CALABUNGA DUDE!

        On Monday we went to the Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares del Instituto Riva-Aguero (http://www.deperu.com/cultural/museos/museo-de-arte-y-tradiciones-populares-3988) where we got to walk around and look at some of the modern traditions and native wear of Peru. There were all types of sombreros on display and some students even got to try them on. The baskets that were on display were made out of fique (Furcraea andina). The women would cut into the leaves and while they were still wet they would roll the stringy insides into a type of chord. They would then dye the chords a variety colors and made some very impressive baskets. The traditional use was to carry coffee beans or other farmed goods but now they are a popular tourist item. I am not sure if this is how the baskets at Pachacamac were made but, the style and color were very similar. 

        The most interesting part of this museum for me was the different bulls that were on display. I am disappointed that we are not able to go see a Peruvian bull fight since they are only in the summer. I did not know that some districts in Peru were anti-bullfighting until I saw this website. (http://www.cas-international.org/en/home/suffering-of-bulls-and-horses/bullfighting/peru/ )However, this museum had some interesting facts about the bullfighting and the meanings behind the bull statues. We first saw one of these statues, which was taller than I am, was in the Parque Central de Miraflores last week. None of us knew the meaning behind the decorated toro besides that they were popular in Peru. The toros are all decorated fairly the same but the shapes can change.

            

        They have what is called a "wallqu" on their chest that is similar to a bird flume. They are also decorated with flowers or "tikas" and swirls. They also all have saddles. The toro statues are usually painted very colorfully. Here is an example and my personal favorite from the museum.

 

               

         After the museum we got to go have fun in Miraflores for the afternoon. Me and four other brave classmates (Matt, Joey, Miles, and Carrie) plunged into the Pacific Ocean and surfed for over an hour in the chilly water. It was my first time swimming in the Pacific and you could beat the view of the cliffs towering over the Circuito de Playas and the shore. We all were exhausted afterwards but we stayed until around 7:00 walking around shopping and sightseeing. The girls took us to Barranco District for the first time. It was a very nice little part of town where we got the spent a few minutes looking over the harbor lit up and a cross across the bay was also lit up. It was sad coming back to Jesus Maria where we ate Mr. Taco for the last time! :(