Current event in Peru

The province of Quillabamba, (Cusco), doesn't have any power supply, since last night a landslide hit Electrical facilities, located near Machupicchu. It was said to have been a large rock that hit the power station. It shouldn't be up and running until about a week either. The minister of Energy mines, (Pedro Sanchez) had temporary equipment replace the messed up power station. They were installed in the city of Santa Maria in a sub station. This provided some power until the real generators are up and running again.

Recent Peru news: 2010

On January 31st, more than twenty people were killed, 38,000 lost their homes, and over three hundred people were lost in a massive flood. The flood took place in a known flood region: The low lands of Machu Pichu. Since Peru is a poor country, there was no aid for the people in the flood. This was a terrible tragedy for all.

Dia de los Muertos

'Pan de Muerto'

Dia de los muertos is a widely celebrated holiday throughout Mexico. Even though it is about celebrating the dead, it is really a day to be very happy, and praise anything that has passed away. The real legend is that for one night, all of our dead relatives, pets, kids, or anything will rise up for a night and take our gifts to them. Many times people will put out a trail of marigold flowers leading to an altar. They use marigolds because they have a very strong scent, and bright colors so the dead can easily find their way to the alter in the dark. An altar is some sort of table or anything that holds your gifts. Often, people will put letters, delicious foods, candles, and decorative skulls on the altar. Skulls and skeletons are a very huge symbol of dia de los muertos. They are never meant to be scary either, The skulls and skeletons tend to be very pretty and occasionally humorous. Another traditional object in dia de los muertos is called the sugar skull. The sugar skull is basically a skull shaped piece of sugar decorated with frosting. A lot of times it isn't a for eating, yet it is still edible. The skull is mainly just symbolizing that even though it is a skull, or death, it is still sweet. A traditional food from dia de los muertos is called 'Pan de Muerto.' Pan de muerto is a thick bread made of flour, eggs, margarine, and sugar. It is usually made into a large loaf for a group to eat, but sometimes it is made into individual sized pieces. Pan de muerto is usually decorated with sprinkles on top. Our Spanish class is celebrating Dia de los Muertos by making sugar skulls, and learning about the history.

Sugar Skulls and An Alter

Marigolds and Happy Skeletons

About Me

En mi familia hay siete personas: Mis padres, tres hermanas, y mi hermano. Mi familia es simpatica y comica. Vivimos en una casa en Tucson, Arizona. A nosotros nos gustan videos comicos, deportes, y perros/gatos. Jugamos muchos deportes.

Yo soy bajo y comico. Vivo en Tucson. Tengo pelo castano, y mis ojos son azules. A mi me gustan futbol, tenis, y comida. Yo hago mucha tarea y ejercicio.

Mi papa es bajo, moreno, y comico. Viva en Tucson tambien. Tiene pelo negro y ojos cafes. A ti te gustan futbol americano, videos comicos, badminton, y comida mexicana. Haces mucho trabajador.

Mi perro (Rufus) es inteligente, mullido, y grande. Viva en una casa de un perro. Tienes grande ojos cafes, y blanco/marron pelo largo. A ti te gusta comida y el parque. El hace mucho ejercicio.

Mi hermano (Miguel) es alto, muy inteligente, moreno, y atletico. Viva en un apartamento. Tienes ojos cafes, pelo castano, y diecinueve anos. A ti te gustan television, comida, y correr. Haces mucha tarea.

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.