Peru-Un poco de todo

Macchu Picchu

Machu Picchu, (old peak), is an ancient Inca site that is about 8,000 feet above sea level. It is on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba Valley which is fifty miles NW of Cuzco. Machu Picchu is one of the most familiar symbols of the Incan Empire. Machu Picchu was constructed around 1462, when the Incan Empire was its tallest. It was abandoned a little less than 100 years later. It is said that most of its population was wiped out from smallpox before the Spanish Conquistadors arrived in the area. Many believe Machu Picchu was built as an estate served for the Incan Emperor, Pachacuti.

Peru-El paisaje y lugares importantes

The city Cuzco

Cuzco Flag

Cuzco, is a city in southeastern Peru near the Urubamba Valley of the Andes Mountains. It is the capital of the Cuzco region as well as the Cuzco province. The city's population is 348,935. Its altitude is around 10,800 feet. Cuzco is the historic capital of the Inca Empire. It is a huge tourist destination and receives about a million visitors a year. The climate is mainly dry and temperate. The dry season lasts from April to October. The wet season is November to March. In 2006, Cuzco was found to be the spot on Earth with the highest Ultra-Violet light level.


There are three main types of climate-areas in Peru. The first is all of the North Eastern and Eastern part of Peru. That is mostly rain forests and small clearings for towns. The next is the central western part, which is mostly highlands and mountains. (The Andes mountain range.) The last part is all of the western area all the way to the ocean. This is a dry desert or in some places a coast.

Peru-comida

Papa Relleno

Rocoto Relleno

Peruvian Potatoes

Peruvian Cuisine is one of the most diverse in the world. It is right up there with French, Chinese, and Indian food. In Peru, the people like to eat spicy main dishes and very sweet desserts. Peruvians grow a lot of crops. These crops are called Ancient crops since they have been in the same area for centuries. Some examples of these are potatoes, corn, wheat, and other grains. The dish shown above is called RocotoRelleno, which means stuffed peppers. It is what its name says. They have stuffed ground beef, cheese, spices, and other things inside the bell pepper to make this simple, yet delicious dish


Peruvians like to take things like vegetables and turn them into stuffed dishes. Another dish like this is called papa rellenas. Papa rellenas are basically what the name says: stuffed potatoes. The chef will take a large potato and bake it like we do here. Then he chops the top off and scoops some of the insides out but leaving a little bit of baked potato still in there. (look at picture.) Now the potato is nearly hallow. Then he stuffs it with cooked ground meat and spices. Finally it is done.


RECIPE: MOIST ORANGE CAKE

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter , at room temperature

• 2 cups sugar

• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

• 2 tablespoons orange peel (pith removed)

• 5 eggs

• 3 cups cake flour

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• Pinch of salt

• 3/4 cup milk

Ingredients (topping)

• 1/4 cup butter

• 2/3 cup sugar

• 1/2 cup orange juice
  

Preparation

Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside. Whip butter with sugar, vanilla and orange peel until mixture is soft. Add eggs gradually, beating well after each addition. Lower speed and add flour mixture alternating with milk. (start and end with the flour). Transfer mixture to a previously greased tube pan and bake in preheated moderate oven to 35o degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius ) for 40 minutes or until cake is done

Preparation (topping)

While cake is baking, place butter, sugar and orange juice in a saucepan and bring to a boil for 5 minutes. Once cake is done, remove it from the oven and pour topping over cake. Separate sides of cake from pan so the syrup goes in and moistens the cake. Cool completely and invert onto a serving dish.

Peru-Gobierno

Peru's government is a Constitutional Republic. Which is where each state elects a representative to vote. Their Presidents name is Alan Garcia Perez. (Shown above.) Peru's capital is Lima. Peru's Government has three branches: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. A random fact about this Government is that for the first time in recent elections, members of the military and national police are eligible to vote in the 2006 elections.

My fake hometown is Lima. Lima is the capital of Peru. There are 45 districts including the capital district of Lima. Each district has a mayor and a council. The districts are the ones that make up the taxes for that area. A problem with the current government right now is that they are making really poor people pay more taxes than more wealthy people in different districts.