeological sites as well as its living culture. He added that Peru’s rich and quality handicraft makes it an important host for the craftsmen and craftswomen of the Americas that will attend the International Conference about Tourism and Handicraft.

The Year of the Potato

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations declared 2008 as the International Year of the Potato, aiming to revalue, increase, and promote, the investment and development of the production of this tuber. Since Peru has the greatest diversity of potatoes in the world, the event was launched at the Botanical Garden of Moray, Urubamba, in the region of Cusco.

http://www.potato2008.org/en/index.html

Tickets for the Inti Raymi are running out

Tickets for seats at the provisional stands that will be built in Sacsayhuaman, Cusco, to watch the Inti Raymi are selling faster than ever this year. More than 80% of the 3,756 seats have been reserved already at US$90.00 each. With the purchase of a ticket the audience get a souvenir book, a DVD and portable radios. Thousands of visitors that choose not to pay for a seat on the stands climb and sit at a hill adjacent to the plain where 500 performers stage the ceremony.

The Inti Raymi festival brings the Inca Empire back to life every June 24, on the winter solstice. The remembrance of Pachacuti, first Inca Emperor, haunts during the celebration that honor Inti, the sun god. The Inca presides over the whole ceremony that begins at the Qoricancha, Temple of the Sun; this was the most important building in the empire. The Spaniards built the Santo Domingo church on top of its finest Inca stonework. According to Spanish chroniclers, most of the interior compartments were covered with gold plates. Later on the day, the celebration of the Inti Raymi moves up to Sacsayhuaman where over 30,000 people, mostly Inca descendants, and many tourists from around the world attend a three-hour ritual. Groups perform music and dances from different Andean communities. The rituals include the drinking and offering of chicha, a fermented corn beer, as well as offerings of wood, gold and silver objects depicting the Incas' world, to the Sun. The Inti Raymi reaches its climax when a selected llama is sacrificed and then an Inca priest extirpates its heart to reveal the omens of the future.

Sacsayhuaman, an Inca construction of incredible proportions, where 20,000 men worked for over 30 years shaping and positioning the rocks in a zigzag shape, some rocks weighing more than 100 tons, and some as high as 4 meters, is an impressive site that adds to the feeling of been back in time while watching the Inti Raymi.

Vendimia de Surco

The Vendimia de Surco, Lima, is held every March or April to celebrate the grape harvest since 1938. In the old days, sixty-five local wineries used to participate in the event. Nowadays four wineries keep the tradition alive showing their wines and piscos to the visitors. Festivities include the beauty pageant Miss Vendimia de Surco; the treading by foot at the Plaza de Armas; and the showcase of the wineries’ products including samples for the public. During the five-day event, other Peruvian traditions take part in the celebrations, such as an exhibition of Caballos de Paso (Peruvian Paso Horse), handcrafts for sale, and Peruvian cuisine to enjoy while local artists bring music and joy to the thousands of visitors that come every year.

Jauja’s 474th Anniversary

Jauja was the first capital city of Peru; the Spaniards who called it “the much noble city of Jauja” founded it on April 25, 1534. However, Jauja is historically older, on Inca times it was an administration center named Hatun Xauxa. Anyway, the colorful celebration has begun, with all that characterize the Andean “fiestas” including traditional music bands and dancers, regional food and drinks, and where locals and foreigners party day and night.

Peru’s inflation is the second lowest in the world

According to the International Monetary Fund, Peru’s inflation is the second lowest in the world, only beaten by France by a 0.1 point. The country is rapidly becoming the number one economy in Latin America. Peru’s economy keeps growing fast and has the lowest inflation in the region; its international debts are been paid before deadlines and its exports have increased dramatically.

Three Eras Uncovered in the Historical Center of Lima

Thousands of objects from three different time periods were uncovered after demolition and construction teams found archaeological articles on their first day at work in the Bodega y Cuadra House. This structure was been demolished because of its bad conditions to give way for a new building. Now the site has been declared intangible by the National Institute of Culture. Therefore, the house, a stone wall, and the aqueducts found under ground that date back to the XVII century, will be rebuilt; and a future museum will hold the items discovered.

As the archaeologists dug, they found objects from the Incas, viceroyalty, and republican eras. Among the discoveries are: Inca water jugs and utensils, wine containers, XVI and XVII century ceramics, liquor carafes, 1500 to 1800 Chinese porcelain, candle chandeliers, XVI century Seville tiles, a gunpowder storage; and articles made of metal, wood and bones. A bottle of a XIX century Pilsen Beer was also found!

http://www.caretas.com.pe/Main.asp?T=3082&S=&id=12&idE=759&idSTo=0&idA=30706

Twenty New Bird Species Discovered in Northern Peru

A team of the National Institute of Natural Resources (INRENA) has discovered at least 20 new species of birds while monitoring the flora and fauna in the Kanaris Forest, in the region of Lambayeque. Among the new species of fauna discovered are a white brow parrot, a purple neck colibri and the red-crowned queen. And among the flora discoveries are the quina and chachacomo, which are considered in a vulnerable status according to Patricia Medina from the INRENA. More expeditions have been planned to go deep in the forest in search of new species.

The communities that live near the area have been notified about this natural discoveries and the importance to preserve them. They could eventually benefit if the forest becomes a tourist attraction.

http://www.darwinnet.org/muestranoticia.php?id=202
http://puraspatitas.blogspot.com/2007/07/al-norte-de-peru-descubren-20-especies.html

The Maca International Festival

The Maca Festival gathers scientists, producers, manufacturers, distributors and consumers from around the world in the central Andean region of Peru, which is known as the birthplace of the maca. Visitors attend workshops as well as observe product displays and try product samples; they also enjoy looking at the competitions between some of the participants of the event as well as experience traditional customs like “El Pago a la Tierra” (Payment to Earth), colorful dances and more.

Maca is a vegetable cultivated in the central Andean region of Peru at around 4,200 meters (14,000 feet) above sea level. Very few crops could thrive where Maca grows, at high altitudes with high winds and low temperatures. Andean Peruvians have used the Maca root for thousands of years to increase stamina, libido and fertility in both men and women.

Nowadays, Maca is been used to help alleviate the symptoms of menopause, chronic fatigue, depression and stress. Athletes are using Maca as an alternative to anabolic steroids for increasing strength, energy and stamina, with the peace of mind that Maca does not contain harmful stimulants and is not addictive. Maca root nourishes the body and helps to balance and regulate the hormone system function.

http://www.andina.com.pe/Espanol/Noticia.aspx?id=ghkZJXzCd0g=
http://www.macasure.com

Superman in Machu Picchu

The superhero stops at the Inca site looking for Arion, a villain who has been messing up many places in the world. He meditates about the whereabouts of Arion and also about his mission of saving the world from destruction. And as usual, he can’t rest a bit; suddenly a bad guy, Subject-17, who proposes him to fight together against Arion, and also to destroy humanity, interrupts him. Superman doesn’t like the idea, and a big battle begins in Machu Picchu that ends with the bad guy loosing and revealing the whereabouts of Arion.

DC Comics published the story of the superhero in Machu Picchu, written by Kurt Busiek, on the September 12, 2007 issue. The fans of Superman recognized that Busiek has contributed to the comic with a deep look in the soul of the character, who in many chapters meditates about his intentions as a superhero. No wonder why he chose Machu Picchu as a location to meditate since it stands in a spectacular setting that challenges even the most imaginary minds.

http://www.supermanhomepage.com/comics/2007-post-crisis-reviews/c-review-2007.php?topic=sup667
http://www.elcomercio.com.pe/edicionimpresa/Html/2007-09-29/imecportada0791625.html