Peru: ¡Bienvenido!

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I woke early after just a few hours of overly-exhausted sleep.

Fifteen of us had flown into Lima, Peru the previous evening and had been picked up by our born-in-Peru-but-very-American host, Tom. We all bundled into a van and drove a short, chaotic distance to the SAM (South American Mission) House – a tardis-esque type home that’s squeezed between other narrow, barbed wire-wrapped casas, that actually has enough rooms to shelter twenty people, if needed. We tried to ignore the guy sleeping on the couch as we walked through the front door close to midnight and listened intently as we were each instructed where to find our respective beds.

We knew we had an early morning to catch our next flight, but as much as we were all dead on our feet, we couldn’t help but visit each other’s very basic (but much appreciated) rooms and talk about the unusual sounds and smells we were experiencing, each of us silently wondering what the next week would hold.

It was still dark when I got up, but I could hear the buzz of traffic and people’s shouts wafting through the glass-less window. Peet was still sleeping (no surprises there!), so I tried to stealthily carry out all my morning faffings without putting the light on. We had our own bathroom attached to our bedroom, which was very helpful. Even more so since we weren’t allowed to put anything down the toilet for fear of blocking the pipes. Seriously, you could flush your number ones and your number twos… but don’t even think about putting toilet paper in the toilet. Oh, no. There was a little trash can for that… no matter what was wiped on it. And if that’s not awkward in itself, imagine doing that in a shared bathroom… with a shared trash can!!

Peet appeared, blurry eyed and morningy, as I was brushing my teeth in the dark. My greeting to him was, “I think this toothpaste is off…” as I contorted my face into an expression of absolute grossness. He just stood there, staring at me. My lips were peeled back and my teeth were gritted together, as if both of these actions would make whatever was happening in my mouth stop. “Seriously – there’s something wrong with this toothpaste we bought!!”

I saw his eyes move off of me and land on the tube of toothpaste. “Is this what you used?” was his contribution to the conversation, as he held up the red and white tube for me to see. It was.

Note to self: Even though the packaging of Cortizone 10 Anti-Itch Cream® looks identical to that of Colgate®, it’s very different and should never be used as a toothpaste.

And so began our Peruvian adventure…

We all scrambled like crazy things, re-packing our overnight bags, piling into the van, and trying to keep up with Tom as he checked all fifteen of us in for our morning flight over the Andes. We had no clue how much we’d fall in love with Pucallpa, and the people who live there… but we were about to find out.

 


 

Everyone travels in these "motor cars", which also serve as very cheap taxis.
Everyone travels in these “motor cars”, which serve as very cheap taxis.
They're everywhere. And between 6am and midnight, the air is filled with the constant drone of their 100cc engines.
They’re everywhere. And between 6am and midnight, the air is filled with the constant drone of their 100cc engines.
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When it rains, the drivers attach their “rain sheets” to keep them dry.

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Fresh fruit stands are all over the place.
Fresh fruit stands are all over the place.
It's pretty easy to set up shop in Pucallpa!
It’s pretty easy to set up shop in Pucallpa!
Bananas, bananas and more bananas.
Bananas, bananas and more bananas.
Streets are lined with shops + workshops... and most of the workers sat with their back to the street. Weird.
Streets are lined with shops and workshops… and most of the workers sat with their back to the street. Weird.

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People just hang out anywhere there's space.
People just hang out anywhere there’s space.
Peruvians love their dogs.
Peruvians love their dogs.

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Just chillin' on the sidewalk in his rocking chair.
Just chillin’ on the sidewalk in his rocking chair.
Colorful... but random.
Colorful… but random.
Vultures in a mango tree. Obviously.
Vultures in a mango tree. Obviously.
Life on the Ucayali River.
Life on the Ucayali River.
Life simplified.
Life simplified.
Squished motor cars in the zoo parking lot.
Squished motor cars in the zoo parking lot.
The chaos of the official zoo parking lot!
The chaos of the official zoo parking lot!
Siesta. Anytime. Anywhere.
Siesta. Anytime. Anywhere.
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