Letter From America

A silly, flimsy little Daewoo Tico taxi and 'Free Tourist Information' i.e. a shop in Arequipa
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Dear Peru,

By the time you get this, I'll probably have moved next door to see your neighbour Ecuador. But I thought I should share a few things about our time together.

By the time you get this, I'll be next door to see Ecuador

I don't know if we got off on the wrong foot in Puno, but it took me a while to warm up to you. And after Bolvia, you were expensive, a shock I'm not sure I ever got over.

A hush-hush, softly-softly police presence in Lima's main square
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In many ways, you were like the know-it-all smarter sibling, having done something with yourself instead of slacker, layabout Bolivia. But you also knew it, and never missed a chance to grab a few more tourist dollars at every turn.

You certainly weren't lacking in things do see & do. There was almost too much, and after a month in your company, I still don't think I scratched the surface.

You're a fiercly patriotic place - adverts on TV and in the street promote 'Producto Peruano' with pride, even if like Inka Cola they're owned by the Yanks. And you seem to have a bit of a complex with next-door Chilé - you're convinced that they own all your industries, even the Orient-Express train to Machu Picchu.

Fanny jam -only ever in strawberry flavour strangely
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There's an obvious divide between the life of people in Lima and the rest of the country. You're obviously very proud of Cuzco, for everywhere I went locals were asking me what I thought of the place and visibly beaming with pride.

You're a tad mobile phone obsessed too -there's a woman with a hi-viz full of them on every street corner, and Claro and Movistar are everywhere, especially when it comes to plastering their logo all over TV programmes.

You love your silly little Daewoo Tico taxis and three-wheeler moto-taxis. Though their constant honking/bleeping at me every 20 yards (especially in Trujillo) offering a ride did drive me a little crazy.

I enjoyed your spit-roast chicken and chips muchly, and surprisingly took a shine to your cold fish dish of ceviche. And I have to pat you on the back for Cusqueña beer, especially the super tasty if sweet-at-first dark malt version -and it even had little Inca stones on the glass bottle!

One last tip: please make a few more coins for change. It's your money, and it's a pain in the arse when I can't actually spend the equivalent of an eight pound note.

And I can't go without mentioning lovely Fanny jam. I must have tasted loads of Fanny at breakfast during our time together, and will miss it greatly.

Well, so long Peru - I'm sure we may see each other again in the future, and I look forward to getting to know you a bit better.

Mike