Fiestas Patrias...

Trip Start Sep 05, 2006
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Trip End Sep 04, 2007


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Flag of Peru  ,
Saturday, July 28, 2007

I was more than excited to find out when we entered the Tacna bus station on July 19, fresh from the border of Chile, that Peru was in anticipation of their Fiestas Patrias, or Independence Day so to say, on July 28.  I was even more excited when I realized that I was going to be in the capital for all the festivities.  All I could think was barbequed corn, chicha and parties!

Iīm a sucker for a parade, so the promise of a big, giant parade with lots of school kids and uniforms and flowers and marching had me really excited.  A woman that I met in Cusco, Rosa, was from Lima and had gotten me all jazzed on the idea that the Limeņos were going to parade 3 times that day.

So on the 28th we excitedly ate breakfast (I should amend that so say that Becky excitedly ate breakfast and I ate Pedialyte and crackers) and rallied up a Dutch girl and an Irish guy to come along with us to see the parade casa de gobierno
casa de gobierno
 . 

We got to the Plaza de Armas and were ready for some marching and were sadly, very let down.  For starters, we couldnīt even access the Plaza because it was fenced off and guarded at EVERY corner.  We asked why and the guards explained that many people were unhappy with the President and they were stationed there to protect the governmental square from civil attacks that day.  Then they gave me a little flyer and sent me on my merry way.

Atelast there was a little ceremony.  Nobody was really able to see it aside from the other people in the government and the really tall people with eagle vision that could see over the guards, but we did hear a little music. 

So was my disappointment.  We didnīt return the next day, I guess I lost my patriotic excitement.  We did go out dancing until 6 am.  And thatīs how I learned they way Peruvians really celebrate their holiday.  Pisco Sours and dancing till the sun comes up.
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