The Uniqueness Of Peru

Before I came to Peru, I really didn't know much about the country. I honestly just bunched it in a large clump with Chile, Argentina, Mexico, and all the rest of the Latin American countries. It was easy to come up with the conclusion, "They love soccer, they speak Spanish, They're all Catholic, and they drive cars as if there were no rules." While all of those may be mostly true, there is much more to the country than I realized. Here are a few examples which set Peru apart from other countries. 1) Peru is well known for it's cuisine among other countries. In recent times, a famous Peruvian Chef named Gaston Acurio has helped bring foods such as iconic dish "Cebiche" (A dish that consists of fresh fish drenched with lemon juice, and mixed with onions and cilantro) to the eyes of the modern world. Another really popular type of food here in Peru is known as "Chifa," which is a hybrid between traditional Chinese food, mixed with ingredients found in Peru. 2) Peru has a beautiful landscape. Unlike many countries that consist of one single topography, Peru has tall beautiful peaks, a vast jungle, a long coastline and sandy deserts. So whether you are looking to surf and relax on the beach, trek through the world's tallest peaks, or discover new critters within the Amazon, Peru has it all. 3) It was the center of the Inca Empire. The Inca Empire was a vast Kingdom that stretched from modern day Ecuador through Peru, Bolivia and into parts of Chile and Argentina. In the 16th Century, the Incas were weakened within from a brutal civil war which led to them being easily defeated by the Spanish. The Incan culture is still present within many communities that live in the rural mountainous regions of Peru. Many people of Incan descent come to Lima in order to find work and sell souvenirs. While Peru shares many similarities with other Latin American countries, it has its own unique charm that you can find if you look a little deeper.