The origin of the word “Perú”

A story about the name of Peru can be traced back to the works of Gómez Suárez de Figueroa better known as Garcilaso de la Vega (1539 – 1616).

A little about Garcilaso de la Vega, he was the illegitimate  son of a Spanish conquistador Sebastián Garcilaso de la Vega Vargas and an Inca princess Palla Chimpu Ocllo (later baptized Isabel) this was frowned upon and as result the son was denied the right to have the surname of father, surnames were a status symbol especially that of Sebastián as he came from a noble lineage. Garcilaso de la Vega grew up with his mother and her family this is where he learnt how to speak Quechua and learnt about culture and history of the Inca Empire.  Due to his father’s influence he studied at la Escuela de Mestizos de Juan Cuella where he learnt how to speak Latin and the Catholicism.

In 1609 The Royal Commentaries of the Inca’s (Comentarios Reales de los Incas) his most well-known work was published, documenting and detailing the history of the Inca’s and of the Spanish conquest of Peru, it is also in this book we can find the story of the name of Perú.

The story starts with Vasco Núñez de Balboa (1475-1519) a well-known explorer and conquistador who crossed the Isthmus of Panama to the Pacific Ocean in 1513. He built many ships and many went across the Pacific Ocean in the hope of finding more land to conquer. In one such case it is said that one ship sailed to close to the coast of what is now known as South America and at an estuary the crew spotted an indigenous fisherman and captured him and brought him aboard the ship.  The Spaniards then proceeded to question him about the unknown land using sign language and gestures. The fisherman now scared and confused and wanting to please his captors he blurted out the word “Berú,” which is said to have been his name. The fisherman then spoke another word “Pelú,” meaning river.  The Spanish somehow merged these words together to form the word Perú.

According to Garcilaso the name of Perú was unknown to the indigenous population for about 70 years after the conquest and the indigenous population still referred the land they lived in as Tawantinsuyu, the name the Inca’s called it. The Spanish in the decided to call the country Berú however this was only used in the coastal areas and was not used in the highlands. Garcilaso also mentions in his chronicle that most names given to places in the America’s were actually misunderstandings between the native population and the Spaniards and the Spaniards always believe that the native people they questioned always understood them like they were speaking the same language.

The name origins of Perú is difficult to track due the many different accounts and stories that surround it but what is certain is the Perú is not word which originates from Quechua.

Some historians contest the chronicles by Garcilaso due to the fact that that some of his work contradicts work of other chronicles which also wrote in the same period. This also casts doubt on the name origin of Perú, the result of a tall tale or is it based on truth?

fried cassava or yuquitas

Know by Peruvians as "Yuquitas" they are a very delicious snack made of flour, anise, water, sugar, oil and baking powder (This is according to Lyn Lyn's yuquitas recipe).

The real recipe is actually a secret held by Mrs. Segundina Dávalos, who told in an interview by Comercio (peruvian newspaper) that it was her father in law, Dionisio Ramírez, who discover this recipe 65 years ago when he was trying to cook butter donuts.

Although her snacks are very famous and some companies have offered her money to buy the recipe and sell overseas, she says this is a family business and will remain like that. 

Their store is located at Palermo market in La Victoria , the business is open from 9:00 a.m. till 6:00 p.m. from Monday to Sunday and every yuquita cost S/.0.20 soles.

 Her Yuquitas are fabulous! My girlfriend's father bought us last week a bag of them and it was like a special kind of bread...actually I don't know how to describe it, you have to try it. It has a taste of cassava with anise that melt in your mouth, also you can find the popular yuquitas on the street carts where sellers offer them at the cost of  S/.0.50 or S/.1.00 sol.

They are all around Lima, and also you can find these food carts at Kennedy Park in Miraflores.

So next time you're hungry and are looking for a snack, and you see one of them ... check in your pocket for S/.1.00 and buy one! You wont regret it! 

Chauchilla Cemetery - Nazca

In the South of Peru lies Nazca famous for the Nazca Lines however, located 28 KM from the city lies the Chauchilla Cemetery an ancient burial site of the Nazca civilization that thrived in the area 200 BC to 600 AD.

This is located in the middle of the desert and was discovered in the 1920’s most likely by tomb robbers and for many years after has been a victim of countless robberies and acts of disrespect on the tombs that lied there undisturbed for years many of the stolen items included pottery, jewellery and many priceless artefacts.

What is important to know about this site is that most of the skeletons that remained untouched by the thieves can still be seen in their traditional burial poses and it gives an insight to their burial traditions; most of them are buried in family tombs and are facing the sky facing east.   Also due to the burial techniques especially the use of resin combined with the harsh arid desert some remains still have some skin and hair still hanging on.

It was not until 1997 that the Peruvian government decided to act and passed a law that would protect the site and now a small fee needs to be paid upon entry (around S/.8.00 to S/.10.00 soles)  however, although this act is good it is still apparent that action should have been taken many years before. Bones, bits of ceramics and materiel from the tombs can be seen scattered across the desert close to the site.

I promise to visit this place and write my own story to let you know how to get there and what to do, but I couldn't resit to mention about this amazing place. If you're in Nazca or near around Ica don't forget to visit it. 

Pictures from: Slate.com / PeruToptours / El Rincon de Sele

Paddington bear is back in Peru!

Hello my friends! This time I want to share some news with you than writing about history or some of my experiences here in Lima.

Well as you know I'm British so when I just found out that Paddington was here (I mean his statute) I was shocked! I mean, How didn't I know about this???? ahahaha lol well when I'm at work I don't really get to hear much about the outside world you know? 

Anyway... if you love Paddington stories like I did and if you're here in Lima go to visit it at Salazar Park in Miraflores (just near Larcomar mall) and you can get your picture :D with Paddington. 

"With the installation of this endearing character in Miraflores, we remember and celebrate the historical, cultural, educational and economic ties between the UK and Peru. Now that will be in Larcomar, one of the most tourist places of Lima a few meters from the headquarters of the British Embassy, ​​we expect the Paddington Bear becomes an attraction in itself."

This teddy effigy of Peruvian origin is one of several designs fifty statues that were part of the "Paddington route" (Paddington Trail) held in the British capital last year.

The unveiling was hold the past 17th of July and the ones in charge were the mayor of Miraflores, Jorge Muñoz Wells, and the Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alan Yarrow, who was on an official visit to Lima.