Peru

 

Country Information:  Peru has a population of 31 million. The capital is Lima and the official languages are Spanish, Aymara, and Quechua. The climate is varied, with the coast being subtropical and rarely rainy while the mountains have rainy summers and dry winters. The time zone is the same as EST. Roman Catholicism dominates religion in Peru, though some other Christian denominations and indigenous beliefs are popular as well. Its primary exports are copper, gold, petroleum, zinc,  coffee, asparagus, guinea pigs, textiles, and potatoes – lots of them! Most people think that potatoes are from the UK, but potatoes were originally grown in Peru. There are almost 4,000 varieties of potatoes grown in Peru!

Jim’s Perspectives:  I had an elaborate trip for the family planned in 2014 to the lost Incan cities of Cusco, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Lima, however the day before they were to meet me in Lima, my son got very ill. So, I toured Lima and some cool spots by myself, including taking a flight to see the Nazca lines. Can’t wait to visit Machu Picchu with the family in the future!

Peru also hosts some incredible places to visit. An especially cool place to head to is Cerro Blanco – the highest sand dune in the world! It is located in Sechura Desert near the Nazca Lines and measures 3,860 feet (1,176 meters) from the base to the summit. Also notable – especially for Arizona residents – is Cotahuasi Canyon in the Arequipa region; it’s known as one of the world’s deepest canyon at 3,535 meters (11,597 feet) deep – twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. For ocean lovers, Peru is a surfer’s paradise. Chicama has the world’s longest left-handed wave at almost 2.5 miles long (4km), and Mancora nearby has the world’s largest left-handed point-break.

One note to be careful of is the water quality – although opinions on water sanitation in Peru are mixed, travelers should keep in mind that tap water or ice can be from the heavily polluted Rio Rimac and can cause sickness. Many Peruvian families boil water prior to consumption.

 

Belize

Family in Ambergris Caye Tropical and rainy Belize! Loved our time vacationing in Ambergris Caye! Belize gained independence in 1981 and has a total population of roughly 350,000.  Belize is the only Central American nation where English is the official language....

Gambia

Country Information:  The capital of Gambia is Banjul. There are approximately 2.5 million people living here. The official language of Gambia is English. The majority of Gambians practice Islam.  Major exports of Gambia are peanut products, fish, cotton, and palm...

Russia

Hotel Cosmos in Moscow   Men playing backgammon in the park. The Russians lost 25 million men in WW2, notice their formal dress and that they still wear their medals from 40 years ago. Super-cool picture ... Russian submarines at port! Country Information: The...