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Peru: Ica celebrates National Pisco Day with 5,000 glasses of flagship liquor
On the ocassion of National Pisco Day, Ica’s people will gather tomorrow at the Main Square of this Southern city to celebrate with five thousand glasses of our flagship liquor, recognized worldwide.The mass toast is organized by the Association of Pisco and Wine Producers of Ica (Apropica), informed its president, Julio Sotelo, who said that attendants will able to taste liquor for free.At 10:30 hours (15:30 GMT), after the flag raising scheduled as part of the civic day to take place in this city, Ica’s people will participate of the denominated “Brindis de la Peruanidad” (Peruvian toast).There will also be a Pisco exhibition of 22 producers at Ica’s Main Square, indicated Sotelo to Andina news agency.“The purpose is to celebrate National Pisco Day as it should be done, with the participation of people and authorities, who, from this year on, have expressed their commitment in gathering different institutions in order to have the best Pisco celebration in Ica”, he added.
News source: ANDINA
lunes, 28 de julio de 2008
jueves, 24 de julio de 2008
Playas del Peru
Travel blog: Beaches in Peru
Monday, 07 Jul 2008 11:08
Rhian Nicholson has swapped the bright lights of London for a three month journey across South America from the Pacific to the Atlantic coast. Here is her fourth blog entry: After a month of seemingly endless jolting journeys across potholed Andean roads the prospect of spending a few days lazing on the beach seemed like an inspired idea. And so it was off to Mancora, a small surf town on the Pacific coast swarming with backpackers from all corners of the globe determined to destroy as many liver cells in as short a time as possible. With the majority of the bars offering two for one cocktails for a mere ten soles (less than two quid) and blasting out cheesy music you'd be forgiven for thinking you'd stumbled into your old uni's student union during freshers week. In fact, the only landmark to get your alcohol riddled brain to register you're still in Peru is the Panamericana, the massive highway running the length of South America and lined with Mancora's bars, restaurants and shops selling knock-off surf clothing. The fun really starts when you're wandering out of one of the all-night bars after one Mojito too many and swatting off the tuk tuk drivers clamouring to drive you the 150 metres back to your hotel, when suddenly a heavily laden articulated lorry swooshes past less than a metre from your nose. As you may have gathered health and safety does not rank highly on South America's list of priorities. Unfortunately Mancora attracts as many bugs as it does tourists - and even extra strength DEET fails to stop them enjoying a three course meal on every available patch of skin. More benign but equally annoying - mainly due to their inexplicable desire to die in their dozens on the bathroom floor was the plague of crickets that covered the town's walls and had a nasty tendency to fly at your head. Mancora's drink till you drop nightlife tends to curtail daytime activities to lying on the fairly gritty sand like a stupefied, beached whale, necking juices in the beach cafes or browsing the market stalls flogging overpriced souvenirs. Even going for a swim in the rather nippy water can be taking your life into your own hands with surfers and kiteboarders cruising past - some of them not entirely in control. Technically it's Peruvian winter time now although those grey clouds hide a vicious sun, capable of turning pasty skin lobster red in just a few minutes. And talking of lobsters, Mancora is nothing short of food heaven for seafood lovers. From king prawns and crabs to slabs of freshly caught white fish, sit down at any of the greying plastic tables and the catch of the day will appear before you about an hour later (this is after all the land of mañana). In good old Inglaterra munching on lobster generally costs an arm and a couple of legs. In Mancora on the other hand, it's less than a fiver for a plateful with a few chips thrown in for good measure. And to give your taste buds a proper workout, the Peruvian speciality and supposed aphrodisiac Ceviche comes top of the pile. For the price of a Big Mac you get a mountain of mixed seafood marinated in chilli, lime and onion with a serving of sweetcorn and a boiled yam. Meanwhile if you're looking for something to enhance your night, a few of the health food cafes offer maca - otherwise known as Peruvian Viagra - baked into cakes. Further down the coast, the seaside town of Huanchaco also offers the chance to catch a few waves or savour the fruit of the fishermen's efforts in their famous cigar-shaped totora boats. More laid back than Mancora, it is bizarrely reminiscent of Hastings seafront with families taking a stroll along its rickety pier, groups of teenagers lazing about on its windswept rock-strewn beaches and the smell of fish floating on the breeze. All that's missing is the crazy golf course and the peeling Victorian railings.
Rhian Nicholson
Monday, 07 Jul 2008 11:08
Rhian Nicholson has swapped the bright lights of London for a three month journey across South America from the Pacific to the Atlantic coast. Here is her fourth blog entry: After a month of seemingly endless jolting journeys across potholed Andean roads the prospect of spending a few days lazing on the beach seemed like an inspired idea. And so it was off to Mancora, a small surf town on the Pacific coast swarming with backpackers from all corners of the globe determined to destroy as many liver cells in as short a time as possible. With the majority of the bars offering two for one cocktails for a mere ten soles (less than two quid) and blasting out cheesy music you'd be forgiven for thinking you'd stumbled into your old uni's student union during freshers week. In fact, the only landmark to get your alcohol riddled brain to register you're still in Peru is the Panamericana, the massive highway running the length of South America and lined with Mancora's bars, restaurants and shops selling knock-off surf clothing. The fun really starts when you're wandering out of one of the all-night bars after one Mojito too many and swatting off the tuk tuk drivers clamouring to drive you the 150 metres back to your hotel, when suddenly a heavily laden articulated lorry swooshes past less than a metre from your nose. As you may have gathered health and safety does not rank highly on South America's list of priorities. Unfortunately Mancora attracts as many bugs as it does tourists - and even extra strength DEET fails to stop them enjoying a three course meal on every available patch of skin. More benign but equally annoying - mainly due to their inexplicable desire to die in their dozens on the bathroom floor was the plague of crickets that covered the town's walls and had a nasty tendency to fly at your head. Mancora's drink till you drop nightlife tends to curtail daytime activities to lying on the fairly gritty sand like a stupefied, beached whale, necking juices in the beach cafes or browsing the market stalls flogging overpriced souvenirs. Even going for a swim in the rather nippy water can be taking your life into your own hands with surfers and kiteboarders cruising past - some of them not entirely in control. Technically it's Peruvian winter time now although those grey clouds hide a vicious sun, capable of turning pasty skin lobster red in just a few minutes. And talking of lobsters, Mancora is nothing short of food heaven for seafood lovers. From king prawns and crabs to slabs of freshly caught white fish, sit down at any of the greying plastic tables and the catch of the day will appear before you about an hour later (this is after all the land of mañana). In good old Inglaterra munching on lobster generally costs an arm and a couple of legs. In Mancora on the other hand, it's less than a fiver for a plateful with a few chips thrown in for good measure. And to give your taste buds a proper workout, the Peruvian speciality and supposed aphrodisiac Ceviche comes top of the pile. For the price of a Big Mac you get a mountain of mixed seafood marinated in chilli, lime and onion with a serving of sweetcorn and a boiled yam. Meanwhile if you're looking for something to enhance your night, a few of the health food cafes offer maca - otherwise known as Peruvian Viagra - baked into cakes. Further down the coast, the seaside town of Huanchaco also offers the chance to catch a few waves or savour the fruit of the fishermen's efforts in their famous cigar-shaped totora boats. More laid back than Mancora, it is bizarrely reminiscent of Hastings seafront with families taking a stroll along its rickety pier, groups of teenagers lazing about on its windswept rock-strewn beaches and the smell of fish floating on the breeze. All that's missing is the crazy golf course and the peeling Victorian railings.
Rhian Nicholson
Comida Peruana transforma New York, EEUU
Peruvian Dining Transforms New York City at 2nd Peru Grand Tasting 2008!
Last update: 2:53 p.m. EDT July 24, 2008
NEW YORK, July 24, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Entrepreneur Edgar Perez is teaming with renowned Chef Ezequiel Valencia to present an evening of Fine Dining celebrating the 187th Anniversary of Peru's Independence Day, in anticipation of the Grand Opening of New York's finest restaurant, Peruvian Bistro. This exciting new restaurant will deliver the finest Peruvian Cuisine in a delightful New York atmosphere.
Sunday, August 17, 2008, has Edgar Perez and chef Valencia, personal chef of the Peruvian Ambassador to the United Nations, preparing Peru's finest delicacies to a discerning crowd. Valencia earned his credentials from Cenfotur and prestigious restaurant Le Bonbonniere in Lima, Peru.
Hosted at New York's famous Pera Brasserie, located at 303 Madison Avenue, the duo will introduce a variety of exciting Peruvian dishes reflecting a fascinating evolution of food and cultures. Cocktails begin at 630PM, and guests will be introduced to a 5-Course Peruvian Dinner at 7PM. There will be an occasion during the evening to discuss investment opportunities in the new restaurant for all investors that may have interest in participating in the success of Peruvian Bistro.
Menu items include what the Washington Post calls "The cuisine that legendary French Chef and Culinary writer Auguste Escoffer called one of the best in the world." Dinner will include delicacies such as spicy Ceviche Mixto, refreshing Causa Peruana, crispy and tasty Jalea, flavorful Lomo Saltado and Lucuma Ice Cream. There will also be a Peruvian show for the pleasure of the participants. Registration for the event can be made at www.flavorsofperu.com and includes many options for individual tickets with VIP, Main Dining, and Communal seating, several levels of sponsorship, and an opportunity to advertise in the event program. All registrations received prior to July 31st will receive $20 off from normal rates for the event.
Experience the delectable taste, sounds, and smells of Peruvian culinary creations created by a world-renowned chef while in the company of Peruvian Bistro's friends and investors. This is an evening that will not soon be forgotten.
Peruvian Bistro will be a full-service, upscale restaurant dedicated to replicating the finest of Peruvian delicacies and creations in New York City. Employing one of the worlds finest Peruvian Chefs, schooled in the art of preparing Peruvian fare, the restaurant presents an upscale experience bathed in colonial inspirations reflecting Peru's rich cultural influences.
SOURCE Edgar Perez http://www.flavorsofperu.com
Last update: 2:53 p.m. EDT July 24, 2008
NEW YORK, July 24, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Entrepreneur Edgar Perez is teaming with renowned Chef Ezequiel Valencia to present an evening of Fine Dining celebrating the 187th Anniversary of Peru's Independence Day, in anticipation of the Grand Opening of New York's finest restaurant, Peruvian Bistro. This exciting new restaurant will deliver the finest Peruvian Cuisine in a delightful New York atmosphere.
Sunday, August 17, 2008, has Edgar Perez and chef Valencia, personal chef of the Peruvian Ambassador to the United Nations, preparing Peru's finest delicacies to a discerning crowd. Valencia earned his credentials from Cenfotur and prestigious restaurant Le Bonbonniere in Lima, Peru.
Hosted at New York's famous Pera Brasserie, located at 303 Madison Avenue, the duo will introduce a variety of exciting Peruvian dishes reflecting a fascinating evolution of food and cultures. Cocktails begin at 630PM, and guests will be introduced to a 5-Course Peruvian Dinner at 7PM. There will be an occasion during the evening to discuss investment opportunities in the new restaurant for all investors that may have interest in participating in the success of Peruvian Bistro.
Menu items include what the Washington Post calls "The cuisine that legendary French Chef and Culinary writer Auguste Escoffer called one of the best in the world." Dinner will include delicacies such as spicy Ceviche Mixto, refreshing Causa Peruana, crispy and tasty Jalea, flavorful Lomo Saltado and Lucuma Ice Cream. There will also be a Peruvian show for the pleasure of the participants. Registration for the event can be made at www.flavorsofperu.com and includes many options for individual tickets with VIP, Main Dining, and Communal seating, several levels of sponsorship, and an opportunity to advertise in the event program. All registrations received prior to July 31st will receive $20 off from normal rates for the event.
Experience the delectable taste, sounds, and smells of Peruvian culinary creations created by a world-renowned chef while in the company of Peruvian Bistro's friends and investors. This is an evening that will not soon be forgotten.
Peruvian Bistro will be a full-service, upscale restaurant dedicated to replicating the finest of Peruvian delicacies and creations in New York City. Employing one of the worlds finest Peruvian Chefs, schooled in the art of preparing Peruvian fare, the restaurant presents an upscale experience bathed in colonial inspirations reflecting Peru's rich cultural influences.
SOURCE Edgar Perez http://www.flavorsofperu.com
Un dia como hoy fue descubierto Machu Picchu por Hiram Bigham
On this Day: Hiram Bingham Discovers Lost Incan City of Machu Picchu
July 24, 2008 12:10 AM
by findingDulcinea Staff
On July 24, 1911, Yale University professor Hiram Bingham discovered the ruins of Machu Picchu, one of the most significant archaeological finds in the history of the Americas.
On July 24, 1911, Yale professor and explorer Hiram Bingham trekked through the Andes Mountains in search of the lost capital city of Vitcos. Bingham paid a local man the equivalent of 50 cents to lead him to ruins near the city of Cusco. What Bingham found was not Vitcos but the lost city of Machu Picchu.Bingham believed that he had discovered the cradle of the Inca Empire. Based on a temple with three large windows in the ruins, Bingham developed the theory that three brothers descended from the three windows to conquer and found the Incan Empire.The theory is impossible to prove, and Machu Picchu remains a mystery today. People believe the city may have been a royal city, an observatory of the heavens, the keeping place for women of the royal family, or a sacred shrine.Machu Picchu may have been discovered earlier by German businessman Augusto Berns. According to later-uncovered Peruvian government records, Berns didn’t try to share his discovery with the world; instead he looted the city and sold artifacts to wealthy westerners.Ever since Bingham made his discovery known to the public, Machu Picchu has fascinated people across the globe. Each year more than 300,000 tourists scale the Andes to explore the ancient ruins. As a testament to the city’s grandeur, Machu Picchu was named one of the New 7 Wonders of the World in 2007. The increase in popularity has not gone without repercussions however, as Machu Picchu now faces pollution and the increased threat of a severe landslide.
Headline Link: ‘Lost City in the Clouds Found After Centuries’
Nearly two years after Hiram Bingham discovered the ruins of Machu Picchu, The New York Times published an extensive article detailing the excavation and the significance of the discovery. Bingham was led to the city by locals for the equivalent of 50 cents while he was looking for Vitcos, the last capital of the Incas. Dubbing Machu Picchu “the greatest archaeological discovery of the age,” the article proposes Bingham’s theory that the city was the “cradle” and origin of the Inca Empire.
Source: The New York Times
July 24, 2008 12:10 AM
by findingDulcinea Staff
On July 24, 1911, Yale University professor Hiram Bingham discovered the ruins of Machu Picchu, one of the most significant archaeological finds in the history of the Americas.
On July 24, 1911, Yale professor and explorer Hiram Bingham trekked through the Andes Mountains in search of the lost capital city of Vitcos. Bingham paid a local man the equivalent of 50 cents to lead him to ruins near the city of Cusco. What Bingham found was not Vitcos but the lost city of Machu Picchu.Bingham believed that he had discovered the cradle of the Inca Empire. Based on a temple with three large windows in the ruins, Bingham developed the theory that three brothers descended from the three windows to conquer and found the Incan Empire.The theory is impossible to prove, and Machu Picchu remains a mystery today. People believe the city may have been a royal city, an observatory of the heavens, the keeping place for women of the royal family, or a sacred shrine.Machu Picchu may have been discovered earlier by German businessman Augusto Berns. According to later-uncovered Peruvian government records, Berns didn’t try to share his discovery with the world; instead he looted the city and sold artifacts to wealthy westerners.Ever since Bingham made his discovery known to the public, Machu Picchu has fascinated people across the globe. Each year more than 300,000 tourists scale the Andes to explore the ancient ruins. As a testament to the city’s grandeur, Machu Picchu was named one of the New 7 Wonders of the World in 2007. The increase in popularity has not gone without repercussions however, as Machu Picchu now faces pollution and the increased threat of a severe landslide.
Headline Link: ‘Lost City in the Clouds Found After Centuries’
Nearly two years after Hiram Bingham discovered the ruins of Machu Picchu, The New York Times published an extensive article detailing the excavation and the significance of the discovery. Bingham was led to the city by locals for the equivalent of 50 cents while he was looking for Vitcos, the last capital of the Incas. Dubbing Machu Picchu “the greatest archaeological discovery of the age,” the article proposes Bingham’s theory that the city was the “cradle” and origin of the Inca Empire.
Source: The New York Times
Peru celebra Dia del Pisco
Peru celebrates National Pisco Day with week-long festival
Peru's minister of Production Rafael Rey will open today the festival "Pisco Surco 2008: Our country, our party, our pisco”, on the occasion of National Pisco Day celebrations to be held on July 27th.The event will also be attended by the mayor of Santiago de Surco, Juan Manuel del Mar Estremadoyro, representatives of Peru’s National Commission of Pisco (Conapisco), among other important authorities, businesspeople and artists.It will take place at 12:20 pm (17:20 GMT) in the "Parque de la Amistad” (Park of Friendship) in Surco.Pisco is Peru’s national drink and is made in traditional distilleries in wineries in Mala, San Antonio, Santa Cruz de Flores, San Vicente de Cañete, Pacarán and Lunahuaná, south of Lima.In many parts of the world, a raised glass is the surest sign of welcome. In Peru, the delicious brandy known as pisco is the best way to invite someone to discover centuries of history and tradition amidst the surprising cultural diversity that never fails to charm our guests.
News source: ANDINA
Peru's minister of Production Rafael Rey will open today the festival "Pisco Surco 2008: Our country, our party, our pisco”, on the occasion of National Pisco Day celebrations to be held on July 27th.The event will also be attended by the mayor of Santiago de Surco, Juan Manuel del Mar Estremadoyro, representatives of Peru’s National Commission of Pisco (Conapisco), among other important authorities, businesspeople and artists.It will take place at 12:20 pm (17:20 GMT) in the "Parque de la Amistad” (Park of Friendship) in Surco.Pisco is Peru’s national drink and is made in traditional distilleries in wineries in Mala, San Antonio, Santa Cruz de Flores, San Vicente de Cañete, Pacarán and Lunahuaná, south of Lima.In many parts of the world, a raised glass is the surest sign of welcome. In Peru, the delicious brandy known as pisco is the best way to invite someone to discover centuries of history and tradition amidst the surprising cultural diversity that never fails to charm our guests.
News source: ANDINA
miércoles, 23 de julio de 2008
Exportacion de esparragos Peruanos se incrementara
Peruvian asparagus imports to increase this season
By Andy Nelson
(July 23, 4:47 p.m.) Importers expect strong demand for large volumes of Peruvian asparagus as the deal ramps up to its fall peak.By the first week of August, Pro*Act Specialties, Los Angeles, expects to be importing in volume from Peru, said Dean Simon, president.The company expects to import about 30% more asparagus from Peru this season, he said.Miami-based Fru-Veg Marketing Inc. also expects Peruvian imports to start peaking in early August, said Steve Espinosa, vice president of sales.Peak volumes from Peru should arrive in the U.S. in September, October and November, said Priscilla Lleras, coordinator for the Miami-based Peruvian Asparagus Importers Association.In 2007, the U.S. imported about 273 million pounds of asparagus. Lleras said about 56% of that came from Peru.Peruvian asparagus exports to the U.S. should be up about 8% to 10% over last year, she said.“Demand has been fair and steady,” Espinosa said. “We have some ads breaking, so movement is good.”Mid-summer prices were lower than the past two years, due in part to Mexico shipping later than it typically does, Espinosa said. Mexico could ship through mid-August this year, according to reports Espinosa had heard.Quality problems in Peru last season also exerted upward pressures on prices, Espinosa said.Simon expected markets to strengthen as Peru heads into its peak export season.“We’re looking forward to a good season,” Simon said. “Markets have been a little softer than last year, but they’re starting to firm up.”On July 22, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported prices of $18-20 for 11-pound cartons of jumbo green bunched asparagus from Peru, down from $30 last year at the same time.Pro*Act is shipping Peruvian asparagus this year in a new pack in which the unusable ends of spears have been cut off, Simon said. The Go Green packs are designed to limit waste and cut soaring shipping costs, he said.Growing weather in Peru has been cooler than usual this summer, but Simon expects continued good quality.Espinosa also expects good quality when peak volumes begin shipping, with abundant supplies of standard and large sizes.
By Andy Nelson
(July 23, 4:47 p.m.) Importers expect strong demand for large volumes of Peruvian asparagus as the deal ramps up to its fall peak.By the first week of August, Pro*Act Specialties, Los Angeles, expects to be importing in volume from Peru, said Dean Simon, president.The company expects to import about 30% more asparagus from Peru this season, he said.Miami-based Fru-Veg Marketing Inc. also expects Peruvian imports to start peaking in early August, said Steve Espinosa, vice president of sales.Peak volumes from Peru should arrive in the U.S. in September, October and November, said Priscilla Lleras, coordinator for the Miami-based Peruvian Asparagus Importers Association.In 2007, the U.S. imported about 273 million pounds of asparagus. Lleras said about 56% of that came from Peru.Peruvian asparagus exports to the U.S. should be up about 8% to 10% over last year, she said.“Demand has been fair and steady,” Espinosa said. “We have some ads breaking, so movement is good.”Mid-summer prices were lower than the past two years, due in part to Mexico shipping later than it typically does, Espinosa said. Mexico could ship through mid-August this year, according to reports Espinosa had heard.Quality problems in Peru last season also exerted upward pressures on prices, Espinosa said.Simon expected markets to strengthen as Peru heads into its peak export season.“We’re looking forward to a good season,” Simon said. “Markets have been a little softer than last year, but they’re starting to firm up.”On July 22, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported prices of $18-20 for 11-pound cartons of jumbo green bunched asparagus from Peru, down from $30 last year at the same time.Pro*Act is shipping Peruvian asparagus this year in a new pack in which the unusable ends of spears have been cut off, Simon said. The Go Green packs are designed to limit waste and cut soaring shipping costs, he said.Growing weather in Peru has been cooler than usual this summer, but Simon expects continued good quality.Espinosa also expects good quality when peak volumes begin shipping, with abundant supplies of standard and large sizes.
martes, 22 de julio de 2008
Exportacion de Pisco se triplica en Peru
Peru's Pisco catching up to Chilean exports
Peruvian pisco is catching up to Chilean exports since Peru’s production has almost doubled in the last three years, according to Chilean newspaper El Mercurio. It stated Peruvians are extremely optimistic about its pisco industry’s results this year, especially after pisco exports totaled 1.03 billion dollars in 2007, very close to Chilean exports, which amounted 1.36 billion dollars.El Mercurio quoted statements to Peru’s daily El Comercio made by the executive director of the Control Board of Denomination of Origin, Jose Mosquillaza’s , saying that Peruvian pisco exports in 2008 should catch up with Chile’s and, exceed them in 2009.El Mercurio digital version, Emol, also quoted Chilean business leaders’ statements such as the one made by the general manager of Pisco Capel, Roberto Salinas, about what they consider an "onslaught" from Peru."It’s good news that Peru is performing so well. The more pisco is promoted worldwide, the better for everybody", he said.Chilean producers emphasize pisco promotion as one of the main strategies to face Peru’s increasing production, says Chilean daily."We are taking some measures to promote Chilean pisco abroad, because until now we have been making specific sales, which are not really exports", said Fernando Herrera, the manager of the Association of Pisco Producers, which brings together almost all the entire industry, including Capel, and Compañía Pisquera de Chile.Currently, the strategy for maintaining people’s preferences is to work on a "country image" focused on pisco, said the association.Meanwhile, local producers support the idea acknowledging that Peru has done a very good job to place many of its products abroad, being the "pisco, the star", they say.Salinas highlighted the importance of the public and private join work. The support of the Chilean government should be focused on international trade fairs, according to the executive. "We could support a government's platform to showcase products", he concludes.
News source: ANDINA
Peruvian pisco is catching up to Chilean exports since Peru’s production has almost doubled in the last three years, according to Chilean newspaper El Mercurio. It stated Peruvians are extremely optimistic about its pisco industry’s results this year, especially after pisco exports totaled 1.03 billion dollars in 2007, very close to Chilean exports, which amounted 1.36 billion dollars.El Mercurio quoted statements to Peru’s daily El Comercio made by the executive director of the Control Board of Denomination of Origin, Jose Mosquillaza’s , saying that Peruvian pisco exports in 2008 should catch up with Chile’s and, exceed them in 2009.El Mercurio digital version, Emol, also quoted Chilean business leaders’ statements such as the one made by the general manager of Pisco Capel, Roberto Salinas, about what they consider an "onslaught" from Peru."It’s good news that Peru is performing so well. The more pisco is promoted worldwide, the better for everybody", he said.Chilean producers emphasize pisco promotion as one of the main strategies to face Peru’s increasing production, says Chilean daily."We are taking some measures to promote Chilean pisco abroad, because until now we have been making specific sales, which are not really exports", said Fernando Herrera, the manager of the Association of Pisco Producers, which brings together almost all the entire industry, including Capel, and Compañía Pisquera de Chile.Currently, the strategy for maintaining people’s preferences is to work on a "country image" focused on pisco, said the association.Meanwhile, local producers support the idea acknowledging that Peru has done a very good job to place many of its products abroad, being the "pisco, the star", they say.Salinas highlighted the importance of the public and private join work. The support of the Chilean government should be focused on international trade fairs, according to the executive. "We could support a government's platform to showcase products", he concludes.
News source: ANDINA
sábado, 19 de julio de 2008
Shell puede invertir hasta 300 Millones de dolares en Peru
The Associated Press July 17, 2008, 4:59PM ET
Shell may invest up to $300 million in Peru
VICTORIA BEKIEMPIS
LIMA, Peru
Royal Dutch Shell PLC may invest up to US$300 million in oil and natural gas exploration in northern Peru, a company official said Thursday, a decade after the Anglo-Dutch company suspended gas exploration operations here.
Adolfo Heeren, chief of Shell's Peru operations, said in a news conference that the company will finalize a partnership with Houston-based BPZ Energy Inc. in the next few months to explore for gas and oil in northwestern Peru near its border with oil-rich Ecuador.
BPZ may invest a similar amount in exploration and up to $150 million in an electric plant in the region, said company President Manuel Pablo Zuniga. BPZ will fully control the electricity plant, but Shell would have the option of buying a 50 percent stake.
Both companies signed a memorandum of understanding in June for joint exploration, and company officials hope to wrap up negotiations by the end of the year.
If natural gas reserves prove sufficient to meet local demand, the companies may also develop plans to export liquid natural gas, Zuniga said
Shell and what was then Mobile Oil Corp. pulled out of a $3 billion project to develop the massive Camisea gas fields in Peru's southern Andes in mid-1998. Both companies wanted more control over the sale and marketing of gas than the government had offered.
Shell may invest up to $300 million in Peru
VICTORIA BEKIEMPIS
LIMA, Peru
Royal Dutch Shell PLC may invest up to US$300 million in oil and natural gas exploration in northern Peru, a company official said Thursday, a decade after the Anglo-Dutch company suspended gas exploration operations here.
Adolfo Heeren, chief of Shell's Peru operations, said in a news conference that the company will finalize a partnership with Houston-based BPZ Energy Inc. in the next few months to explore for gas and oil in northwestern Peru near its border with oil-rich Ecuador.
BPZ may invest a similar amount in exploration and up to $150 million in an electric plant in the region, said company President Manuel Pablo Zuniga. BPZ will fully control the electricity plant, but Shell would have the option of buying a 50 percent stake.
Both companies signed a memorandum of understanding in June for joint exploration, and company officials hope to wrap up negotiations by the end of the year.
If natural gas reserves prove sufficient to meet local demand, the companies may also develop plans to export liquid natural gas, Zuniga said
Shell and what was then Mobile Oil Corp. pulled out of a $3 billion project to develop the massive Camisea gas fields in Peru's southern Andes in mid-1998. Both companies wanted more control over the sale and marketing of gas than the government had offered.
Acciones Peruanas son "caras"
`Expensive' Peruvian Stocks Downgraded by Citigroup's Dennis
By Roger Neill
July 18 (Bloomberg) -- Citigroup Inc. said investors should sell Peruvian stocks because the shares have grown expensive, and raised its recommendation on equities in Columbia to ``neutral.''
Geoffrey Dennis, Citigroup's New York-based Latin America equity strategist, cut his allocation for ``expensive'' Peru to ``underweight.'' according to a note to clients dated July 14. He maintained an ``overweight'' rating on Brazil.
Peru's benchmark Lima General Index, trades at 12.8 times its companies' average earnings, up from a ratio of 9.9 at the end of June, weekly data compiled by Bloomberg show. Brazil's Bovespa Index is valued at 13.9 times its companies' profit, down from 14.9 at the end of June, Bloomberg weekly data show.
Dennis also upgraded ``underperforming'' Colombia, where the benchmark IGBC General Index lost 18 percent in 2008.
To contact the reporters for this story: Roger Neill in London at Rneill3@bloomberg.net Last Updated: July 18, 2008 05:21 EDT
By Roger Neill
July 18 (Bloomberg) -- Citigroup Inc. said investors should sell Peruvian stocks because the shares have grown expensive, and raised its recommendation on equities in Columbia to ``neutral.''
Geoffrey Dennis, Citigroup's New York-based Latin America equity strategist, cut his allocation for ``expensive'' Peru to ``underweight.'' according to a note to clients dated July 14. He maintained an ``overweight'' rating on Brazil.
Peru's benchmark Lima General Index, trades at 12.8 times its companies' average earnings, up from a ratio of 9.9 at the end of June, weekly data compiled by Bloomberg show. Brazil's Bovespa Index is valued at 13.9 times its companies' profit, down from 14.9 at the end of June, Bloomberg weekly data show.
Dennis also upgraded ``underperforming'' Colombia, where the benchmark IGBC General Index lost 18 percent in 2008.
To contact the reporters for this story: Roger Neill in London at Rneill3@bloomberg.net Last Updated: July 18, 2008 05:21 EDT
Agricultores en el exterior aprenden origen de la papa
Cornish growers invited to Eden Project
Cornish potato growers headed to the Celebration of Food and Farmers at the Eden Project last month, alongside the procurement, agronomy and marketing teams at Branston.Eight growers who supply Tesco with some of the earliest new potatoes showcased their freshly harvested crops.More than 10,000 people visited the three-day event, from June 20, including hundreds of schoolchildren on the first day.The celebration was organised by the Cornwall Agri-Food Council and supported by Branston, as well as a number of other food and farming organisations. The Branston team taught visitors about the history of the potato and its origins in Peru, and highlighted the nutritious and versatile nature of the vegetable, as well as the importance of potatoes to the local Cornish economy and the different varieties available.More than 500 suggested names were entered into a competition to name Branston’s latest potato – currently known as 00.H.14 A3 – and the winner will be announced soon.Hugh Donovan, Branston’s South West procurement manager, said: “We always enjoy talking to consumers about potatoes, and this was a great way to educate them about how versatile and nutritious they are. It was also good to be able to tell people about the important role farming plays in the South West and how our growers produce their Cornish varieties.”Grower Andrew White of S&W Potatoes, who attended the event, added: “A lot of people take potatoes and other food sources for granted, and don’t know the hard work that goes into producing them. This celebration was the ideal opportunity for us to talk to consumers about their food and raise awareness of the importance of supporting local lines and eating fresh fruit and vegetables. We had a great deal of interest, especially from children, and hope they’ll grow up eating great Cornish produce.”
Cornish potato growers headed to the Celebration of Food and Farmers at the Eden Project last month, alongside the procurement, agronomy and marketing teams at Branston.Eight growers who supply Tesco with some of the earliest new potatoes showcased their freshly harvested crops.More than 10,000 people visited the three-day event, from June 20, including hundreds of schoolchildren on the first day.The celebration was organised by the Cornwall Agri-Food Council and supported by Branston, as well as a number of other food and farming organisations. The Branston team taught visitors about the history of the potato and its origins in Peru, and highlighted the nutritious and versatile nature of the vegetable, as well as the importance of potatoes to the local Cornish economy and the different varieties available.More than 500 suggested names were entered into a competition to name Branston’s latest potato – currently known as 00.H.14 A3 – and the winner will be announced soon.Hugh Donovan, Branston’s South West procurement manager, said: “We always enjoy talking to consumers about potatoes, and this was a great way to educate them about how versatile and nutritious they are. It was also good to be able to tell people about the important role farming plays in the South West and how our growers produce their Cornish varieties.”Grower Andrew White of S&W Potatoes, who attended the event, added: “A lot of people take potatoes and other food sources for granted, and don’t know the hard work that goes into producing them. This celebration was the ideal opportunity for us to talk to consumers about their food and raise awareness of the importance of supporting local lines and eating fresh fruit and vegetables. We had a great deal of interest, especially from children, and hope they’ll grow up eating great Cornish produce.”
viernes, 18 de julio de 2008
Orgullo Peruano: Pisco
Peruvian pride, pisco in the Grove
Posted on Thu, Jul. 17, 2008
Miami Herald Staff
You've got to love a place so diverse that practically every weekend brings another national celebration dear to someone. This time it's Peruvian Independence Day, being marked Sunday at the Sonesta Bayfront Hotel, 2889 McFarlane Rd., Coconut Grove, with ``Celebra Peru.''
The buffet lunch, with seatings at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., will showcase Peruvian cuisine, cocktails, music, art and fashion. Sponsors include Mujer Magazine and Pisco Montesierpe. Cost is $59 ($25 for children) plus tax and tip, with free valet parking at the hotel. Reserve at 305-447-8256.
D. WADE'S CLOSES
Game's over for D. Wade's Sports Grill in Fort Lauderdale. The restaurant named for Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade closed over the weekend after operating for only a few months at 1451 N. Federal Hwy. (formerly Bucky's Grill). Wade's Sports Grill at Glades Road and Dixie Highway in Boca Raton closed this spring after a short stint. No word yet on whether the planned opening of another D. Wade's in North Miami Beach is still on.
EUROPA EUROPA
Fort Lauderdale's Café Europa, a Las Olas Boulevard favorite for 18 years, has closed because the expanding Riverside Hotel is taking over its space, but ''we're definitely relocating and staying on Las Olas,'' says Lisa Checo, daughter of owner Tony Cupelli. ''We want our customers to know we'll be back.'' Checo says the restaurant expects to be in a new location by the end of the year. The hotel expansion also has pushed out Shizen Japanese Cuisine.
-- ROCHELLE KOFFSWEET SPOT
Buttercream Cupcakes & Coffee, purveyor of the eponymous treats in 16 flavors including lime, latte, red velvet and chocolate chocolate, hosts a grand opening at 5 p.m. Friday at 1411 Sunset Dr., Coral Gables. Husband-and-wife owners José F. Cuellar and Kristine Graulich also serve Colombian coffee blended especially for them; 305-669-8181, buttercreamcupcakes.com.
RAISE A GLASS
• Morton's The Steakhouse, 1200 Brickell Ave., hosts a bourbon tasting from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday with such cocktails as Knob Creek Mint Julep, Baker's Washington Apple, Booker's Manhattan and Basil Hayden's Southern Citrus Smash. Cost is $45; 305-400-9990.
• Smith & Wollensky, 1 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, hosts a Lancaster Estate Wines dinner at 7 p.m. Wednesday featuring four pairings including the prize-winning Roth 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon and five courses including king salmon steak and dry-aged steak au poivre. Cost is $100 including tax, tip and a 6:30 p.m. reception; reserve at smithandwollensky.com or 305-673-2800.
CHAIN, CHAIN, CHAIN
• Buca di Beppo, a Minneapolis chain with locations in Miami Lakes and Fort Lauderdale, is celebrating its 15th anniversary through Aug. 10 with a 15 percent discount on its 15 most popular menu items and a giveaway of ''more than one million prizes with a value of $10 million,'' including a trip for four to Italy; bucadibeppo.com.
• Houston-based Carrabba's Italian Grill, with six Miami-Dade and Broward locations, has added a Wine Wednesdays promotions at its Florida restaurants with $10 off any bottle ordered with dinner. Customers nationwide are invited to pick the name for a new Carrabba's ruffino and win prizes including a year's worth of dining; carrabbas.com.
SHORT ORDERS
• Organizers of the Fort Lauderdale-South Palm Beach County Share Our Strength/Taste of the Nation fundraiser report bringing in $90,000 for hunger relief at their June gala. The Miami-Dade edition is July 24 at The Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne; strengthsouthflorida.org.
• A Slavic-Russian Food Festival featuring homemade borscht, pirogi and much more is noon-2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at St. Herman's Orthodox Church, 7099 S. Military Trail, Lake Worth; 561-968-5343.
E-mail news to kmartin@MiamiHerald.com by noon Monday for consideration in next week's column.
Posted on Thu, Jul. 17, 2008
Miami Herald Staff
You've got to love a place so diverse that practically every weekend brings another national celebration dear to someone. This time it's Peruvian Independence Day, being marked Sunday at the Sonesta Bayfront Hotel, 2889 McFarlane Rd., Coconut Grove, with ``Celebra Peru.''
The buffet lunch, with seatings at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., will showcase Peruvian cuisine, cocktails, music, art and fashion. Sponsors include Mujer Magazine and Pisco Montesierpe. Cost is $59 ($25 for children) plus tax and tip, with free valet parking at the hotel. Reserve at 305-447-8256.
D. WADE'S CLOSES
Game's over for D. Wade's Sports Grill in Fort Lauderdale. The restaurant named for Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade closed over the weekend after operating for only a few months at 1451 N. Federal Hwy. (formerly Bucky's Grill). Wade's Sports Grill at Glades Road and Dixie Highway in Boca Raton closed this spring after a short stint. No word yet on whether the planned opening of another D. Wade's in North Miami Beach is still on.
EUROPA EUROPA
Fort Lauderdale's Café Europa, a Las Olas Boulevard favorite for 18 years, has closed because the expanding Riverside Hotel is taking over its space, but ''we're definitely relocating and staying on Las Olas,'' says Lisa Checo, daughter of owner Tony Cupelli. ''We want our customers to know we'll be back.'' Checo says the restaurant expects to be in a new location by the end of the year. The hotel expansion also has pushed out Shizen Japanese Cuisine.
-- ROCHELLE KOFFSWEET SPOT
Buttercream Cupcakes & Coffee, purveyor of the eponymous treats in 16 flavors including lime, latte, red velvet and chocolate chocolate, hosts a grand opening at 5 p.m. Friday at 1411 Sunset Dr., Coral Gables. Husband-and-wife owners José F. Cuellar and Kristine Graulich also serve Colombian coffee blended especially for them; 305-669-8181, buttercreamcupcakes.com.
RAISE A GLASS
• Morton's The Steakhouse, 1200 Brickell Ave., hosts a bourbon tasting from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday with such cocktails as Knob Creek Mint Julep, Baker's Washington Apple, Booker's Manhattan and Basil Hayden's Southern Citrus Smash. Cost is $45; 305-400-9990.
• Smith & Wollensky, 1 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, hosts a Lancaster Estate Wines dinner at 7 p.m. Wednesday featuring four pairings including the prize-winning Roth 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon and five courses including king salmon steak and dry-aged steak au poivre. Cost is $100 including tax, tip and a 6:30 p.m. reception; reserve at smithandwollensky.com or 305-673-2800.
CHAIN, CHAIN, CHAIN
• Buca di Beppo, a Minneapolis chain with locations in Miami Lakes and Fort Lauderdale, is celebrating its 15th anniversary through Aug. 10 with a 15 percent discount on its 15 most popular menu items and a giveaway of ''more than one million prizes with a value of $10 million,'' including a trip for four to Italy; bucadibeppo.com.
• Houston-based Carrabba's Italian Grill, with six Miami-Dade and Broward locations, has added a Wine Wednesdays promotions at its Florida restaurants with $10 off any bottle ordered with dinner. Customers nationwide are invited to pick the name for a new Carrabba's ruffino and win prizes including a year's worth of dining; carrabbas.com.
SHORT ORDERS
• Organizers of the Fort Lauderdale-South Palm Beach County Share Our Strength/Taste of the Nation fundraiser report bringing in $90,000 for hunger relief at their June gala. The Miami-Dade edition is July 24 at The Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne; strengthsouthflorida.org.
• A Slavic-Russian Food Festival featuring homemade borscht, pirogi and much more is noon-2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at St. Herman's Orthodox Church, 7099 S. Military Trail, Lake Worth; 561-968-5343.
E-mail news to kmartin@MiamiHerald.com by noon Monday for consideration in next week's column.
jueves, 17 de julio de 2008
Cafe Latino encanta en Massachusets con comida peruana
Cafe Latino adds spice to Mass MoCA
By Necee Regis
Globe Correspondent / July 16, 2008
NORTH ADAMS - The bucolic rolling hills of the Berkshires are the last place you might expect to find innovative Latin food. Quesadillas? Surely. Burritos? Possibly. But slow-roasted Peruvian chicken with black mint sauce and red onion escabeche? Hardly. Yet this and other "nuevo Latino" dishes hailing from Central, South, and Latin America, and the Caribbean, are all prepared with a contemporary twist in the Cafe Latino here.
Located on the grounds of the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, known as Mass MoCA, Cafe Latino is a good place to take a break from the rigors of art appreciation. The spacious interior has a high ceiling, warm wood beams, teal walls hung with colorful art, and a backlit bar with snazzy white chalice stools. One wall is all glass, with floor-to-ceiling windows and doors that open to the museum courtyard. Peruvian-born executive chef Omar Montoya, who trained at the Culinary Institute of America, has crafted a menu to introduce a range of foods from his own background, but he wants people to feel comfortable. "I take familiar ingredients and make them Latin and fun," says Montoya. The result is educational rather than intimidating.
Customers already know many of the dishes he makes. "I use ingredients people can recognize as an invitation to come taste what I do," says Montoya, who was head chef at Mezze Bistro in nearby Williamstown. "We show people other cuisines besides Mexican. We're not a Mexican restaurant. We take cuisines from different countries and make it our own."
On first glance, the menu does indeed offer familiar dishes, such as a watercress or grilled chicken salad. Closer inspection, however, reveals that the watercress is tossed with jicama, orange, avocado, and jalapeno; chicken salad, served on herb flatbread, includes sweet potato, corn, and pickled red onion. Crispy calamari comes with a tangy chipotle and lime mayonnaise.
One section of the menu, "para la familia," is designed for sharing. Serving two to four, these hearty dishes include the Peruvian chicken; a beef stew simmered with parsnips, potatoes, and yellow chili sauce; and grilled steak with rice, beans, and Montoya's chimichurri sauce.
Other items are offered in ample portions and easy to share. Substantial fish tacos consist of three soft corn tortillas brimming with fish, shredded cabbage, avocado, and lime crema. The quesadilla is equally sharable. Usually a Mexican dish, this quesadilla reflects the Peruvian chef's heritage and is filled with roasted eggplant, tomato, and goat cheese. His influence also shows in the red pepper escabeche, a warm, piquant red onion relish that accompanies small empanadas filled with flavorful house-made chorizo.
The menu changes with the seasons, so various entrees or fillings for the quesadillas and empanadas may change, though the overall theme remains the same. Wines are from Spain and Argentina, and featured cocktails include a Cuban mojito, Mexican margarita, Brazilian caipirinha, and the mongrel guava martini.
On the cafe's popular Sunday jazz brunch menu, you'll find eggs Benedict prepared with corn cakes, topped with hollandaise laced with chipotle peppers. Scrambled eggs come with tortillas, a soft and creamy queso blanco, salsa, and guacamole. A smoked bacon and chorizo omelet is accompanied by black bean hummus and herb french fries.
Montoya says that his yellow chili sauce is a variation of recipes from his mother and grandmother. "I'm always very nervous when my mom comes to visit me," he says. He has to keep up her culinary standards.
The chef needn't worry. His food would make any mother proud - even the ones who aren't his own.
Cafe Latino, 1111 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, 413-662-2004, mezzeinc.com/elevenrestaurant. Summer hours: lunch Monday through Saturday, dinner Tuesday through Saturday, and Sunday brunch.
By Necee Regis
Globe Correspondent / July 16, 2008
NORTH ADAMS - The bucolic rolling hills of the Berkshires are the last place you might expect to find innovative Latin food. Quesadillas? Surely. Burritos? Possibly. But slow-roasted Peruvian chicken with black mint sauce and red onion escabeche? Hardly. Yet this and other "nuevo Latino" dishes hailing from Central, South, and Latin America, and the Caribbean, are all prepared with a contemporary twist in the Cafe Latino here.
Located on the grounds of the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, known as Mass MoCA, Cafe Latino is a good place to take a break from the rigors of art appreciation. The spacious interior has a high ceiling, warm wood beams, teal walls hung with colorful art, and a backlit bar with snazzy white chalice stools. One wall is all glass, with floor-to-ceiling windows and doors that open to the museum courtyard. Peruvian-born executive chef Omar Montoya, who trained at the Culinary Institute of America, has crafted a menu to introduce a range of foods from his own background, but he wants people to feel comfortable. "I take familiar ingredients and make them Latin and fun," says Montoya. The result is educational rather than intimidating.
Customers already know many of the dishes he makes. "I use ingredients people can recognize as an invitation to come taste what I do," says Montoya, who was head chef at Mezze Bistro in nearby Williamstown. "We show people other cuisines besides Mexican. We're not a Mexican restaurant. We take cuisines from different countries and make it our own."
On first glance, the menu does indeed offer familiar dishes, such as a watercress or grilled chicken salad. Closer inspection, however, reveals that the watercress is tossed with jicama, orange, avocado, and jalapeno; chicken salad, served on herb flatbread, includes sweet potato, corn, and pickled red onion. Crispy calamari comes with a tangy chipotle and lime mayonnaise.
One section of the menu, "para la familia," is designed for sharing. Serving two to four, these hearty dishes include the Peruvian chicken; a beef stew simmered with parsnips, potatoes, and yellow chili sauce; and grilled steak with rice, beans, and Montoya's chimichurri sauce.
Other items are offered in ample portions and easy to share. Substantial fish tacos consist of three soft corn tortillas brimming with fish, shredded cabbage, avocado, and lime crema. The quesadilla is equally sharable. Usually a Mexican dish, this quesadilla reflects the Peruvian chef's heritage and is filled with roasted eggplant, tomato, and goat cheese. His influence also shows in the red pepper escabeche, a warm, piquant red onion relish that accompanies small empanadas filled with flavorful house-made chorizo.
The menu changes with the seasons, so various entrees or fillings for the quesadillas and empanadas may change, though the overall theme remains the same. Wines are from Spain and Argentina, and featured cocktails include a Cuban mojito, Mexican margarita, Brazilian caipirinha, and the mongrel guava martini.
On the cafe's popular Sunday jazz brunch menu, you'll find eggs Benedict prepared with corn cakes, topped with hollandaise laced with chipotle peppers. Scrambled eggs come with tortillas, a soft and creamy queso blanco, salsa, and guacamole. A smoked bacon and chorizo omelet is accompanied by black bean hummus and herb french fries.
Montoya says that his yellow chili sauce is a variation of recipes from his mother and grandmother. "I'm always very nervous when my mom comes to visit me," he says. He has to keep up her culinary standards.
The chef needn't worry. His food would make any mother proud - even the ones who aren't his own.
Cafe Latino, 1111 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, 413-662-2004, mezzeinc.com/elevenrestaurant. Summer hours: lunch Monday through Saturday, dinner Tuesday through Saturday, and Sunday brunch.
martes, 15 de julio de 2008
Compran Franquicia de Restaurante Peruano en EEUU
IFPG's Wholly Owned Subsidiary Restaurant Holdings Group, Inc. Acquires Interest in Inka Grill Franchise
Last update: 11:24 a.m. EDT July 14, 2008
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., July 14, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- International Food Product Group, Inc.
CEO/chairman Mr. Richard Damion today announced that the company's wholly owned subsidiary, Restaurant Holdings Group, Inc., has secured an equity position in the Inka Grill franchise concept. A successful California-based Peruvian casual dining restaurant group, Inka Grill is in the process of being franchised nationally and is collaborating with one of the nations most successful franchise consultancy firms, Francorp Inc. ( http://www.francorp.com). Francorp is one of the world's leading franchise development companies and has created over 2,000 full franchise programs; many of which have become global market leaders. Inka Grill will be one of the first Peruvian restaurant franchise concepts to be established in the USA.
Restaurant Holdings Group CEO, Mr. Richard Damion stated, "We are extremely confident that the Inka Grill concept will be a monumental success. With Francorp's commitment to franchising the restaurant nationwide, the process will begin in the Western region with emphasis on California, Nevada and Arizona. Inka Grill's strong management team has been working with Francorp to streamline procedures and simplify operations making Inka Grill an ideal candidate for replication through franchising." Damion added, "Francorp has created some of the most successful franchise concepts in the USA and has recently completed most of the necessary paperwork, operations manuals and materials required to launch Inka Grill."
Additionally, Restaurant Holdings Group has secured the exclusive marketing and distribution rights to an extensive line of Inka Grill's most popular Peruvian gourmet meals which will be sold through major retail, specialty and club stores nationwide. Damion concluded, "This is a truly unique food concept and a great investment opportunity for IFPG shareholders. We anticipate playing a major role both in the franchise and retail aspects of this exceptional business, as Peruvian food takes it rightful place as one of the world's finest emerging cuisines."
About Inka Grill
Inka Grill was founded by Ana Kishihara almost 15 years ago, and is one of the most successful Peruvian restaurant groups in Southern California. These Zagat award winning restaurants were founded on home-style cooking from the Northern Provinces of Peru where seafood, chicken, lamb, beef and potatoes are the staple.
About Restaurant Holdings Group, Inc.
A wholly owned subsidiary of International Food Products Group Inc., Restaurant Holdings Group, Inc. was formed to facilitate the development and expansion of Inka Grill, as well as other franchise opportunities.
About International Food Products Group
IFPG is a public company trading on the OTCBB with the ticker symbol "IFDG". The Corporate Offices are at 620 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660.
The company is in the process of changing its corporate name. It's corporate identity, logos, and website will be updated shortly.
Safe Harbor Disclaimer: Certain statements contained herein constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Such statements include, without limitation, statements regarding business and financing plans, business trends and future operating revenues and expenses. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by the words: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate and similar expressions, or which by their nature refer to future events. You should independently investigate and fully understand all risks before investing. These descriptions of the Company contain forward-looking statements that involve risk and uncertainties including, but not limited to, quarterly fluctuations and results, the management of growth, competition and other risks detailed in the Company's SEC filings if any. Actual results may differ materially from such information set forth herein.
SOURCE International Food Product Group, Inc.
http://www.goldenchoice.com
Last update: 11:24 a.m. EDT July 14, 2008
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., July 14, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- International Food Product Group, Inc.
CEO/chairman Mr. Richard Damion today announced that the company's wholly owned subsidiary, Restaurant Holdings Group, Inc., has secured an equity position in the Inka Grill franchise concept. A successful California-based Peruvian casual dining restaurant group, Inka Grill is in the process of being franchised nationally and is collaborating with one of the nations most successful franchise consultancy firms, Francorp Inc. ( http://www.francorp.com). Francorp is one of the world's leading franchise development companies and has created over 2,000 full franchise programs; many of which have become global market leaders. Inka Grill will be one of the first Peruvian restaurant franchise concepts to be established in the USA.
Restaurant Holdings Group CEO, Mr. Richard Damion stated, "We are extremely confident that the Inka Grill concept will be a monumental success. With Francorp's commitment to franchising the restaurant nationwide, the process will begin in the Western region with emphasis on California, Nevada and Arizona. Inka Grill's strong management team has been working with Francorp to streamline procedures and simplify operations making Inka Grill an ideal candidate for replication through franchising." Damion added, "Francorp has created some of the most successful franchise concepts in the USA and has recently completed most of the necessary paperwork, operations manuals and materials required to launch Inka Grill."
Additionally, Restaurant Holdings Group has secured the exclusive marketing and distribution rights to an extensive line of Inka Grill's most popular Peruvian gourmet meals which will be sold through major retail, specialty and club stores nationwide. Damion concluded, "This is a truly unique food concept and a great investment opportunity for IFPG shareholders. We anticipate playing a major role both in the franchise and retail aspects of this exceptional business, as Peruvian food takes it rightful place as one of the world's finest emerging cuisines."
About Inka Grill
Inka Grill was founded by Ana Kishihara almost 15 years ago, and is one of the most successful Peruvian restaurant groups in Southern California. These Zagat award winning restaurants were founded on home-style cooking from the Northern Provinces of Peru where seafood, chicken, lamb, beef and potatoes are the staple.
About Restaurant Holdings Group, Inc.
A wholly owned subsidiary of International Food Products Group Inc., Restaurant Holdings Group, Inc. was formed to facilitate the development and expansion of Inka Grill, as well as other franchise opportunities.
About International Food Products Group
IFPG is a public company trading on the OTCBB with the ticker symbol "IFDG". The Corporate Offices are at 620 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660.
The company is in the process of changing its corporate name. It's corporate identity, logos, and website will be updated shortly.
Safe Harbor Disclaimer: Certain statements contained herein constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Such statements include, without limitation, statements regarding business and financing plans, business trends and future operating revenues and expenses. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by the words: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate and similar expressions, or which by their nature refer to future events. You should independently investigate and fully understand all risks before investing. These descriptions of the Company contain forward-looking statements that involve risk and uncertainties including, but not limited to, quarterly fluctuations and results, the management of growth, competition and other risks detailed in the Company's SEC filings if any. Actual results may differ materially from such information set forth herein.
SOURCE International Food Product Group, Inc.
http://www.goldenchoice.com
domingo, 13 de julio de 2008
Exportacion de lana de alpaca aumenta 30%
Peru: Alpaca fiber exports from Arequipa grew 30 percent
In the first half of the year Alpaca fiber exports in Arequipa increased 30 percent, compared to the same period in 2007, totaling sales of 800 million dollars, the president of the Peruvian Institute of Alpaca and Camelids (IPAC), Mauricio Chirinos Chirinos, stated Tuesday.Alpaca fiber exports and Value Added products such as garments and accessories are the main items exported to Asia. The European market is another main consumer, Chirinos said.Alpaca fiber volume exports are expected to increase 12 percent by the end of the year based on the interest of Asians and Europeans in garments made with this material.“The APEC meeting carried out in Arequipa allowed other Asian and European countries to get to know Alpaca fiber, its production and processing, resulting in a demand increase”, he said.Alpaca fiber industry works with 700 Alpaca communities from Arequipa, who keep genetic improvement and training programs to obtain better and greater production.
News source: ANDINA
In the first half of the year Alpaca fiber exports in Arequipa increased 30 percent, compared to the same period in 2007, totaling sales of 800 million dollars, the president of the Peruvian Institute of Alpaca and Camelids (IPAC), Mauricio Chirinos Chirinos, stated Tuesday.Alpaca fiber exports and Value Added products such as garments and accessories are the main items exported to Asia. The European market is another main consumer, Chirinos said.Alpaca fiber volume exports are expected to increase 12 percent by the end of the year based on the interest of Asians and Europeans in garments made with this material.“The APEC meeting carried out in Arequipa allowed other Asian and European countries to get to know Alpaca fiber, its production and processing, resulting in a demand increase”, he said.Alpaca fiber industry works with 700 Alpaca communities from Arequipa, who keep genetic improvement and training programs to obtain better and greater production.
News source: ANDINA
sábado, 12 de julio de 2008
Papa Peruana incrementa seguridad alimenticia
Potatoes in Peru improving food security
AM - Saturday, 12 July , 2008 08:21:00
Reporter: Pip Courtney
BRENDAN TREMBATH: As the world reels from rising rice, wheat and corn prices, one expert recommends the humble potato be taken more seriously.A top potato scientist says the world food crisis can't be solved by rice and grains alone.The United Nations has declared 2008 to be the International Year of the Potato.Pip Courtney from the ABC TV show Landline has been in the great potato producing nation of Peru and she filed this report.(Sound of llama bells ringing)
PIP COURTNEY: High up in the Andes mountains in Peru - the home of the potato, its harvest time.Potatoes have been grown in the highlands for thousands of years, for the villagers here, here spuds are the key to survival.
VILLAGER (translated): We eat potatoes three times a day. It is the sustenance of each family.
PIP COURTNEY: Once a year the Aymara community gathers to harvest one very special potato paddock.This year it contains 1,732 varieties of potato and they're destined for the world's biggest potato gene bank which is based in Lima.The Aymara's head man told me the peasant farmers are enjoying their new role of gene conservationists.
AYMARA HEAD MAN (translated): We are really proud, and what we want is to extend the diversity to everybody and not lose the potatoes we have here.
PIP COURTNEY: Skyrocketing wheat, rice and corn prices have had a huge impact in Peru, where half the population lives below the poverty line. Ismael Benavides is Peru's agriculture minister.
ISMAEL BENAVIDES: 95 per cent of our wheat is imported so the price of bread and pasta has doubled we eat a lot of chicken and chickens are fed mostly on corn and we import 60 per cent of our corn.
PIP COURTNEY: The governments responded by running an 'eat more potatoes' campaign, even pushing for bread to be made from 15 per cent potato flour.
ISMAEL BENAVIDES: And the consumption has actually gone up. It's over 10 per cent higher than a year ago.
PIP COURTNEY: The world's top potato scientist Pamela Anderson, says Peru's woken up to potatoes potential to feed the poor, she wants more countries to do the same.
PAMELA ANDERSON: Potato has literally saved populations in the past and we are quite confident that it will continue to save populations in the future and help us address the food security issue as we go into the next generations.
PIP COUTNEY: Pamela Anderson says food security can't be delivered by rice and wheat alone.
PAMELA ANDERSON: We are a grain centric and a rice centric world there is a very high reliance on the grains and still a belief that the grains alone are going to solve the world food issue. With potatoes you produce more food nutrition with less energy in less time than any of our other staple food crops
PIP COURTNEY: Pamela Anderson says if potatoes are to play a bigger role in food security aid agencies and governments must throw more money at agricultural R and D.
PAMELA ANDERSON: We have 850 million people going to bed hungry every night and we're likely to be talking about a billion if we do not address the food security issue right now
PIP COURTNEY: She says the time has never been better to take a closer look at the food that fed the Incan armies.This is Pip Courtney reporting from Peru for Saturday AM.
http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2008/s2301948.htm
AM - Saturday, 12 July , 2008 08:21:00
Reporter: Pip Courtney
BRENDAN TREMBATH: As the world reels from rising rice, wheat and corn prices, one expert recommends the humble potato be taken more seriously.A top potato scientist says the world food crisis can't be solved by rice and grains alone.The United Nations has declared 2008 to be the International Year of the Potato.Pip Courtney from the ABC TV show Landline has been in the great potato producing nation of Peru and she filed this report.(Sound of llama bells ringing)
PIP COURTNEY: High up in the Andes mountains in Peru - the home of the potato, its harvest time.Potatoes have been grown in the highlands for thousands of years, for the villagers here, here spuds are the key to survival.
VILLAGER (translated): We eat potatoes three times a day. It is the sustenance of each family.
PIP COURTNEY: Once a year the Aymara community gathers to harvest one very special potato paddock.This year it contains 1,732 varieties of potato and they're destined for the world's biggest potato gene bank which is based in Lima.The Aymara's head man told me the peasant farmers are enjoying their new role of gene conservationists.
AYMARA HEAD MAN (translated): We are really proud, and what we want is to extend the diversity to everybody and not lose the potatoes we have here.
PIP COURTNEY: Skyrocketing wheat, rice and corn prices have had a huge impact in Peru, where half the population lives below the poverty line. Ismael Benavides is Peru's agriculture minister.
ISMAEL BENAVIDES: 95 per cent of our wheat is imported so the price of bread and pasta has doubled we eat a lot of chicken and chickens are fed mostly on corn and we import 60 per cent of our corn.
PIP COURTNEY: The governments responded by running an 'eat more potatoes' campaign, even pushing for bread to be made from 15 per cent potato flour.
ISMAEL BENAVIDES: And the consumption has actually gone up. It's over 10 per cent higher than a year ago.
PIP COURTNEY: The world's top potato scientist Pamela Anderson, says Peru's woken up to potatoes potential to feed the poor, she wants more countries to do the same.
PAMELA ANDERSON: Potato has literally saved populations in the past and we are quite confident that it will continue to save populations in the future and help us address the food security issue as we go into the next generations.
PIP COUTNEY: Pamela Anderson says food security can't be delivered by rice and wheat alone.
PAMELA ANDERSON: We are a grain centric and a rice centric world there is a very high reliance on the grains and still a belief that the grains alone are going to solve the world food issue. With potatoes you produce more food nutrition with less energy in less time than any of our other staple food crops
PIP COURTNEY: Pamela Anderson says if potatoes are to play a bigger role in food security aid agencies and governments must throw more money at agricultural R and D.
PAMELA ANDERSON: We have 850 million people going to bed hungry every night and we're likely to be talking about a billion if we do not address the food security issue right now
PIP COURTNEY: She says the time has never been better to take a closer look at the food that fed the Incan armies.This is Pip Courtney reporting from Peru for Saturday AM.
http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2008/s2301948.htm
Aventuras del Camino Inca, Cusco
LIVING THE HIGH LLIIFFEE IN PEERU
Judy and Harold Osborne may be in their 60s, but they won't be tied down
Posted By ANDREA CRUMMER, FOR THE EXPOSITOR
Posted 7 hours ago
Judy and Harold Osborne have a passion for heights. It's an obsession that has grown with age and, at 60 and 68 years old, they still can't seem to get enough. Harold, a barber-hairstylist by trade, has completed more than 800 skydives; Judy works as a flight attendant out of Pearson International Airport.
The den in their German School Road home is covered with panoramic posters of mountain ranges they've climbed together over the years: the Dolomites in Italy, Mount Washington in New Hampshire, Yosemite's Half Dome in California, and the Blue Mountains in Australia are all in the collage.
In May, Harold, Judy and their son Lee added to their collection when they travelled to Peru and spent four days trekking on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. In that short time, they covered 49 kilometres and crossed three peaks in the 4,260-metre Andes range, though they admit they weren't always leading the pack.
"We were with a young group," Harold says. "At 32, our son Lee was the third-oldest. Guess who No. 1 and 2 were?" he says with a chuckle.
But age doesn't seem to be a factor in anything the Osbornes do. Though he's a full three years past retirement, Harold still cuts hair at his salon on St. Paul Avenue in Brantford. On his day off, he rock-climbs with a friend in Milton. On weekends, he and Judy travel across Canada and the U. S., where they compete in bike races.
The notion of laying low on a vacation has never really appealed to them. "Wherever we go, we try to do something active," Judy says.
So when the opportunity to climb Machu Picchu came up in February, it didn't take long for them to take out the mandatory insurance required to visit the site and book their trip.
"It's always been on our list," says Harold. "The price was right, and we said to ourselves, 'If we don't do it now, we're never going to do it."
The Osbornes hiked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu with a group of 12 adventurers from Canada, the U. S. and England. They were accompanied by two cooks, two guides, and 17 porters who carried tents, cooking supplies, and food to each overnight stop.
The couple arrived in Lima on May 9 with son Lee and his friend, TV documentary maker Diliana Alexander. Twenty-four hours later they reached Cuzco, where they spent three days exploring ruins and enjoying the colourful religious festivals the predominantly Catholic city has to offer. On May 13, their four-day, three-night trek to Machu Picchu began.
The trail is much shorter than some of the others the Osbornes have hiked -including Ontario's own 782-kilometre Bruce Trail but its elevation makes climbing of any kind much more taxing.
"It's all about the altitude," Judy says. "I was tired just walking the steps in the hotel! I thought, 'If I can't make it to our hotel room, how am I going to climb Machu Picchu?'"
"The problem is, we live in Brantford," Harold adds. At 248 metres above sea level, compared to Machu Picchu's 2,400, training for altitude at home was a challenge.
The altitude was only one obstacle. The Osbornes battled rain on the first morning of their hike (with rain gear at home in Brantford in order to lighten their packs), and endured 5:30 a. m. start times, but they wouldn't have had it any other way.
"The hike made it all the more worthwhile," Harold says. "The satisfaction of getting over the passes is something you can't beat."
For most of the hike, Harold and Judy allowed their trail mates to go on ahead, while they brought up the rear of the group, enjoying the changes in landscape at every level they passed. Slowing their pace and stopping to take extra breaths when needed helped them make it to the top.
"I liked being at the back of the pack," says Judy. "It was nice to be able to look over my shoulder to see the view I had left behind. The scenery was phenomenal!"
The views varied from lush cloud forests to sub-tropical jungle, and the thick photo album on the Osbornes'-dining room table vouches for its beauty. Llamas and alpacas dotted the trail and seemed unmoved by the hikers' presence.
The ever-changing scenery, combined with the rich history and culture of the Incas, is what made the trek really stand out for the Osbornes.
Built in 1450, Machu Picchu ("Old Peak") is often referred to as the lost city of the Incas. The Incas were master stonemasons and constructed temples, agricultural terraces, and dwellings out of finely cut granite blocks on a mountain site 50 kilometres from Cuzco, the Inca capital. Remarkably, the entire city was built without using mortar between the blocks, and has been able to withstand several earthquakes over the years that many modern-day buildings have not.
When the Inca Empire collapsed under Spanish invasion in the 1500s,
Machu Picchu was abandoned. The
Spaniards neither found nor destroyed
it, as they did many
of the other Inca sites.
Machu Picchu was not discovered by modern cultures until 1911, when Yale University professor Hiram Bingham came across it. Seventy-two years later, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is the most visited tourist destination in Peru and one of the most important archaeological spots in South America.
While taking a train up to Machu Picchu would have been a possibility, the Osbornes opted for the full trekking experience and, despite some minor knee pain, their bodies held up well. And it's a good thing, too. Because of the steepness of the trail, it's virtually impossible to bring animals past the first stop to rescue injured or spent hikers.
"You can't just throw in the towel when you're up that high!" says Harold.
They describe their awe and appreciation for their porters, who wore simple flip-flops and carried tents, propane tanks, and food supplies for four days up the jagged, uneven stone pathways. Though they left the camp site each morning after the hikers, staying behind to pack and clean up, the porters raced on ahead and arrived in plenty of time to set up camp for the next night before the first weary travelers began to trickle in.
Harold explains the porters are usually farmers who work on the trail in order to earn extra income for their families. But because of the strain on their bodies from the heavy equipment they carry, most only perform the backbreaking labour for a few years, with the average term of a porter being in the six-year range.
A typical day on the trail for the Osbornes began at 5:30 a. m. Most days, the group hiked until lunch, took a break, and then to the next campsite where they arrived around 2:30 p. m. On the second and most challenging day of hiking, they passed the highest peak on the trek at 4,260 metres -Dead Woman's Pass -
and raight through to their campsite without breaking for lunch. When they finally arrived, they collapsed in their tents, and were rewarded in the evening with a surprisingly extensive meal prepared by the cooks.
"We had grilled trout, soup, green beans, rice and fresh fruit," says Judy. "But because your metabolism slows down with the increase in altitude, we weren't very hungry."
The fourth and final day, they began their hike an hour earlier than usual -in almost complete darkness -in order to reach Machu Picchu before sunrise and beat the tourists arriving by bus from Cuzco.
"When we got to the sun gate (the first point on the trail that lends a view of Machu Picchu) I knew we had finally made it," says Judy.
"The mountain was in exactly the right place, the sun was just coming up, it was quite remarkable," Harold says. "If you don't get there before sunrise, I think you miss a big part."
The Osbornes spent a large part of the day exploring the lost city and enjoying the fruits of their labour, n boarded a train to take them back down to Cuzco, where they arrived close to 10 p. m. local time. With an early departure to look forward to the next morning, there was little time (or energy) to celebrate their achievement.
Judy and Harold are already looking ahead to their next adventure. Judy's set on Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak, while Harold's holding out for a Tans Himalayan mountain bike race that starts at the highest point of the Mount Everest base camp in Tibet.
"Wouldn't it be cool?" he says, pleading with his wife in what appears to be an uphill battle. It's clearly their favourite kind.
. . .
Andrea Crummer, a Brantford-based freelance writer, is entering her fourth year in Laurier Brantford's journalism program.
Judy and Harold Osborne may be in their 60s, but they won't be tied down
Posted By ANDREA CRUMMER, FOR THE EXPOSITOR
Posted 7 hours ago
Judy and Harold Osborne have a passion for heights. It's an obsession that has grown with age and, at 60 and 68 years old, they still can't seem to get enough. Harold, a barber-hairstylist by trade, has completed more than 800 skydives; Judy works as a flight attendant out of Pearson International Airport.
The den in their German School Road home is covered with panoramic posters of mountain ranges they've climbed together over the years: the Dolomites in Italy, Mount Washington in New Hampshire, Yosemite's Half Dome in California, and the Blue Mountains in Australia are all in the collage.
In May, Harold, Judy and their son Lee added to their collection when they travelled to Peru and spent four days trekking on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. In that short time, they covered 49 kilometres and crossed three peaks in the 4,260-metre Andes range, though they admit they weren't always leading the pack.
"We were with a young group," Harold says. "At 32, our son Lee was the third-oldest. Guess who No. 1 and 2 were?" he says with a chuckle.
But age doesn't seem to be a factor in anything the Osbornes do. Though he's a full three years past retirement, Harold still cuts hair at his salon on St. Paul Avenue in Brantford. On his day off, he rock-climbs with a friend in Milton. On weekends, he and Judy travel across Canada and the U. S., where they compete in bike races.
The notion of laying low on a vacation has never really appealed to them. "Wherever we go, we try to do something active," Judy says.
So when the opportunity to climb Machu Picchu came up in February, it didn't take long for them to take out the mandatory insurance required to visit the site and book their trip.
"It's always been on our list," says Harold. "The price was right, and we said to ourselves, 'If we don't do it now, we're never going to do it."
The Osbornes hiked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu with a group of 12 adventurers from Canada, the U. S. and England. They were accompanied by two cooks, two guides, and 17 porters who carried tents, cooking supplies, and food to each overnight stop.
The couple arrived in Lima on May 9 with son Lee and his friend, TV documentary maker Diliana Alexander. Twenty-four hours later they reached Cuzco, where they spent three days exploring ruins and enjoying the colourful religious festivals the predominantly Catholic city has to offer. On May 13, their four-day, three-night trek to Machu Picchu began.
The trail is much shorter than some of the others the Osbornes have hiked -including Ontario's own 782-kilometre Bruce Trail but its elevation makes climbing of any kind much more taxing.
"It's all about the altitude," Judy says. "I was tired just walking the steps in the hotel! I thought, 'If I can't make it to our hotel room, how am I going to climb Machu Picchu?'"
"The problem is, we live in Brantford," Harold adds. At 248 metres above sea level, compared to Machu Picchu's 2,400, training for altitude at home was a challenge.
The altitude was only one obstacle. The Osbornes battled rain on the first morning of their hike (with rain gear at home in Brantford in order to lighten their packs), and endured 5:30 a. m. start times, but they wouldn't have had it any other way.
"The hike made it all the more worthwhile," Harold says. "The satisfaction of getting over the passes is something you can't beat."
For most of the hike, Harold and Judy allowed their trail mates to go on ahead, while they brought up the rear of the group, enjoying the changes in landscape at every level they passed. Slowing their pace and stopping to take extra breaths when needed helped them make it to the top.
"I liked being at the back of the pack," says Judy. "It was nice to be able to look over my shoulder to see the view I had left behind. The scenery was phenomenal!"
The views varied from lush cloud forests to sub-tropical jungle, and the thick photo album on the Osbornes'-dining room table vouches for its beauty. Llamas and alpacas dotted the trail and seemed unmoved by the hikers' presence.
The ever-changing scenery, combined with the rich history and culture of the Incas, is what made the trek really stand out for the Osbornes.
Built in 1450, Machu Picchu ("Old Peak") is often referred to as the lost city of the Incas. The Incas were master stonemasons and constructed temples, agricultural terraces, and dwellings out of finely cut granite blocks on a mountain site 50 kilometres from Cuzco, the Inca capital. Remarkably, the entire city was built without using mortar between the blocks, and has been able to withstand several earthquakes over the years that many modern-day buildings have not.
When the Inca Empire collapsed under Spanish invasion in the 1500s,
Machu Picchu was abandoned. The
Spaniards neither found nor destroyed
it, as they did many
of the other Inca sites.
Machu Picchu was not discovered by modern cultures until 1911, when Yale University professor Hiram Bingham came across it. Seventy-two years later, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is the most visited tourist destination in Peru and one of the most important archaeological spots in South America.
While taking a train up to Machu Picchu would have been a possibility, the Osbornes opted for the full trekking experience and, despite some minor knee pain, their bodies held up well. And it's a good thing, too. Because of the steepness of the trail, it's virtually impossible to bring animals past the first stop to rescue injured or spent hikers.
"You can't just throw in the towel when you're up that high!" says Harold.
They describe their awe and appreciation for their porters, who wore simple flip-flops and carried tents, propane tanks, and food supplies for four days up the jagged, uneven stone pathways. Though they left the camp site each morning after the hikers, staying behind to pack and clean up, the porters raced on ahead and arrived in plenty of time to set up camp for the next night before the first weary travelers began to trickle in.
Harold explains the porters are usually farmers who work on the trail in order to earn extra income for their families. But because of the strain on their bodies from the heavy equipment they carry, most only perform the backbreaking labour for a few years, with the average term of a porter being in the six-year range.
A typical day on the trail for the Osbornes began at 5:30 a. m. Most days, the group hiked until lunch, took a break, and then to the next campsite where they arrived around 2:30 p. m. On the second and most challenging day of hiking, they passed the highest peak on the trek at 4,260 metres -Dead Woman's Pass -
and raight through to their campsite without breaking for lunch. When they finally arrived, they collapsed in their tents, and were rewarded in the evening with a surprisingly extensive meal prepared by the cooks.
"We had grilled trout, soup, green beans, rice and fresh fruit," says Judy. "But because your metabolism slows down with the increase in altitude, we weren't very hungry."
The fourth and final day, they began their hike an hour earlier than usual -in almost complete darkness -in order to reach Machu Picchu before sunrise and beat the tourists arriving by bus from Cuzco.
"When we got to the sun gate (the first point on the trail that lends a view of Machu Picchu) I knew we had finally made it," says Judy.
"The mountain was in exactly the right place, the sun was just coming up, it was quite remarkable," Harold says. "If you don't get there before sunrise, I think you miss a big part."
The Osbornes spent a large part of the day exploring the lost city and enjoying the fruits of their labour, n boarded a train to take them back down to Cuzco, where they arrived close to 10 p. m. local time. With an early departure to look forward to the next morning, there was little time (or energy) to celebrate their achievement.
Judy and Harold are already looking ahead to their next adventure. Judy's set on Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak, while Harold's holding out for a Tans Himalayan mountain bike race that starts at the highest point of the Mount Everest base camp in Tibet.
"Wouldn't it be cool?" he says, pleading with his wife in what appears to be an uphill battle. It's clearly their favourite kind.
. . .
Andrea Crummer, a Brantford-based freelance writer, is entering her fourth year in Laurier Brantford's journalism program.
Peru: Del desierto a la Amazonia
Explorer The Other Peru
Out of the Desert and Into the Rain Forest
By GREGORY DICUM
Published: July 13, 2008
THIS is not how one thinks of Peru. I opened my eyes without moving on the soft desert floor. A perfect orange sun was rising over a distant ridge, its undulations mirroring the mound where I had rolled out my sleeping bag the night before. My ears hummed in the silence. All around me, in dawn-lighted tans, whites and stripes of purple and orange, wind-sculptured forms extended in the limpid desert air. I saw no people; no signs of life at all.
All of Peru’s coast is arid, but south of Lima it becomes profound. It is one of the driest places on earth, the desolation is broken here and there by verdant valleys where streams venture seaward from the distant Andes.
Almost half all visits by foreigners to Peru include a stop at Machu Picchu, and with good reason — the ancient Inca site is spectacular. Yet the country is far more than a one-hit wonder. The geography that gave rise to numerous ancient civilizations — dry coast, a backbone of high mountains and tropical rain forest in the east — endows the country with unparalleled natural areas.
And many are accessible, easy to add to an Inca heartland trip. In February, I visited two of Peru’s extremes — the desert and the rain forest. (The third extreme — the snow-capped high Andes — I left for another visit.)
My desert guide was Roberto Penny Cabrera. A former Peruvian marine officer and a mining engineer, Mr. Cabrera cuts a dashing figure in tan fatigues with a long knife strapped to his waist. “You like my knife?” he asked when we met in the lovely, dune-rimmed oasis of Huacachina. “Wait until you see my truck.”
Before long we were roaring out into the desert in said truck — a Mad Max pickup in olive drab, crammed with provisions: two spare tires, extra diesel and lots of water (including for a shower that protrudes from the vehicle’s side). Once we were off the paved road, it was hard driving, bouncing in the heat beneath stark hills. In February, the noon sun bears down from directly overhead, erasing any possibility of relief. Most signs of life are just as much signs of death: old burial grounds, ancient mummies and the bleached bones of what Mr. Cabrera said were failed adventurers.
Indeed, the most abundant creatures in the Ica Desert died millions of years ago: the area was once a shallow coastal shelf, and eons of wind have revealed rich fossils. Shark teeth lie in gravel-strewn gullies, or sticking straight out of sand-smoothed walls. These especially are Mr. Cabrera’s driving passion, and a sort of fever grips him when he finds a good hunting ground.
Fossils are consumed by the wind as well. But in a few places — known only to those who, like Mr. Cabrera, can read the landscape — complete whale skeletons lie undisturbed on the desert floor. They rest slumped but whole, tragic marine forms where the very idea of swimming seems absurd.
Some are so well preserved they include fossilized skin and even baleen. One whale skull had been opened by the wind to reveal the opalized remains of the animal’s brain, glowing in the sun as a reminder that all we animate today is borrowed from mute stone.
The Peruvian desert is among the best fossil-hunting grounds in the world, yet it has received little protection. Most of the land is leased as mineral concessions, and the city of Ica does not have a single museum dedicated to the fossils. Unregulated fossil hunters operate with impunity.
“They are rapers!” bellowed Mr. Cabrera when we came across a fossil dig of dubious authority. “Fossils belong to the ground!” As we poked around the area, I found the stupendous remains of a long-toothed dolphin and felt some of Mr. Cabrera’s fever.
The desert rewards those willing to put up with some hardship. The second time the radiator blew, the mercurial Mr. Cabrera fell into a funk, and I found myself sitting by the campfire, seriously evaluating whether I would survive a nighttime escape attempt.
My fidelity was rewarded with an early-morning walk looking for shark teeth with Mr. Cabrera. We found them before long: white ones, yellow ones and brown ones, imbued over millions of years with the color of the sediment that held them.
It was like beachcombing the ages: there is a stingray spine, and here a lobster shell. This is a bone from a seabird, and that a sea urchin and some petrified wood. And then, in a wind-scoured gulley, Mr. Cabrera spotted an unmistakable glint: a five-inch tooth from a megalodon — the extinct whale-eating giant shark. He did a dance, kicking up soft dust that hung in the warming air and stopping only to show me his forearm speckled with goose bumps. “Perfect things like this are a message from Pachamama,” he said, referring to the ancient Andean earth goddess..
That night I slept on the desert floor next to the exposed 12-million-year-old remains of a whale, its pearly ribs by my head. I gazed up at the outrageous southern stars—the Milky Way so vivid it no longer seemed an unlikely home for such creatures.
A few days later, it was all obscured by riotous life. I was in the rain forest, at Posada Amazonas, a lodge along the Tambopata River in the Peruvian Amazon. Water, the handmaiden to life, was everywhere: in the chai-colored river, in the humid air and dripping from leaves onto muddy trails. Intricate and fantastical diversity — immense trees to tiny, perfect insects — was all around us.
The Peruvian region of Madre de Dios is undergoing an eco-tourism boom. More than 70 jungle lodges cater to visitors eager for an easy visit to the pristine Amazon. The protected areas there include Manu, a vast park that falls down the eastern slope of the Andes into primordial rain forest, and Tambopata, which together with an adjacent area in Bolivia, is larger than Connecticut and comprises the biggest chunk of protected forest in the Amazon basin.
The second order of business upon arriving at Posada Amazonas, after being issued rubber boots, is a short walk down a forest trail to the lodge’s canopy platform. The 120-foot climb brought our small group of visitors to the light, fragrant air of rain forest treetops. We looked over a sea of trees cataloging the entire range of green shapes: tufts, sprays, bursts, blazes, cascades and starbursts. It seemed an aerial coral reef as multitudinous birds (a toucan, a blue-headed macaw, a guan) sought roosts in huge crowns, some aflame with blossoms, others bearing heavy pods of Brazil nuts.
The river bent far below, and the foothills of the Andes floated on the horizon. The sunset cut a tracery of branches in the still, spiced air, exciting a billion cicadas.
The lodge itself is spacious and comfortable. High thatch roofs shelter big, airy dining and sitting areas. Rooms, connected by elevated wooden boardwalks, provide unexpected comfort — mosquito nets, showers and flush toilets — without separating guests unduly from the rain forest; one side of each room is open directly into the unrelenting greenery.
At Posada Amazonas, each party of visitors is assigned a guide. Rodolfo Pecha, our guide, is a member of the Ese’eja indigenous group from the community of Infierno, which owns the pristine forest around the lodge. In a partnership, Rainforest Expeditions, the company that operates the lodge, is leasing the land for 20 years while training community members to take over its operation.
To Mr. Pecha, the forest din is an intelligible language. Often, he would stop us on the trail, picking out a few notes from the sibilant cacophony of chirps, barks, honks, buzzes and hoots. Then he’d answer. “That’s an antbird,” he’d say between rising whistles. “They’re really beautiful.” He’d creep off into the dense underbrush, binoculars at the ready, trailing considerably less graceful visitors through the vines.
On our second day, we awoke before dawn to the alarmingly throaty din of howler monkeys. After a quick breakfast of strong Peruvian coffee and fresh fruit, we made our way by river and squelching, muddy forest trail to an oxbow lake — a curving stretch of perfectly flat water cut off when the Tambopata meandered elsewhere.
We floated out on a silent pontoon boat, emerging into dawn light. Cascades of pink trumpet flowers dripped into the syrupy brown stillness. All around us, life was under way: dozens of birds, from waterfowl like tropical cormorants and kingfishers, a fine-feathered tiger heron and a gangly osprey, to beasts like the hoatzin. Turkey-like things as imagined by Dr. Seuss, hoatzins cruised the shrubbery along the water’s edge, eating leaves and grunting contentedly.
A riotous flock of parakeets passed overhead, heralding a trio of giant river otters that furrowed the lake in their hunt for breakfast. Easily the size of tall, skinny people, the otters are skittish and severely endangered, yet they seemed comfortably at home, gliding playfully and coming close enough for us to see their sharp teeth and button noses.
Our boat that morning had a jolly crew of nature lovers: a pair of American birders, a Hungarian couple and a Brazilian couple. They were the sort of people who don’t mind a little sun and a few mosquitoes if it means glimpsing a troupe of dusky titi monkeys. One morning on the trail, I came across the Brazilian couple gamely eating live termites at the suggestion of their guide. “Spicy,” they said, offering me one.
At the edge of the river Gyorgy Valyi, one of the Hungarians, sank up to his thighs in quicksand and surely would have been reclaimed by the preposterous Amazonian hazard had not a handful of guides rushed to the rescue. Even as he was sinking, Mr. Valyi had a grin of delighted disbelief, as though finding himself in a Tintin adventure.
Later that night, as I lay in bed, I too felt as though I were sinking into the living forest. The wafting perfumes and strange growls melded into a baroque stereoscopic vision — dreams of the hidden landscape underlying life itself.
IF YOU GO
GETTING THERE
Round-trip flights between Lima and Kennedy Airport in New York start at about $600 for travel in September. American and LAN Peru have direct service. From Lima, a bus to the city of Ica is about $20. Round-trip flights between Lima and Puerto Maldonado in the Amazon start at $210 on Lan Peru.
GETTING AROUND
The latest “Moon Handbook to Peru” (Avalon Travel, 2007; www.moon.com) is useful in planning a trip that includes classic sites like Machu Picchu as well as excursions way off the beaten track. Outfitters and tour organizers routinely cite prices in United States currency.
The desert adventurer Roberto Penny Cabrera can be reached at icadeserttrip@yahoo.es or by telephone at (51-56) 956-624-868. His Web site is www.icadeserttrip.com. Two-day trips start at $300 for one or two people.
WHERE TO STAY
Information on Posada Amazonas, the eco-lodge in Madre de Dios, is available from the United States at (877) 870-0578 or at www.perunature.com/pages/pa_about1.htm. Three-day two-night programs start at $295 a person for double occupancy.
Out of the Desert and Into the Rain Forest
By GREGORY DICUM
Published: July 13, 2008
THIS is not how one thinks of Peru. I opened my eyes without moving on the soft desert floor. A perfect orange sun was rising over a distant ridge, its undulations mirroring the mound where I had rolled out my sleeping bag the night before. My ears hummed in the silence. All around me, in dawn-lighted tans, whites and stripes of purple and orange, wind-sculptured forms extended in the limpid desert air. I saw no people; no signs of life at all.
All of Peru’s coast is arid, but south of Lima it becomes profound. It is one of the driest places on earth, the desolation is broken here and there by verdant valleys where streams venture seaward from the distant Andes.
Almost half all visits by foreigners to Peru include a stop at Machu Picchu, and with good reason — the ancient Inca site is spectacular. Yet the country is far more than a one-hit wonder. The geography that gave rise to numerous ancient civilizations — dry coast, a backbone of high mountains and tropical rain forest in the east — endows the country with unparalleled natural areas.
And many are accessible, easy to add to an Inca heartland trip. In February, I visited two of Peru’s extremes — the desert and the rain forest. (The third extreme — the snow-capped high Andes — I left for another visit.)
My desert guide was Roberto Penny Cabrera. A former Peruvian marine officer and a mining engineer, Mr. Cabrera cuts a dashing figure in tan fatigues with a long knife strapped to his waist. “You like my knife?” he asked when we met in the lovely, dune-rimmed oasis of Huacachina. “Wait until you see my truck.”
Before long we were roaring out into the desert in said truck — a Mad Max pickup in olive drab, crammed with provisions: two spare tires, extra diesel and lots of water (including for a shower that protrudes from the vehicle’s side). Once we were off the paved road, it was hard driving, bouncing in the heat beneath stark hills. In February, the noon sun bears down from directly overhead, erasing any possibility of relief. Most signs of life are just as much signs of death: old burial grounds, ancient mummies and the bleached bones of what Mr. Cabrera said were failed adventurers.
Indeed, the most abundant creatures in the Ica Desert died millions of years ago: the area was once a shallow coastal shelf, and eons of wind have revealed rich fossils. Shark teeth lie in gravel-strewn gullies, or sticking straight out of sand-smoothed walls. These especially are Mr. Cabrera’s driving passion, and a sort of fever grips him when he finds a good hunting ground.
Fossils are consumed by the wind as well. But in a few places — known only to those who, like Mr. Cabrera, can read the landscape — complete whale skeletons lie undisturbed on the desert floor. They rest slumped but whole, tragic marine forms where the very idea of swimming seems absurd.
Some are so well preserved they include fossilized skin and even baleen. One whale skull had been opened by the wind to reveal the opalized remains of the animal’s brain, glowing in the sun as a reminder that all we animate today is borrowed from mute stone.
The Peruvian desert is among the best fossil-hunting grounds in the world, yet it has received little protection. Most of the land is leased as mineral concessions, and the city of Ica does not have a single museum dedicated to the fossils. Unregulated fossil hunters operate with impunity.
“They are rapers!” bellowed Mr. Cabrera when we came across a fossil dig of dubious authority. “Fossils belong to the ground!” As we poked around the area, I found the stupendous remains of a long-toothed dolphin and felt some of Mr. Cabrera’s fever.
The desert rewards those willing to put up with some hardship. The second time the radiator blew, the mercurial Mr. Cabrera fell into a funk, and I found myself sitting by the campfire, seriously evaluating whether I would survive a nighttime escape attempt.
My fidelity was rewarded with an early-morning walk looking for shark teeth with Mr. Cabrera. We found them before long: white ones, yellow ones and brown ones, imbued over millions of years with the color of the sediment that held them.
It was like beachcombing the ages: there is a stingray spine, and here a lobster shell. This is a bone from a seabird, and that a sea urchin and some petrified wood. And then, in a wind-scoured gulley, Mr. Cabrera spotted an unmistakable glint: a five-inch tooth from a megalodon — the extinct whale-eating giant shark. He did a dance, kicking up soft dust that hung in the warming air and stopping only to show me his forearm speckled with goose bumps. “Perfect things like this are a message from Pachamama,” he said, referring to the ancient Andean earth goddess..
That night I slept on the desert floor next to the exposed 12-million-year-old remains of a whale, its pearly ribs by my head. I gazed up at the outrageous southern stars—the Milky Way so vivid it no longer seemed an unlikely home for such creatures.
A few days later, it was all obscured by riotous life. I was in the rain forest, at Posada Amazonas, a lodge along the Tambopata River in the Peruvian Amazon. Water, the handmaiden to life, was everywhere: in the chai-colored river, in the humid air and dripping from leaves onto muddy trails. Intricate and fantastical diversity — immense trees to tiny, perfect insects — was all around us.
The Peruvian region of Madre de Dios is undergoing an eco-tourism boom. More than 70 jungle lodges cater to visitors eager for an easy visit to the pristine Amazon. The protected areas there include Manu, a vast park that falls down the eastern slope of the Andes into primordial rain forest, and Tambopata, which together with an adjacent area in Bolivia, is larger than Connecticut and comprises the biggest chunk of protected forest in the Amazon basin.
The second order of business upon arriving at Posada Amazonas, after being issued rubber boots, is a short walk down a forest trail to the lodge’s canopy platform. The 120-foot climb brought our small group of visitors to the light, fragrant air of rain forest treetops. We looked over a sea of trees cataloging the entire range of green shapes: tufts, sprays, bursts, blazes, cascades and starbursts. It seemed an aerial coral reef as multitudinous birds (a toucan, a blue-headed macaw, a guan) sought roosts in huge crowns, some aflame with blossoms, others bearing heavy pods of Brazil nuts.
The river bent far below, and the foothills of the Andes floated on the horizon. The sunset cut a tracery of branches in the still, spiced air, exciting a billion cicadas.
The lodge itself is spacious and comfortable. High thatch roofs shelter big, airy dining and sitting areas. Rooms, connected by elevated wooden boardwalks, provide unexpected comfort — mosquito nets, showers and flush toilets — without separating guests unduly from the rain forest; one side of each room is open directly into the unrelenting greenery.
At Posada Amazonas, each party of visitors is assigned a guide. Rodolfo Pecha, our guide, is a member of the Ese’eja indigenous group from the community of Infierno, which owns the pristine forest around the lodge. In a partnership, Rainforest Expeditions, the company that operates the lodge, is leasing the land for 20 years while training community members to take over its operation.
To Mr. Pecha, the forest din is an intelligible language. Often, he would stop us on the trail, picking out a few notes from the sibilant cacophony of chirps, barks, honks, buzzes and hoots. Then he’d answer. “That’s an antbird,” he’d say between rising whistles. “They’re really beautiful.” He’d creep off into the dense underbrush, binoculars at the ready, trailing considerably less graceful visitors through the vines.
On our second day, we awoke before dawn to the alarmingly throaty din of howler monkeys. After a quick breakfast of strong Peruvian coffee and fresh fruit, we made our way by river and squelching, muddy forest trail to an oxbow lake — a curving stretch of perfectly flat water cut off when the Tambopata meandered elsewhere.
We floated out on a silent pontoon boat, emerging into dawn light. Cascades of pink trumpet flowers dripped into the syrupy brown stillness. All around us, life was under way: dozens of birds, from waterfowl like tropical cormorants and kingfishers, a fine-feathered tiger heron and a gangly osprey, to beasts like the hoatzin. Turkey-like things as imagined by Dr. Seuss, hoatzins cruised the shrubbery along the water’s edge, eating leaves and grunting contentedly.
A riotous flock of parakeets passed overhead, heralding a trio of giant river otters that furrowed the lake in their hunt for breakfast. Easily the size of tall, skinny people, the otters are skittish and severely endangered, yet they seemed comfortably at home, gliding playfully and coming close enough for us to see their sharp teeth and button noses.
Our boat that morning had a jolly crew of nature lovers: a pair of American birders, a Hungarian couple and a Brazilian couple. They were the sort of people who don’t mind a little sun and a few mosquitoes if it means glimpsing a troupe of dusky titi monkeys. One morning on the trail, I came across the Brazilian couple gamely eating live termites at the suggestion of their guide. “Spicy,” they said, offering me one.
At the edge of the river Gyorgy Valyi, one of the Hungarians, sank up to his thighs in quicksand and surely would have been reclaimed by the preposterous Amazonian hazard had not a handful of guides rushed to the rescue. Even as he was sinking, Mr. Valyi had a grin of delighted disbelief, as though finding himself in a Tintin adventure.
Later that night, as I lay in bed, I too felt as though I were sinking into the living forest. The wafting perfumes and strange growls melded into a baroque stereoscopic vision — dreams of the hidden landscape underlying life itself.
IF YOU GO
GETTING THERE
Round-trip flights between Lima and Kennedy Airport in New York start at about $600 for travel in September. American and LAN Peru have direct service. From Lima, a bus to the city of Ica is about $20. Round-trip flights between Lima and Puerto Maldonado in the Amazon start at $210 on Lan Peru.
GETTING AROUND
The latest “Moon Handbook to Peru” (Avalon Travel, 2007; www.moon.com) is useful in planning a trip that includes classic sites like Machu Picchu as well as excursions way off the beaten track. Outfitters and tour organizers routinely cite prices in United States currency.
The desert adventurer Roberto Penny Cabrera can be reached at icadeserttrip@yahoo.es or by telephone at (51-56) 956-624-868. His Web site is www.icadeserttrip.com. Two-day trips start at $300 for one or two people.
WHERE TO STAY
Information on Posada Amazonas, the eco-lodge in Madre de Dios, is available from the United States at (877) 870-0578 or at www.perunature.com/pages/pa_about1.htm. Three-day two-night programs start at $295 a person for double occupancy.
viernes, 11 de julio de 2008
Restaurante Peruano encanta en New York
El Sol, a delight within a history
BY URSULA GONZALES
Wednesday, July 9, 2008 4:40 PM EDT
If you have ever eaten at a Peruvian restaurant, you know first hand how good the food tastes. Nevertheless, imagine how much better the food could taste if the ambience were as delightful as the house specialties.El Sol, located in Jackson Heights, brings the rich history and traditions of Peru to each dish on its menu.“El Sol,” which means, ‘the sun,’ was thought to be the adored God of the Inca Empire according to Peruvian legend. A small and rectangular golden monument to the sun greets customers at the entrance of the restaurant. It lends a dawn-like atmosphere to the room. At the back of the room there are two carved stones adorned with images from Peru. In front of these works, and on the front of the bar are the “L’neas de Nazca” (Nazca lines), composed by several zoomorphic figures and geometric designs drawn in the hills of Ica which can only be seen from above, to the south of the Peruvian capital of Lima.And to top it all, bottles of the sought-after Peruvian beer Pilsen, next to a splendid picture of one of the streets of the imperial city of Cuzco, complete the backdrop for your dinner.
With a great variety of seafood and delights from the grill, maintaining a diet will be extremely hard. Begin your lunch or dinner, with the classic drink Pisco Sour. In fact, a Pisco Sour made from liquor distilled from grapes, (grown in Peru), clear lemon juice, an egg and cracked ice, is a refreshing and ideal delight for this hot season.We had as appetizers, the stuffed “Palta rellena” - avocado filled with shrimps - and a “Papa a la huanca’na” - potato with huancaina sauce - two succulent delights. We followed this exquisite magic of our first course with Sudado de Mariscos - poached, seasoned seafood - an explosion of incomparable flavor.Another main course we had was the “Seco de cabrito” - which is goat with frijoles or yucca.If you want dessert, you can try the ice cream of l�cuma (or ‘lucmo,’ a subtropical fruit of Andean origin), which will finish conquering you completely.
Anything else?
El Sol87-07 Northern BoulevardJackson Heights, NY 11369Telephone: (718) 446-1149
Hours: Mon. through Thurs. 12p.m. to 11p.m., Friday 12p.m. to 12a.m.
Saturday 10a.m. to 12p.m.S
unday 10a.m. to 11p.m.
Credit cards: All major credit cards accepted
Reservations only from Monday through Thursday
Walk-ins are welcome
Parking: some valet parking on site
No delivery
Full bar and wine listSpanish music
BY URSULA GONZALES
Wednesday, July 9, 2008 4:40 PM EDT
If you have ever eaten at a Peruvian restaurant, you know first hand how good the food tastes. Nevertheless, imagine how much better the food could taste if the ambience were as delightful as the house specialties.El Sol, located in Jackson Heights, brings the rich history and traditions of Peru to each dish on its menu.“El Sol,” which means, ‘the sun,’ was thought to be the adored God of the Inca Empire according to Peruvian legend. A small and rectangular golden monument to the sun greets customers at the entrance of the restaurant. It lends a dawn-like atmosphere to the room. At the back of the room there are two carved stones adorned with images from Peru. In front of these works, and on the front of the bar are the “L’neas de Nazca” (Nazca lines), composed by several zoomorphic figures and geometric designs drawn in the hills of Ica which can only be seen from above, to the south of the Peruvian capital of Lima.And to top it all, bottles of the sought-after Peruvian beer Pilsen, next to a splendid picture of one of the streets of the imperial city of Cuzco, complete the backdrop for your dinner.
With a great variety of seafood and delights from the grill, maintaining a diet will be extremely hard. Begin your lunch or dinner, with the classic drink Pisco Sour. In fact, a Pisco Sour made from liquor distilled from grapes, (grown in Peru), clear lemon juice, an egg and cracked ice, is a refreshing and ideal delight for this hot season.We had as appetizers, the stuffed “Palta rellena” - avocado filled with shrimps - and a “Papa a la huanca’na” - potato with huancaina sauce - two succulent delights. We followed this exquisite magic of our first course with Sudado de Mariscos - poached, seasoned seafood - an explosion of incomparable flavor.Another main course we had was the “Seco de cabrito” - which is goat with frijoles or yucca.If you want dessert, you can try the ice cream of l�cuma (or ‘lucmo,’ a subtropical fruit of Andean origin), which will finish conquering you completely.
Anything else?
El Sol87-07 Northern BoulevardJackson Heights, NY 11369Telephone: (718) 446-1149
Hours: Mon. through Thurs. 12p.m. to 11p.m., Friday 12p.m. to 12a.m.
Saturday 10a.m. to 12p.m.S
unday 10a.m. to 11p.m.
Credit cards: All major credit cards accepted
Reservations only from Monday through Thursday
Walk-ins are welcome
Parking: some valet parking on site
No delivery
Full bar and wine listSpanish music
jueves, 10 de julio de 2008
Maravillas del Mundo: Machu Picchu es una de ellas
Magnificent masterpieces
Over the years there have been many lists of the Seven Wonders of the World.
Aparajita Bhattacharya looks at the three most acknowledged ones
It’s been just one year since that glittering ceremony in Lisbon in which the New Seven Wonders Foundation announced which manmade masterpieces had finally made it to the list of the New Seven Wonders of the world. Remember the pride you felt at the fact that your vote had helped put our very own Taj Mahal on the list? Over the years, there have been many lists of the Seven Wonders of the World. Let’s look at the three most widely acknowledged ones. The original list of the Seven Wonders were:
1. Hanging Gardens of Babylon
2. Temple of Artemis (or Diana) at Ephesus
3. Statue of Zeus at Olympia
4. Pyramid of Giza
5. Mausoleum of Mausolus
6. Pharos Lighthouse of Alexandria
7. Colossus of Rhodes
All of these are now in ruins, except for the Pyramid of Giza. Subsequently, Seven Wonders of the Medieval World were identified as:
1. Pyramid of Giza
2. Great Wall of China
3. Stonehenge
4. Taj Mahal
5. Colosseum of Rome
6. Leaning Tower of Pisa
7. Porcelain Tower of Nanjing
In some lists, the Porcelain Tower of Nanjing is substituted by a wide range of alternatives like the Hagia Sophia (Turkey), statues of Easter Island (Chile), the Eiffel Tower, Sydney Opera House, and the Statue of Liberty.
In 2001 an initiative was started to choose the New Seven Wonders of the World from a selection of 200 existing monuments for profit and 21 finalists were announced on 1 January 2006. Egypt was not happy that the only original wonder would have to compete with the likes of the Statue of Liberty, Sydney Opera House, and other landmarks. To solve this, Giza was named an honourary candidate. The New Seven Wonders of the World include:
1. Great Wall of China
2. Colosseum of Rome
3. Taj Mahal
4. Machu Picchu (Peru)
5. Statue of Christ the Redeemer (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
6. Petra (Jordan)
7. Chichen Itza (Mexico)
Now let’s take a closer look at all the Seven Wonders through the ages.
Hanging Gardens of Babylon:
Built between 605-562 BC. The story goes that the then ruler of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar II, married Amytis of Media, who felt alienated in her new surroundings. To please her, Nebuchadnezzar had the gardens of her homeland recreated in Babylon. The gardens were built on several levels reaching 22 metres in height, complete with machinery for circulating water. An earthquake destroyed the gardens sometime after the first century BC.Temple of Artemis, Ephesus: Built in the sixth century BC, it took about 120 years to be completed. It was dedicated to the Greek goddess of the moon, Artemis, also known as Diana. The temple was destroyed on 21 July 356 BC in a fire started by Herostratus. Apparently, his motivation was to achieve lasting fame at any cost (hence the phrase ‘herostratic fame’). It is said that Artemis was so busy with the delivery of Alexander the Great - who was born that night that she couldn’t save her burning temple. Alexander later offered to pay for the temple’s rebuilding, but the Ephesians refused. The temple was restored after Alexander’s death in 323 BC only to be destroyed again around the fifth century AD by a violent mob.
Statue of Zeus, Olympia (Greece):
Built around 432-435 BC by the sculptor Phidias. Twelve metres in height, the statue occupied the whole width of the aisle of the temple built to house it. The statue was destroyed by a fire or an earthquake sometime around the sixth century AD.
Pyramid of Giza:
It is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza Necropolis bordering what is now Cairo. The pyramid was built as a tomb for the Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu and constructed over a period of 20 years concluding around 2560 BC. It is the only surviving member of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. When the New Seven Wonders Foundation began their project in 2001, the Great Pyramid of Giza was made an honourary member in the list of the New Seven Wonders of the World, outside the purview of voting.
Mausoleum of Mausolus:
Built between 353 and 350 BC at Halicarnassus (Turkey) for Mausolus, a satrap (noble) in the Persian empire and his wife, the structure was designed by Greek architects Satyrus and Pythius. It stood about 45 metres tall with each of the four sides adorned with sculptural reliefs. (The word mausoleum has since come to be used to refer to any grand tomb.) It was initially damaged by an earthquake and was eventually destroyed by European Crusaders in the fifteenth century AD.Pharos Lighthouse, Alexandria Constructed around 270 BC. With a height of 115-135 metres, it was easily one of the tallest manmade structures for many centuries. Built from large blocks of light-coloured stone, the lighthouse was made up of three stages: a lower square section with a central core, a middle octagonal section, and a circular top section. At the apex was positioned a mirror which reflected sunlight during the day, while a fire was lit at night. The lighthouse was destroyed by two earthquakes in 1303 AD and 1323 AD.
Colossus of Rhodes:
“Why man, he doth bestride the narrow world/ Like a Colossus, and we petty men/ Walk under his huge legs and peep about/ To find ourselves dishonourable graves.” Those are lines from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Act I, Scene II, if we remember correctly — lines that clearly allude to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The Colossus was a giant statue of the Greek god Helios, standing over 35 metres high. It was built around 280 BC near the island of Rhodes. The statue was damaged by an earthquake in 226BC, when it snapped at the knees and fell over. Even so, the ruins were so impressive that people travelled to see them until the scrap was finally removed in 654 AD.
Great Wall of China:
It is nothing but a series of stone and earthen fortifications in China, built, rebuilt and maintained between the 6th century BC and the 16th century AD to protect the northern borders of the Chinese empire from attacks by foreign invaders during the rule of successive dynasties. The Great Wall stretches over approximately 6400 km from Shanhaiguan in the east to Lop Nur in the west. Several years back, it was claimed that the Great Wall of China could be seen from the moon, that was subsequently proved to be false.Stonehenge: It is a prehistoric monument located in Wiltshire, England, and composed of earthwork surrounding a circular setting of large standing stones. Archaeologists believe that the standing stones were erected sometime around 2200 BC, while the surrounding earthwork date back to the 4th century BC. The site and its surroundings were added to the Unesco’s list of World Heritage Sites in 1986.
Taj Mahal, Agra:
We’re well aware of the history of the Taj Mahal. Built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the seventeenth century AD in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj Mahal is seen as an epitome of love. It took 22-23 years to complete the Taj Mahal; the monument was designed, executed and completed under the guidance of the architect Ustad Isa. The mausoleum is made of pure white marble, but in recent years, the pollution in the city of Agra has affected it, corroding the marble and leaving it yellowish in colour. Following a Supreme Court order, steps are being taken to protect the environment around it.
Colosseum, Rome:
Originally known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, it is an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome. Its construction started between 70-72 AD under the Roman emperor Vespasian, and was completed in 80 AD under the emperor Titus. Originally capable of seating around 50,000 people, the amphitheatre was used for gladiatorial contests and other public spectacles like mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles and dramas based on Classical mythology. The Colosseum remained in use for nearly five centuries, ceasing to be used for entertainment in the early medieval era. It was later reused for other purposes such as housing, workshops, quarters for a religious order, etc. Presently, the Colosseum is in a ruined condition due to damage caused by earthquakes and stone-robbers, but is still one of the most popular tourist attractions in Rome.
Leaning Tower of Pisa:
It is actually the freestanding bell tower of the cathedral of Pisa. Although intended to stand vertically, the tower began leaning to the southeast soon after the onset of construction in 1173 due to a poorly laid foundation and loose substrate that has allowed the foundation to shift direction. The tower was constructed in three stages over a period of 177 years. Construction of the first floor of the tower began in August 1173. The tower began to sink after construction progressed to the third floor in 1178. The foundation was just three metres deep, and set in weak, unstable subsoil. Construction was halted for almost a century as Pisa remained involved in continual battles with Genoa, Lucca and Florence; this allowed the underlying soil to settle, thus preventing the tower from toppling over. In 1272, construction resumed under the architect Giovanni di Simone. In an effort to compensate for the tilt of the tower, engineers built higher floors with one side taller than the other; this caused the tower to start leaning in the other direction. Construction was halted again in 1284, when Genoa defeated Pisa. The seventh floor was finally completed in 1319, while the bell-chamber (built in the Gothic style as opposed to the Romanesque style of the rest of the tower) was added in 1372. In 1934, Mussolini ordered that the tower be returned to a vertical position, and so concrete was poured into the foundation. However, the result was that the tower sank further into the soil and presently leans to the southwest.The other wondersThe Porcelain Tower of Nanjing: Considered one of the Seven Wonders by some, it was built in the early fifteenth century AD by the Chinese emperor Yongle. It was built of white porcelain bricks that were said to reflect the sun’s rays during the day, while at night, as many as 140 lamps used to be hung from the tower to illuminate it. Glazes and stoneware were worked into the porcelain and created a mixture of green, yellow, brown and white designs on the sides of the tower, including animals, flowers and landscapes. When it was built, the tower was one of the tallest buildings in China, rising up to a height of 260 feet with nine storeys and a staircase in the middle of the pagoda, which spiralled upwards for 130 steps.Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, . This is also considered to be one of the Seven Wonders by some. It was originally constructed as a church between 532 and 537 AD on the orders of the Byzantine emperor Justinian and was designed by architects Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles. In 1453, Constantinople was conquered by the Ottoman Turks and Sultan Mehmed II ordered the building to be converted into a mosque. The bells, altar, iconostasis, and sacrificial vessels were removed, and Islamic features such as the mihrab, the minbar, and the four minarets outside were added over the course of its history under the Ottomans. It remained as a mosque until 1935, when it was converted into a museum by the Turkish government.
The Easter Island, Chile:
It has Moai statues that are also considered by some to be one of the wonders of the world. Easter Island is one of the most remote islands on Earth. It is in the southern Pacific Ocean, 2,300 miles west of the coast of Chile and 2500 miles southeast of Tahiti. The closest island is 1400 miles away and is uninhabited. Easter Island is only 15 miles long and 10 miles wide. Yet, almost uninhabited when it was discovered on Easter Day in 1722 by a Dutch captain, it is covered with 887 giant statutes - each weighing several tons and some standing over 30 feet tall. Who built these statutes? Why and how did they get there? Nobody knows for sure.
Machu Picchu:
This is an Inca site located 2400 metres above sea level on a mountain ridge above Urubamba valley in Peru. Often referred to as “The Lost City of the Incas”, Machu Picchu was built around the year 1450, but abandoned a century later. Its primary buildings are the Intihuatana, the Temple of the Sun, and the Room of the Three Windows. Forgotten for centuries, Machu Picchu was brought to the attention of the world in 1911 by Hiram Bingham, an American historian. The site was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1983.One of the most mysterious things about Machu Picchu is why and how it was abandoned. Machu Picchu was deliberately - and rather suddenly - abandoned by its inhabitants, when, we do not know.
Statue of Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil:
It is about 40 metres tall, weighs 700 tons and is located at the peak of the Corcovado mountain in the Tijuca Forest National Park overlooking the city. Local engineer Heitor da Silva Costa designed the statue and it was sculpted by Paul Landowski, a French monument sculptor of Polish origin. The structure is made of reinforced concrete, while the outer layers are soapstone, chosen for its enduring qualities and ease of use. Construction took nine years and the monument was opened to the public on 12 October 1931.Petra: It is an archaeological site in Jordan, and is renowned for its rock-cut architecture. Petra was first established sometime around the 6th century BC, by the Nabataean Arabs, a nomadic tribe which settled in the area and laid the foundations of a commercial empire that extended into Syria. Despite successive attempts by the Seleucid king Antigonus, the Roman emperor Pompey and Herod the Great to bring Petra under the control of their respective empires, Petra remained largely in Nabataean hands until around 100AD, when the Romans took over. It was still inhabited during the Byzantine period, when the former Roman empire moved its focus east to Constantinople, but declined in importance thereafter. The Crusaders constructed a fort there in the 12th century, but soon withdrew, leaving Petra to the local people until the early 19th century, when it was rediscovered by the Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt in 1812. It was designated a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1985.Chichen Itza: It is a large archaeological site built by the Mayan civilisation. A pyramidal structure, Chichen Itza was actually dedicated to the Mayan sun god. 365 steps (91 on each of the four sides, with one extra step on one side) corresponding to the 365 days of the year lead to the top of the structure. An interesting fact is that if one stands in front of the pyramidal structure and claps one’s hands, the echo produced resembles the cry of the Quetzal bird - a symbol of the Mayan sun god - almost exactly, as experts have found out.Words and pictures, no matter how articulate, or realistic, can never bring alive the magic of any place the way our eyes can. So if reading this does not satisfy your desire to know more about the Seven Wonders of the World, you could just pack your bags and see the masterpieces - at least the ones that still exist!Coordinator, ex-The Future Foundation School
Sources:www.wikipedia.org, www.harvard.edu, www.qsl.net, www.visitjordan.com
The Mystery of Machu Picchu - from Peru Handbook/Footprint Handbooks, Peter Frost, 1996.
Over the years there have been many lists of the Seven Wonders of the World.
Aparajita Bhattacharya looks at the three most acknowledged ones
It’s been just one year since that glittering ceremony in Lisbon in which the New Seven Wonders Foundation announced which manmade masterpieces had finally made it to the list of the New Seven Wonders of the world. Remember the pride you felt at the fact that your vote had helped put our very own Taj Mahal on the list? Over the years, there have been many lists of the Seven Wonders of the World. Let’s look at the three most widely acknowledged ones. The original list of the Seven Wonders were:
1. Hanging Gardens of Babylon
2. Temple of Artemis (or Diana) at Ephesus
3. Statue of Zeus at Olympia
4. Pyramid of Giza
5. Mausoleum of Mausolus
6. Pharos Lighthouse of Alexandria
7. Colossus of Rhodes
All of these are now in ruins, except for the Pyramid of Giza. Subsequently, Seven Wonders of the Medieval World were identified as:
1. Pyramid of Giza
2. Great Wall of China
3. Stonehenge
4. Taj Mahal
5. Colosseum of Rome
6. Leaning Tower of Pisa
7. Porcelain Tower of Nanjing
In some lists, the Porcelain Tower of Nanjing is substituted by a wide range of alternatives like the Hagia Sophia (Turkey), statues of Easter Island (Chile), the Eiffel Tower, Sydney Opera House, and the Statue of Liberty.
In 2001 an initiative was started to choose the New Seven Wonders of the World from a selection of 200 existing monuments for profit and 21 finalists were announced on 1 January 2006. Egypt was not happy that the only original wonder would have to compete with the likes of the Statue of Liberty, Sydney Opera House, and other landmarks. To solve this, Giza was named an honourary candidate. The New Seven Wonders of the World include:
1. Great Wall of China
2. Colosseum of Rome
3. Taj Mahal
4. Machu Picchu (Peru)
5. Statue of Christ the Redeemer (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
6. Petra (Jordan)
7. Chichen Itza (Mexico)
Now let’s take a closer look at all the Seven Wonders through the ages.
Hanging Gardens of Babylon:
Built between 605-562 BC. The story goes that the then ruler of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar II, married Amytis of Media, who felt alienated in her new surroundings. To please her, Nebuchadnezzar had the gardens of her homeland recreated in Babylon. The gardens were built on several levels reaching 22 metres in height, complete with machinery for circulating water. An earthquake destroyed the gardens sometime after the first century BC.Temple of Artemis, Ephesus: Built in the sixth century BC, it took about 120 years to be completed. It was dedicated to the Greek goddess of the moon, Artemis, also known as Diana. The temple was destroyed on 21 July 356 BC in a fire started by Herostratus. Apparently, his motivation was to achieve lasting fame at any cost (hence the phrase ‘herostratic fame’). It is said that Artemis was so busy with the delivery of Alexander the Great - who was born that night that she couldn’t save her burning temple. Alexander later offered to pay for the temple’s rebuilding, but the Ephesians refused. The temple was restored after Alexander’s death in 323 BC only to be destroyed again around the fifth century AD by a violent mob.
Statue of Zeus, Olympia (Greece):
Built around 432-435 BC by the sculptor Phidias. Twelve metres in height, the statue occupied the whole width of the aisle of the temple built to house it. The statue was destroyed by a fire or an earthquake sometime around the sixth century AD.
Pyramid of Giza:
It is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza Necropolis bordering what is now Cairo. The pyramid was built as a tomb for the Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu and constructed over a period of 20 years concluding around 2560 BC. It is the only surviving member of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. When the New Seven Wonders Foundation began their project in 2001, the Great Pyramid of Giza was made an honourary member in the list of the New Seven Wonders of the World, outside the purview of voting.
Mausoleum of Mausolus:
Built between 353 and 350 BC at Halicarnassus (Turkey) for Mausolus, a satrap (noble) in the Persian empire and his wife, the structure was designed by Greek architects Satyrus and Pythius. It stood about 45 metres tall with each of the four sides adorned with sculptural reliefs. (The word mausoleum has since come to be used to refer to any grand tomb.) It was initially damaged by an earthquake and was eventually destroyed by European Crusaders in the fifteenth century AD.Pharos Lighthouse, Alexandria Constructed around 270 BC. With a height of 115-135 metres, it was easily one of the tallest manmade structures for many centuries. Built from large blocks of light-coloured stone, the lighthouse was made up of three stages: a lower square section with a central core, a middle octagonal section, and a circular top section. At the apex was positioned a mirror which reflected sunlight during the day, while a fire was lit at night. The lighthouse was destroyed by two earthquakes in 1303 AD and 1323 AD.
Colossus of Rhodes:
“Why man, he doth bestride the narrow world/ Like a Colossus, and we petty men/ Walk under his huge legs and peep about/ To find ourselves dishonourable graves.” Those are lines from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Act I, Scene II, if we remember correctly — lines that clearly allude to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The Colossus was a giant statue of the Greek god Helios, standing over 35 metres high. It was built around 280 BC near the island of Rhodes. The statue was damaged by an earthquake in 226BC, when it snapped at the knees and fell over. Even so, the ruins were so impressive that people travelled to see them until the scrap was finally removed in 654 AD.
Great Wall of China:
It is nothing but a series of stone and earthen fortifications in China, built, rebuilt and maintained between the 6th century BC and the 16th century AD to protect the northern borders of the Chinese empire from attacks by foreign invaders during the rule of successive dynasties. The Great Wall stretches over approximately 6400 km from Shanhaiguan in the east to Lop Nur in the west. Several years back, it was claimed that the Great Wall of China could be seen from the moon, that was subsequently proved to be false.Stonehenge: It is a prehistoric monument located in Wiltshire, England, and composed of earthwork surrounding a circular setting of large standing stones. Archaeologists believe that the standing stones were erected sometime around 2200 BC, while the surrounding earthwork date back to the 4th century BC. The site and its surroundings were added to the Unesco’s list of World Heritage Sites in 1986.
Taj Mahal, Agra:
We’re well aware of the history of the Taj Mahal. Built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the seventeenth century AD in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj Mahal is seen as an epitome of love. It took 22-23 years to complete the Taj Mahal; the monument was designed, executed and completed under the guidance of the architect Ustad Isa. The mausoleum is made of pure white marble, but in recent years, the pollution in the city of Agra has affected it, corroding the marble and leaving it yellowish in colour. Following a Supreme Court order, steps are being taken to protect the environment around it.
Colosseum, Rome:
Originally known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, it is an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome. Its construction started between 70-72 AD under the Roman emperor Vespasian, and was completed in 80 AD under the emperor Titus. Originally capable of seating around 50,000 people, the amphitheatre was used for gladiatorial contests and other public spectacles like mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles and dramas based on Classical mythology. The Colosseum remained in use for nearly five centuries, ceasing to be used for entertainment in the early medieval era. It was later reused for other purposes such as housing, workshops, quarters for a religious order, etc. Presently, the Colosseum is in a ruined condition due to damage caused by earthquakes and stone-robbers, but is still one of the most popular tourist attractions in Rome.
Leaning Tower of Pisa:
It is actually the freestanding bell tower of the cathedral of Pisa. Although intended to stand vertically, the tower began leaning to the southeast soon after the onset of construction in 1173 due to a poorly laid foundation and loose substrate that has allowed the foundation to shift direction. The tower was constructed in three stages over a period of 177 years. Construction of the first floor of the tower began in August 1173. The tower began to sink after construction progressed to the third floor in 1178. The foundation was just three metres deep, and set in weak, unstable subsoil. Construction was halted for almost a century as Pisa remained involved in continual battles with Genoa, Lucca and Florence; this allowed the underlying soil to settle, thus preventing the tower from toppling over. In 1272, construction resumed under the architect Giovanni di Simone. In an effort to compensate for the tilt of the tower, engineers built higher floors with one side taller than the other; this caused the tower to start leaning in the other direction. Construction was halted again in 1284, when Genoa defeated Pisa. The seventh floor was finally completed in 1319, while the bell-chamber (built in the Gothic style as opposed to the Romanesque style of the rest of the tower) was added in 1372. In 1934, Mussolini ordered that the tower be returned to a vertical position, and so concrete was poured into the foundation. However, the result was that the tower sank further into the soil and presently leans to the southwest.The other wondersThe Porcelain Tower of Nanjing: Considered one of the Seven Wonders by some, it was built in the early fifteenth century AD by the Chinese emperor Yongle. It was built of white porcelain bricks that were said to reflect the sun’s rays during the day, while at night, as many as 140 lamps used to be hung from the tower to illuminate it. Glazes and stoneware were worked into the porcelain and created a mixture of green, yellow, brown and white designs on the sides of the tower, including animals, flowers and landscapes. When it was built, the tower was one of the tallest buildings in China, rising up to a height of 260 feet with nine storeys and a staircase in the middle of the pagoda, which spiralled upwards for 130 steps.Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, . This is also considered to be one of the Seven Wonders by some. It was originally constructed as a church between 532 and 537 AD on the orders of the Byzantine emperor Justinian and was designed by architects Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles. In 1453, Constantinople was conquered by the Ottoman Turks and Sultan Mehmed II ordered the building to be converted into a mosque. The bells, altar, iconostasis, and sacrificial vessels were removed, and Islamic features such as the mihrab, the minbar, and the four minarets outside were added over the course of its history under the Ottomans. It remained as a mosque until 1935, when it was converted into a museum by the Turkish government.
The Easter Island, Chile:
It has Moai statues that are also considered by some to be one of the wonders of the world. Easter Island is one of the most remote islands on Earth. It is in the southern Pacific Ocean, 2,300 miles west of the coast of Chile and 2500 miles southeast of Tahiti. The closest island is 1400 miles away and is uninhabited. Easter Island is only 15 miles long and 10 miles wide. Yet, almost uninhabited when it was discovered on Easter Day in 1722 by a Dutch captain, it is covered with 887 giant statutes - each weighing several tons and some standing over 30 feet tall. Who built these statutes? Why and how did they get there? Nobody knows for sure.
Machu Picchu:
This is an Inca site located 2400 metres above sea level on a mountain ridge above Urubamba valley in Peru. Often referred to as “The Lost City of the Incas”, Machu Picchu was built around the year 1450, but abandoned a century later. Its primary buildings are the Intihuatana, the Temple of the Sun, and the Room of the Three Windows. Forgotten for centuries, Machu Picchu was brought to the attention of the world in 1911 by Hiram Bingham, an American historian. The site was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1983.One of the most mysterious things about Machu Picchu is why and how it was abandoned. Machu Picchu was deliberately - and rather suddenly - abandoned by its inhabitants, when, we do not know.
Statue of Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil:
It is about 40 metres tall, weighs 700 tons and is located at the peak of the Corcovado mountain in the Tijuca Forest National Park overlooking the city. Local engineer Heitor da Silva Costa designed the statue and it was sculpted by Paul Landowski, a French monument sculptor of Polish origin. The structure is made of reinforced concrete, while the outer layers are soapstone, chosen for its enduring qualities and ease of use. Construction took nine years and the monument was opened to the public on 12 October 1931.Petra: It is an archaeological site in Jordan, and is renowned for its rock-cut architecture. Petra was first established sometime around the 6th century BC, by the Nabataean Arabs, a nomadic tribe which settled in the area and laid the foundations of a commercial empire that extended into Syria. Despite successive attempts by the Seleucid king Antigonus, the Roman emperor Pompey and Herod the Great to bring Petra under the control of their respective empires, Petra remained largely in Nabataean hands until around 100AD, when the Romans took over. It was still inhabited during the Byzantine period, when the former Roman empire moved its focus east to Constantinople, but declined in importance thereafter. The Crusaders constructed a fort there in the 12th century, but soon withdrew, leaving Petra to the local people until the early 19th century, when it was rediscovered by the Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt in 1812. It was designated a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1985.Chichen Itza: It is a large archaeological site built by the Mayan civilisation. A pyramidal structure, Chichen Itza was actually dedicated to the Mayan sun god. 365 steps (91 on each of the four sides, with one extra step on one side) corresponding to the 365 days of the year lead to the top of the structure. An interesting fact is that if one stands in front of the pyramidal structure and claps one’s hands, the echo produced resembles the cry of the Quetzal bird - a symbol of the Mayan sun god - almost exactly, as experts have found out.Words and pictures, no matter how articulate, or realistic, can never bring alive the magic of any place the way our eyes can. So if reading this does not satisfy your desire to know more about the Seven Wonders of the World, you could just pack your bags and see the masterpieces - at least the ones that still exist!Coordinator, ex-The Future Foundation School
Sources:www.wikipedia.org, www.harvard.edu, www.qsl.net, www.visitjordan.com
The Mystery of Machu Picchu - from Peru Handbook/Footprint Handbooks, Peter Frost, 1996.
Casa de los Milagros en Cusco
9 July, 2008 15:14:07 in art, culture, lifestyle
A House of Miracles in Cusco
By Diana P. Olano
Additional reporting by Heinz Kohler
Last month, photographer Heinz Kohler attended a swanky family picnic fundraiser in the beautiful neighborhood of Hancock Park in Los Angeles. "The setting was in a beautiful home with beautiful people and amazing food," said Heinz. There was also the occasional celebrity sighting, as stars like actor Dustin Hoffman and rocker Ozzy Osbourne were on hand. However, mingling with Hollywood and trying divine foods was secondary to why everyone was in attendance.
The money raised at this Los Angeles fundraiser all went to support the children of the Casa de Milagros (House of Miracles) in Cusco, Peru: an orphanage which takes in abandoned children, living in poverty, and gives them hope of a better life by providing shelter, clothing, basic medical care and education and arts programs.At the event, Heinz was able to hear the woman behind the amazing project speak: Mama Kia. "We were about to meet the woman that the public and celebrities were there for, cash and checkbooks on hand. My friend pointed out they should have had a credit card processing machine!"Mama Kia, or in Quechua, Mama Quia (Mother Moon) and her "Chandler Sky Foundation" (named after her son who passed away) organized the event, along with The A List group, Citizens for Humanity and the Woody Harrelson Foundation. She is an American (now with dual-citizenship), but lives close to Pisac with her daughter, son-in-law, four grandchildren and over thirty orphans. Aside from the states, she's traveled to places such as Italy, Spain and Morocco, all in search of support for her House of Miracles. She also runs the Hanaq Pacha Retreat Center in the Sacred Valley, which helps the local community and the orphanage. Heinz recalls from the event that "her beauty is only matched by her kindness and humble character." People appreciated the holistic services provided at the picnic such as massages or the more fun ones, like tarot card reading, but at the end of the day they were there to help Mama Kia's children. And with their donations, the Casa de Milagros is able to continue its programs that help the orphaned children lead normal, happy lives.Due to having lived in impoverished conditions for most of their lives, the children arrive at the home malnourished, suffering from infections of the skin, tuberculosis and rickets. Mama Kia and her team treat them with basic health assessments once they get to the home.In terms of education, the Casa de Milagros allows the children to utilize the mainstream school system, while additionally receiving an education at the home. A local teacher holds tutoring sessions at the home once a week. This extra-bit of home-schooling is vital in improving what the children already know, as some of them arrive at the home after not having gone to school in years or not at all.In an effort to battle malnutrition, the home teaches the children, as well as the community, organic farming and permaculture techniques. Each child actively participates in growing the foods and herbs they eat. This way, they are not only learning but appreciating where their food comes from. The Casa de Milagros also provides art, performing arts, and trade skill classes, all of which will help them develop into young adults.Please support Mama Kia in her efforts with the Casa de Milagros by visiting their website and learning more about the project.
A House of Miracles in Cusco
By Diana P. Olano
Additional reporting by Heinz Kohler
Last month, photographer Heinz Kohler attended a swanky family picnic fundraiser in the beautiful neighborhood of Hancock Park in Los Angeles. "The setting was in a beautiful home with beautiful people and amazing food," said Heinz. There was also the occasional celebrity sighting, as stars like actor Dustin Hoffman and rocker Ozzy Osbourne were on hand. However, mingling with Hollywood and trying divine foods was secondary to why everyone was in attendance.
The money raised at this Los Angeles fundraiser all went to support the children of the Casa de Milagros (House of Miracles) in Cusco, Peru: an orphanage which takes in abandoned children, living in poverty, and gives them hope of a better life by providing shelter, clothing, basic medical care and education and arts programs.At the event, Heinz was able to hear the woman behind the amazing project speak: Mama Kia. "We were about to meet the woman that the public and celebrities were there for, cash and checkbooks on hand. My friend pointed out they should have had a credit card processing machine!"Mama Kia, or in Quechua, Mama Quia (Mother Moon) and her "Chandler Sky Foundation" (named after her son who passed away) organized the event, along with The A List group, Citizens for Humanity and the Woody Harrelson Foundation. She is an American (now with dual-citizenship), but lives close to Pisac with her daughter, son-in-law, four grandchildren and over thirty orphans. Aside from the states, she's traveled to places such as Italy, Spain and Morocco, all in search of support for her House of Miracles. She also runs the Hanaq Pacha Retreat Center in the Sacred Valley, which helps the local community and the orphanage. Heinz recalls from the event that "her beauty is only matched by her kindness and humble character." People appreciated the holistic services provided at the picnic such as massages or the more fun ones, like tarot card reading, but at the end of the day they were there to help Mama Kia's children. And with their donations, the Casa de Milagros is able to continue its programs that help the orphaned children lead normal, happy lives.Due to having lived in impoverished conditions for most of their lives, the children arrive at the home malnourished, suffering from infections of the skin, tuberculosis and rickets. Mama Kia and her team treat them with basic health assessments once they get to the home.In terms of education, the Casa de Milagros allows the children to utilize the mainstream school system, while additionally receiving an education at the home. A local teacher holds tutoring sessions at the home once a week. This extra-bit of home-schooling is vital in improving what the children already know, as some of them arrive at the home after not having gone to school in years or not at all.In an effort to battle malnutrition, the home teaches the children, as well as the community, organic farming and permaculture techniques. Each child actively participates in growing the foods and herbs they eat. This way, they are not only learning but appreciating where their food comes from. The Casa de Milagros also provides art, performing arts, and trade skill classes, all of which will help them develop into young adults.Please support Mama Kia in her efforts with the Casa de Milagros by visiting their website and learning more about the project.
miércoles, 9 de julio de 2008
Arequeolos encuentran tumbas en norte del Peru
Canadian archeologists find pre-Columbian tomb in northern Peru
The Associated Press
July 5, 2008 at 9:18 PM EDT
LIMA, Peru — Canadian archeologists have found a pre-Columbian tomb containing well-preserved human remains, ceramics and jewellery near Peru's northern coast that could shed new light on the ancient Moche culture.
The site in Ucupe – about 670 kilometres from Lima – may be related to other important Moche ruins in the area, including the famed Lords of Sipan tomb, dating to AD 200 that was excavated in the late 1980s, dig co-director Bruno Alva said Saturday.
Mr. Alva said the team recovered one body wearing gold-coloured copper funeral masks and wrapped in reed in the excavation that began in June.
The researchers also found remains of a young man nearby and animals thought to be alpacas or llamas.
Among the objects uncovered were gold-coloured copper crowns, earrings, nose rings, necklaces of silver, seashells and ceramics.
The remains most likely belonged to nobility, said Walter Alva, famed Peruvian archeologist who discovered the Sipan site.
The objects recovered reflect quality workmanship, he added.
The research team includes Canadian archeologists and some 20 workers from the area.
The Moche were a pre-Columbian civilization known for ceramics, architecture and irrigation systems that thrived from about AD 100 to 800 in northern Peru.
The Associated Press
July 5, 2008 at 9:18 PM EDT
LIMA, Peru — Canadian archeologists have found a pre-Columbian tomb containing well-preserved human remains, ceramics and jewellery near Peru's northern coast that could shed new light on the ancient Moche culture.
The site in Ucupe – about 670 kilometres from Lima – may be related to other important Moche ruins in the area, including the famed Lords of Sipan tomb, dating to AD 200 that was excavated in the late 1980s, dig co-director Bruno Alva said Saturday.
Mr. Alva said the team recovered one body wearing gold-coloured copper funeral masks and wrapped in reed in the excavation that began in June.
The researchers also found remains of a young man nearby and animals thought to be alpacas or llamas.
Among the objects uncovered were gold-coloured copper crowns, earrings, nose rings, necklaces of silver, seashells and ceramics.
The remains most likely belonged to nobility, said Walter Alva, famed Peruvian archeologist who discovered the Sipan site.
The objects recovered reflect quality workmanship, he added.
The research team includes Canadian archeologists and some 20 workers from the area.
The Moche were a pre-Columbian civilization known for ceramics, architecture and irrigation systems that thrived from about AD 100 to 800 in northern Peru.
Peru busca recuperar su tesoro arqueologico de Yale
Peru May Sue Yale for Inca Relics' Return
Peru is threatening to sue Yale University for the return of ancient mummies, bones and ceramics taken from the 'Lost City of the Incas', Machu Picchu, by an American explorer nearly a century ago.
Peru is threatening to sue Yale University for the return of ancient mummies, bones and ceramics taken from the "Lost City of the Incas", Machu Picchu, by an American explorer nearly a century ago. In the latest of a series of legal moves by nations trying to recover archaeological relics, Peru's ambassador to Washington, Eduardo Ferrero, has delivered a warning to the university in Connecticut. "Peru has notified [Yale's president] Richard Levin that a lawsuit is prepared if its rights to the archaeological pieces are not recognised," the Peruvian foreign ministry said in a statement. Oscar Maurtua, the foreign minister, added: "We are convinced that we have sufficient proof to win in court." He added that Lima would prefer an out-of-court settlement. Any court action would probably be held in Connecticut. A spokesman for Yale, Tom Conroy, told the Associated Press news agency that the university had been having discussions with the Peruvian government. "We are hoping for a resolution that is satisfactory to all involved," he said. Peru is seeking to retrieve about 5,000 artifacts, including mummified corpses and pottery that the American historian and explorer Hiram Bingham excavated in three expeditions to the ancient high-mountain Incan city of Machu Picchu in 1911, 1912 and 1914. Peru's president at the time, Augusto Leguia, gave Bingham permission to export the objects temporarily for scientific study for a period of one year. That was later extended by 18 months, and the items should have been returned in 1916. Bingham was the first foreigner to reach Machu Picchu. With the 100th anniversary of his discovery approaching, Peruvian officials say it is time to return the collection. Bingham thought the site was either a religious estate inhabited mostly by women, a last Inca stronghold abandoned as the Spanish invaded, or the Incas' city of origin. The site is now believed to have been a royal summer estate. Many nations which saw priceless artifacts whisked away to foreign museums have traditionally used diplomatic channels to request their return. This year, Ethiopia saw the return to Axum of an obelisk plundered by Italians 70 years ago. Some countries are now turning to the courts to recover ancient relics. Greece has decided to sue the J Paul Getty museum in Los Angeles for the return of four antiquities said to have been taken illegally. Many museums which hold such artifacts argue that they not only promote scientific research of these objects, but allow millions of visitors to see them in cities such as London Paris or New York. Critics argue that it is important for countries to have the objects that reflect their cultural heritage in their own museums.
By Guardian Unlimited © Copyright Guardian Newspapers 2008Published: 7/8/2008
Peru is threatening to sue Yale University for the return of ancient mummies, bones and ceramics taken from the 'Lost City of the Incas', Machu Picchu, by an American explorer nearly a century ago.
Peru is threatening to sue Yale University for the return of ancient mummies, bones and ceramics taken from the "Lost City of the Incas", Machu Picchu, by an American explorer nearly a century ago. In the latest of a series of legal moves by nations trying to recover archaeological relics, Peru's ambassador to Washington, Eduardo Ferrero, has delivered a warning to the university in Connecticut. "Peru has notified [Yale's president] Richard Levin that a lawsuit is prepared if its rights to the archaeological pieces are not recognised," the Peruvian foreign ministry said in a statement. Oscar Maurtua, the foreign minister, added: "We are convinced that we have sufficient proof to win in court." He added that Lima would prefer an out-of-court settlement. Any court action would probably be held in Connecticut. A spokesman for Yale, Tom Conroy, told the Associated Press news agency that the university had been having discussions with the Peruvian government. "We are hoping for a resolution that is satisfactory to all involved," he said. Peru is seeking to retrieve about 5,000 artifacts, including mummified corpses and pottery that the American historian and explorer Hiram Bingham excavated in three expeditions to the ancient high-mountain Incan city of Machu Picchu in 1911, 1912 and 1914. Peru's president at the time, Augusto Leguia, gave Bingham permission to export the objects temporarily for scientific study for a period of one year. That was later extended by 18 months, and the items should have been returned in 1916. Bingham was the first foreigner to reach Machu Picchu. With the 100th anniversary of his discovery approaching, Peruvian officials say it is time to return the collection. Bingham thought the site was either a religious estate inhabited mostly by women, a last Inca stronghold abandoned as the Spanish invaded, or the Incas' city of origin. The site is now believed to have been a royal summer estate. Many nations which saw priceless artifacts whisked away to foreign museums have traditionally used diplomatic channels to request their return. This year, Ethiopia saw the return to Axum of an obelisk plundered by Italians 70 years ago. Some countries are now turning to the courts to recover ancient relics. Greece has decided to sue the J Paul Getty museum in Los Angeles for the return of four antiquities said to have been taken illegally. Many museums which hold such artifacts argue that they not only promote scientific research of these objects, but allow millions of visitors to see them in cities such as London Paris or New York. Critics argue that it is important for countries to have the objects that reflect their cultural heritage in their own museums.
By Guardian Unlimited © Copyright Guardian Newspapers 2008Published: 7/8/2008
martes, 8 de julio de 2008
Empresa Asiatica compra Pesquera Peruana Mistral
Singapore-listed China Fishery to acquire Peruvian fishing co for 11.7 mln usd
07 Jul 2008
Xinhua Newsfeed
SHANGHAI (XFN-ASIA) - Singapore-listed China Fishery Group Ltd said it will pay 11.7 mln usd to buy Peruvian fishing company Pesquera Mistral SAC. The company, which is a subsidiary of Singapore-listed Pacific Andes Holdings Ltd, said in a statement that the acquisition will add three fishing vessels to its Peru fleet, giving it 37 vessels.China Fishery said it plans to finance the acquisition through internal resources and bank loans. Shares of China Fishery closed down 0.020 sgd or 1.2 pct at 1.630 sgd. (1 usd = 1.36 sgd)
shburo@xfn.com
07 Jul 2008
Xinhua Newsfeed
SHANGHAI (XFN-ASIA) - Singapore-listed China Fishery Group Ltd said it will pay 11.7 mln usd to buy Peruvian fishing company Pesquera Mistral SAC. The company, which is a subsidiary of Singapore-listed Pacific Andes Holdings Ltd, said in a statement that the acquisition will add three fishing vessels to its Peru fleet, giving it 37 vessels.China Fishery said it plans to finance the acquisition through internal resources and bank loans. Shares of China Fishery closed down 0.020 sgd or 1.2 pct at 1.630 sgd. (1 usd = 1.36 sgd)
shburo@xfn.com
Resaltan crecimiento de Aceros Arequipa
"It's simply market growth that has prompted us to boost sales"
Mario Munailla
Marketing manager/Aceros Arequipa
By Pablo Gaete
Peru has been growing at a breakneck pace in recent years and its GDP is expected to expand faster in 2008 than the economy of any other country in Latin America.
In addition to growth, the country has infrastructure and construction projects lined up along with an extraordinary housing boom that has prompted ever-increasing demand for steel products.
Aceros Arequipa is reaping the benefits of this boom as it is a leader in the Peruvian market, along with Siderperú.
In this interview, BNamericas spoke with Mario Munailla, Aceros Arequipa's marketing manager, who discussed the current status of Peru's market and where it's headed, as well as the company's own outlook for growth.
BNamericas: Aceros Arequipa's results in the first quarter were excellent compared to the same period of 2007. Profits grew 218% to 58.6mn soles [US$20.5mn], revenues were up 53% to 489mn soles and sales increased 35% to 195,000t. How much of these results is due to higher output and how much is due to steel prices?
Munailla: Production has increased by quite a bit because of an expansion that wrapped up last year that took output from 400,000t/y to 540,000t/y of long products.
The expansion was designed to keep growing along with the market, which registered much higher demand in 2007.
BNamericas: What is expected of the market and for Aceros Arequipa's sales this year?
Munailla: Demand is forecast to be higher than our production this year so we're having to supplement our own output with imports that make up around 20% of physical sales.
Market growth has been bypassing our production every year for the past seven years so we have undergone an expansion project every year.
BNamericas: Has the company's market share increased during that time or was it just market growth prompting higher sales?
Munailla: Our market share leveled out a couple of years ago. It's simply market growth that has prompted us to boost sales on existing product lines. We have also incorporated new lines.
BNamericas: Has the company been successful in transferring the higher cost of raw materials to its products?
Munailla: The thing that worries me about growth is the rising cost of our products, which we have had to increase because of the higher cost of our raw materials.
It is true that last year and this year some major private investment projects have been launched in the areas of mining and commerce, where the impact of high prices for our products is much less than in housing.
However, demand from those two sectors is still not as considerable as in housing.
BNamericas: What portion of your sales goes to the housing sector?
Munailla: Housing easily consumes about 65% of demand in the country and our [sales are] relatively in line with that.
We probably have more of a share in the housing market than Siderperú, which sells more crushing balls to the mining sector.
BNamericas: Your company isn't involved in that business?
Munailla: Yes, but very little. We only entered that market a couple of years ago. We are more focused on construction and we are trying harder to gain more of a presence in the metal-mechanics industry.
In fact, we're trying to diversify outside of the construction sector.
BNamericas: Why?
Munailla: Peru's coffers are full. There is plenty of money, but what's missing is the ability to employ those resources efficiently so they can be transformed into infrastructure projects.
However, in recent months we have seen higher demand from municipalities for infrastructure projects.
But at the same time, our principal market is housing and, on that market, over half of our demand is for do-it-yourself construction jobs which are informal projects built by residents living in the very structures being built.
Formal construction for buildings and other types of structures is still hovering around 25% of Peru's entire construction market.
BNamericas: There has been talk about a real estate boom in Peru right now. Why is the do-it-yourself type of construction still so important?
Munailla: Construction requires a lot of physical labor and this boom in real estate construction means an abundance of construction workers. Construction workers have more regular work now, whereas they did not before. But the majority of them haven't even established their own domestic housing situation.
If a worker has money that he didn't have before, the first thing he is going to do is invest in his home, but he probably doesn't have full access to the loan market so he has no other option but to build his house gradually and informally.
There are others, like young people who live with their families or workers who did not previously have stable employment but now do, that could get access to loans but that would mean waiting to establish job history before getting a loan. Since they don't want to wait, they are also candidates for do-it-yourself types of construction.
BNamericas: But they're still your clients.
Munailla: Of course. But if steel supply did not have to be so focused on do-it-yourself construction products, I think it would drive growth in the country more efficiently.
BNamericas: How has the formal construction sector been performing in terms of housing or other types of construction?
Munailla: The sector grew 16% last year and we are expecting about 20% this year.
BNamericas: It appears that the financial crisis affecting the rest of the world isn't very applicable in Peru.
Munailla: No. Last year, Peru grew 9% and this year it's not likely that growth will be less than 8%.
And public investment is still much smaller that private because of the inefficiency of state organizations for resource management. It's difficult for a country that has been managing scarcity and poverty for so many years to learn how to be wealthy.
BNamericas: But even then, performance at Aceros Arequipa has improved consistently because of growth in the country and this year the company is expanding yet again. Can you give some details about that?
Munailla: It's a project that we hope to have ready by the first quarter of 2010.
BNamericas: Wasn't it previously scheduled for the last quarter of 2009?
Munailla: Originally yes, but now we expect it to be 1Q10 because of the time providers need, since they are in high demand. We plan to invest around US$280mn to reach capacity of more or less 1Mt/y with expansions - first at our Pisco plant and also at the Arequipa operation.
BNamericas: Does the company plan to expand beyond 1Mt/y at a later date?
Munailla: Yes, of course. But in order to give specific figures, we would need logistics and market studies, which are underway.
BNamericas: In terms of the market and the tremendous growth in the country, do you feel there is any chance of a third participant entering the market and growing along with Aceros Arequipa and Siderperú, like Ternium or ArcelorMittal?
Munailla: We are familiar with them and they have always expressed interest in entering Peru through one of the two current players.
BNamericas: Since Siderperú is controlled by Brazilian company Gerdau, does that mean Gerdau might also be interested in Aceros Arequipa?
Munailla: The way things are in the steel industry around the world right now, I don't think there is any independent company like us that hasn't received a knock on the door. So far, we have always said no.
ABOUT THE COMPANY:In terms of production, Aceros Arequipa has been one of Peru's two largest steelmakers for over 40 years with plants in Pisco and Arequipa.
The company trades on the Lima stock exchange.
By Pablo Gaete
Mario Munailla
Marketing manager/Aceros Arequipa
By Pablo Gaete
Peru has been growing at a breakneck pace in recent years and its GDP is expected to expand faster in 2008 than the economy of any other country in Latin America.
In addition to growth, the country has infrastructure and construction projects lined up along with an extraordinary housing boom that has prompted ever-increasing demand for steel products.
Aceros Arequipa is reaping the benefits of this boom as it is a leader in the Peruvian market, along with Siderperú.
In this interview, BNamericas spoke with Mario Munailla, Aceros Arequipa's marketing manager, who discussed the current status of Peru's market and where it's headed, as well as the company's own outlook for growth.
BNamericas: Aceros Arequipa's results in the first quarter were excellent compared to the same period of 2007. Profits grew 218% to 58.6mn soles [US$20.5mn], revenues were up 53% to 489mn soles and sales increased 35% to 195,000t. How much of these results is due to higher output and how much is due to steel prices?
Munailla: Production has increased by quite a bit because of an expansion that wrapped up last year that took output from 400,000t/y to 540,000t/y of long products.
The expansion was designed to keep growing along with the market, which registered much higher demand in 2007.
BNamericas: What is expected of the market and for Aceros Arequipa's sales this year?
Munailla: Demand is forecast to be higher than our production this year so we're having to supplement our own output with imports that make up around 20% of physical sales.
Market growth has been bypassing our production every year for the past seven years so we have undergone an expansion project every year.
BNamericas: Has the company's market share increased during that time or was it just market growth prompting higher sales?
Munailla: Our market share leveled out a couple of years ago. It's simply market growth that has prompted us to boost sales on existing product lines. We have also incorporated new lines.
BNamericas: Has the company been successful in transferring the higher cost of raw materials to its products?
Munailla: The thing that worries me about growth is the rising cost of our products, which we have had to increase because of the higher cost of our raw materials.
It is true that last year and this year some major private investment projects have been launched in the areas of mining and commerce, where the impact of high prices for our products is much less than in housing.
However, demand from those two sectors is still not as considerable as in housing.
BNamericas: What portion of your sales goes to the housing sector?
Munailla: Housing easily consumes about 65% of demand in the country and our [sales are] relatively in line with that.
We probably have more of a share in the housing market than Siderperú, which sells more crushing balls to the mining sector.
BNamericas: Your company isn't involved in that business?
Munailla: Yes, but very little. We only entered that market a couple of years ago. We are more focused on construction and we are trying harder to gain more of a presence in the metal-mechanics industry.
In fact, we're trying to diversify outside of the construction sector.
BNamericas: Why?
Munailla: Peru's coffers are full. There is plenty of money, but what's missing is the ability to employ those resources efficiently so they can be transformed into infrastructure projects.
However, in recent months we have seen higher demand from municipalities for infrastructure projects.
But at the same time, our principal market is housing and, on that market, over half of our demand is for do-it-yourself construction jobs which are informal projects built by residents living in the very structures being built.
Formal construction for buildings and other types of structures is still hovering around 25% of Peru's entire construction market.
BNamericas: There has been talk about a real estate boom in Peru right now. Why is the do-it-yourself type of construction still so important?
Munailla: Construction requires a lot of physical labor and this boom in real estate construction means an abundance of construction workers. Construction workers have more regular work now, whereas they did not before. But the majority of them haven't even established their own domestic housing situation.
If a worker has money that he didn't have before, the first thing he is going to do is invest in his home, but he probably doesn't have full access to the loan market so he has no other option but to build his house gradually and informally.
There are others, like young people who live with their families or workers who did not previously have stable employment but now do, that could get access to loans but that would mean waiting to establish job history before getting a loan. Since they don't want to wait, they are also candidates for do-it-yourself types of construction.
BNamericas: But they're still your clients.
Munailla: Of course. But if steel supply did not have to be so focused on do-it-yourself construction products, I think it would drive growth in the country more efficiently.
BNamericas: How has the formal construction sector been performing in terms of housing or other types of construction?
Munailla: The sector grew 16% last year and we are expecting about 20% this year.
BNamericas: It appears that the financial crisis affecting the rest of the world isn't very applicable in Peru.
Munailla: No. Last year, Peru grew 9% and this year it's not likely that growth will be less than 8%.
And public investment is still much smaller that private because of the inefficiency of state organizations for resource management. It's difficult for a country that has been managing scarcity and poverty for so many years to learn how to be wealthy.
BNamericas: But even then, performance at Aceros Arequipa has improved consistently because of growth in the country and this year the company is expanding yet again. Can you give some details about that?
Munailla: It's a project that we hope to have ready by the first quarter of 2010.
BNamericas: Wasn't it previously scheduled for the last quarter of 2009?
Munailla: Originally yes, but now we expect it to be 1Q10 because of the time providers need, since they are in high demand. We plan to invest around US$280mn to reach capacity of more or less 1Mt/y with expansions - first at our Pisco plant and also at the Arequipa operation.
BNamericas: Does the company plan to expand beyond 1Mt/y at a later date?
Munailla: Yes, of course. But in order to give specific figures, we would need logistics and market studies, which are underway.
BNamericas: In terms of the market and the tremendous growth in the country, do you feel there is any chance of a third participant entering the market and growing along with Aceros Arequipa and Siderperú, like Ternium or ArcelorMittal?
Munailla: We are familiar with them and they have always expressed interest in entering Peru through one of the two current players.
BNamericas: Since Siderperú is controlled by Brazilian company Gerdau, does that mean Gerdau might also be interested in Aceros Arequipa?
Munailla: The way things are in the steel industry around the world right now, I don't think there is any independent company like us that hasn't received a knock on the door. So far, we have always said no.
ABOUT THE COMPANY:In terms of production, Aceros Arequipa has been one of Peru's two largest steelmakers for over 40 years with plants in Pisco and Arequipa.
The company trades on the Lima stock exchange.
By Pablo Gaete
domingo, 6 de julio de 2008
Descubren tumba Inca noble
Peru discovers 'noble tomb'
Archaeologists have discovered an intact tomb near Peru's northern coast of a pre-Incan leader who lived 1,600 years ago, the group's lead scientist has aid.
The well-preserved tomb, which contained human remains, ceramics and jewelry, could help solve mysteries about Peru's ancient Moche Indian culture.
The findings were dug up in the province of Lambayeque, about 770 km north of Lima, where the Moche culture thrived between 100 BC and AD 600.
Achaeologists said the tomb, called Huaca del Pueblo, may be related to other important Moche ruins in the area, including the famed Lords of Sipan tomb that was discovered in the same area of Peru two decades ago.
Both sites include tombs built for prominent figures of the Moche civilisation, which is characterised by complex construction techniques and works of art.
Nobility
The team's findings include a body wearing gold-coloured copper funeral masks and wrapped in reed, as well as gold-coloured copper crowns, earrings, nose rings, necklaces of silver, seashells and technologically sophisticated objects made from copper.
The researchers also found remains of a young man nearby and animals thought to be alpacas or llamas.
The remains most likely belonged to nobility, Walter Alva, famed Peruvian archaeologist who discovered the Sipan site, said.
"Some elements like scepters and crowns of gold are those that identify people of the highest hierarchical level," he said.
Alva said part of the excavation is going to conclude in July, but the team hopes to resume work in December.
Source: Agencies
Archaeologists have discovered an intact tomb near Peru's northern coast of a pre-Incan leader who lived 1,600 years ago, the group's lead scientist has aid.
The well-preserved tomb, which contained human remains, ceramics and jewelry, could help solve mysteries about Peru's ancient Moche Indian culture.
The findings were dug up in the province of Lambayeque, about 770 km north of Lima, where the Moche culture thrived between 100 BC and AD 600.
Achaeologists said the tomb, called Huaca del Pueblo, may be related to other important Moche ruins in the area, including the famed Lords of Sipan tomb that was discovered in the same area of Peru two decades ago.
Both sites include tombs built for prominent figures of the Moche civilisation, which is characterised by complex construction techniques and works of art.
Nobility
The team's findings include a body wearing gold-coloured copper funeral masks and wrapped in reed, as well as gold-coloured copper crowns, earrings, nose rings, necklaces of silver, seashells and technologically sophisticated objects made from copper.
The researchers also found remains of a young man nearby and animals thought to be alpacas or llamas.
The remains most likely belonged to nobility, Walter Alva, famed Peruvian archaeologist who discovered the Sipan site, said.
"Some elements like scepters and crowns of gold are those that identify people of the highest hierarchical level," he said.
Alva said part of the excavation is going to conclude in July, but the team hopes to resume work in December.
Source: Agencies
Cocina peruana atrae Turistas de alto calibre
Travel and Tourism
4 July, 2008 [ 18:30 ]
Peru's fine cuisine attracts high end tourists to Cusco
Although Cusco is one of the most enigmatic and attractive cities in South America thanks to its archaeological remains, in the last year the gastronomic offer for luxury tourists who arrive at this Peruvian territory has turned sophisticated, turning into one of the most important elements of getting inbound tourism.For this reason, it is not strange that high purchasing power visitors have surrounded before the delicious gastronomic offer presented in many five star hotels and the most well-known restaurants, which are located in this place called "World’s Navel ". Tourist can never refuse the unimaginable flavors.Three or four years ago, luxury tourists only came to Cusco to visit Machu Picchu, Sacsayhuamán, Pisaq, Ollantaytambo, among other archaeological sites of the city.“Now there exists a sector that comes exclusively to try the variety of dishes and drinks which are offered in different the tourist zones of this province", stated the kitchen chef at Casa Andina Private Collection Valle Sagrado, José Pareja.
News source: ANDINA
4 July, 2008 [ 18:30 ]
Peru's fine cuisine attracts high end tourists to Cusco
Although Cusco is one of the most enigmatic and attractive cities in South America thanks to its archaeological remains, in the last year the gastronomic offer for luxury tourists who arrive at this Peruvian territory has turned sophisticated, turning into one of the most important elements of getting inbound tourism.For this reason, it is not strange that high purchasing power visitors have surrounded before the delicious gastronomic offer presented in many five star hotels and the most well-known restaurants, which are located in this place called "World’s Navel ". Tourist can never refuse the unimaginable flavors.Three or four years ago, luxury tourists only came to Cusco to visit Machu Picchu, Sacsayhuamán, Pisaq, Ollantaytambo, among other archaeological sites of the city.“Now there exists a sector that comes exclusively to try the variety of dishes and drinks which are offered in different the tourist zones of this province", stated the kitchen chef at Casa Andina Private Collection Valle Sagrado, José Pareja.
News source: ANDINA
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