Peruvian New Year Superstitions and Traditions

New Year is coming up fast and Peru is full of traditions and superstitions, here are some you may or may not have heard of. Tell me if I have missed some:

1. Placing lentils into your pockets at midnight, and wishing for money whilst doing so.

2. Dressing up a large doll or effigy (sometimes stuffed with fireworks) with old clothes and burning it on the street. This signifies getting rid of the old, and making a new start.

Lighting colored candles.

3.Wearing new clothes—typically underwear. This typically goes hand-in-hand with wearing specific colors that represent something you desire in the upcoming year: Yellow for luck and happiness, green for money, red for love, and white for health or fertility.

4. Eating 12 grape as the clock strikes 12 to bring luck to every month of the year.

5. If you want to travel in the upcoming year, you should take a suitcase or briefcase and carry it around the block on New Year's Eve.

PS: As you will see the markets will turn yellow

By: GringoPerú

Hermilio Valdizán - The Father of Peruvian Psychiatry

Throughout history it is easy to forget those that made a change to society as many others take the limelight, so for this article I shall write about Hermilio Valdizán who specialized in the areas of psychiatry and neurology and helped bring awareness to these subjects in a time where in Peru these subjects were not well explored.

Hermilio Valdizán Medrano was born on the 20th of November 1885 in Huánuco,Peru to Mr. Hermilio Valdizán and Mrs. Juana Medrano and in 1894 they moved to Lima. At the age of 18, Valdizan entered Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (National University of San Marcos) after six years of studying he graduated from Medicine with his thesis “La delincuencia en el Perú” (Crime in Peru,1909) which he documented various factors of crime in social groups in Peru. 

After he was awarded a scholarship he then travelled to Bolonia, Italy in 1911 where he studied and he continued to travel to places like France and Switzerland and this where he specialized in psychiatry however, the outbreak of First World War made him return to Peru in 1914. 

A year after his return to Peru on the 27th of November 1915 he graduated as a doctor with his thesis “Los factores etiológicos de la alienación mental “(The etiological factors of mental alienation). 

With this he created the first outpatient clinic of Nervous and Mental Illness in the Hospital Dos de Mayo and also became the first professor of Neuropathology and Psychiatry in Peru, teaching not only psychiatry but about the methods of treatment.

It was well known that Valdizán opposed the treatment used for patients at that time for example the use of straitjackets and stocks which he deemed inhumane. He proposed and used more scientific methods in treating his patients believing that fair treatment of the patient would help them in the long run. 

Valdizán was also well informed about the treatment methods of the towns and communities of the highlands and the jungle, he also studied the damaging effects of the “Peruvian Wart”or Carrion’s Disease. Valdizán even studied the history of medicine and in 1913 published his work called “La facultad de Medicina de Lima” (The faculty of Medicine) in which he describes how the study of medicine changed during different eras of Peru the conquest, the colonial times and the republic. He continued to work in the field of psychiatry and neurology occasionally writing for a newspaper. 

Hermilio Valdizán died on the 25th of December 1929 due to heart issues; he is known as “The Father of Peruvian Psychiatry” and on the 20th of November in Peru is known as Día de la Psiquiatría (Day of Psychiatry) and is day to remember the work of Hermilio Valdizán Medrano however, this day is commonly forgotten.

By: GringoPerú

The Presbitero Maestro Cemetery

The Presbitero Maestro Cemetery (Cementerio Presbítero Matías Maestro) is located in Barrios Altos, Lima and is one of the oldest cemeteries in Peru and is considered the first municipal cemetery in Latin America.

The cemetery was commissioned under Viceroy Fernando de Abascal and was built between 1805 and 1808 at an estimated cost of 110,000 pesos and spanning 2 hectare on what was then the outskirts of the city of Lima, due to the rapid expansion of the city the cemetery is no longer on the outskirts. The cemetery itself is named after the architect Matías Maestro who was born in Spain in 1766, he arrived to Peru in 1790 and till his death in 1835 he helped construct and design important projects and building of Lima. 

When the cemetery was inaugurated on the 31st May 1808 it met a lot of opposition due to the fact that before this kind of burial became the norm in Latin America it was common for people to be buried beneath the churches in catacombs for example the catacombs that can be found in the San Francisco Church in downtown Lima but this was outlawed by José de San Martín. 

This cemetery contains 766 mausoleums and 92 monuments all in a neoclassic design (French and Italian design) it is also important to know the class system that is evident in this cemetery, the most distinguished people were buried it large, extravagant tombs/crypts, those who were not super rich yet had money were buried in what is called “Los nichos” these large rectangular structures in which people are buried within spaces and finally the common people were buried in ossuaries which is sort of like a common ground for burial especially if space is scarce. 

According to one historian José Bocanegra, there is an anecdote about the first person to be buried at the new site and it goes like this. It was decided that the first person to be buried at this new cemetery would the Spanish Archbishop Juan Domingo Gonzales de la Reguera however, a day before the inauguration a painter by the name of Francisco Acosta while working had an accident and died. This meant that Mr. Acosta should have been buried there first but the authorities decided to hide the body till they could bury the Archbishop first and only when that happened they could then proceed to give Mr. Acosta a proper funeral. 

Another important feature of The Presbitero Maestro Cemetery is the “Cripta de los Héroes” (The Crypt of Heroes) and is the place where those that fought in “The War of the Pacific” (1879 to 1883) were laid to rest. The central part of the crypt has 234 nichos and the sarcophagus of Andrés Avelino Cáceres (1833 to 1923). In the central part 5 ossuaries can be found these contain the remains of remains of those that were not identified but helped in the battles of Tarapacá and Angamos; Tacna and Arica; San Juan, Chorrillos and the District of Miraflores; Huamachuco; and San Pablo. Below this central level lie the remains of the heroes that Peru come to learn about during the dark years of the war these include Francisco Bolognesi, Miguel Grau Seminario and Alfonso Ugarte.

The Presbitero Maestro Cemetery is currently the resting place of 220000 people and one of the oldest tombs that remain intact is thought to be of a woman that lived in the San Juan de Dios neighborhood and was buried there in 1810, popular belief suggests she became a saint. Many people leave flowers, candles or offerings on this tomb some devoted followers tell their sins and other look for help or a miracle. 

This site was designated a National Historic Monument in 1972 but ageing, pollution from nearby factories, population pressure, and vandalism have caused significant damage to the structures, the government have tried to implement changes that will protect this site but more needs to be done to preserve the site. 

On a final note the cemetery is also a popular place for shamans or “witches” who like to practice things like black magic and such within the cemetery and of course this site as many legend and myths told differently by different people. Also some people like to take a guided tour at night around the site where popular ghost’s stories are told.

In summary this a very old and scared site that has spanned across the years holding many remains of important military and political figures but also that of the people and is in need of care because what is lost now cannot be regained, it is important we all do our best to protect such venerable sites.

By: GringoPerú

Salazar Park - Miraflores

Looking at this picture many of you who are living in Lima probably have passed by it many times. It is Parque Salazar ("Salazar Park") in Miraflores next to the Commercial Centre Larcomar. 

The history of this park begins with Alfredo Salazar Southwell (1913 – 14 September 1937) a Peruvian aviator, Salazar was very studious gaining high marks in his school. He joined the Peruvian Air Force in 1932 and In 1935 he finished his military studies gaining the rank of Sub-Ensign and became a flight instructor for other cadets. By 1936 he was promoted again to the rank of Flight Officer. 

On the 14 of September 1937 while celebrating the inauguration of a monument to Jorge Chávez, the airplane he was piloting started emitting smoke while doing a rehearsal. He ordered his copilot, a mechanical technician Carlos Fajardo to abandon the aircraft using the parachute, initially he refused but then later accepted. In order to minimize damage and civilian deaths Salazar veered the aircraft out of the populated areas and crashed into a field that is now Parque Salazar, he was killed instantly. 

Salazar's quick thinking and sacrifice is remembered and he is considered a hero for this. 

The monument of the condor that stands there now was inaugurated in 1953 and is the work of a Hungarian sculptor Lajos D’Ebnet and is made of rocks found in the Highlands of Peru so the monument is not easily affected by the heat nor by the humidity.

By GringoPeru

October 31th: Criolla Song Day

Everyone knows that the 31st October is Halloween, the history of Halloween stretches way back and can be traced back to the Celtic people around 2000 year ago but is nowadays it is more related to the USA as they make all festivals big and bold and although not so popular in Peru the influence from the USA is here but mainly for young children who want to dress up and just another excuse to have large parties. 

Now there is another thing to celebrate on this day and it is 100% Peruvian and that is "Día de la Canción Criolla'' (Criolla Song Day). 

Criollo was originally used as a term of class in the Spanish colonies of the Americas, those that were born locally with confirmed Spanish ancestry however, in the case of Criolla Song Day the day is more about celebrating a union of Spanish, African and indigenous elements present in many types of Peruvian music.  

(By the way the word is "Criollo", in the name "Criolla music day, the ending vowel changes from"o" to "a"  just for grammatical conjugation but means the same) 

It is also obvious to see that since the Spanish had more of an influence on the coast of Peru like in Lima the celebration of Criollo culture is more recognized than in the rest of the Peru like the highlands and the jungle. The day was officially created in 1944 and according to some sources the day was going to originally be the 18th October but this coincided with the celebration of Señor de los Milagros and so it was given the day of 31st October by the president Manuel Prado Ugarteche. 

First line: "Bartola, Zambo Cabero and Oscar Áviles", second line: "Lucha Reyes, Chabuca Granda and Eva Ayllon"

On this day you will hear a lot of Criollo music especially that of Bartola, Eva Ayllon and Chabuca Granda and this accompanied with many live acts which can be seen in many places often people who like this tradition may go to “peñas” which are restaurants that have live music events. 

When you listen to Criolla music you will notice that must of the music has certain instruments, instruments that are very representative of this culture is the “caja” a wooden box which is played similar to a drum expect the person sits on top of it and it is hit with the hands and the acoustic guitar. Dances also accompany this day for example “El Festejo” is a well-known Afro-Peruvian dance which has a fast rhythm and especially with this dance the dancers must be flexible since this dance involves a lot of movement.

So for this day whether you are a Halloween fan or Criolla song fan have a great day, also you will see that the idea of Halloween has been mix in with the Criolla day so don’t be surprised to see someone dressed up as a skeleton playing the “caja” haahha...

of course I'll celebrate Dia de la Música Criolla :D eating some delicious criolla dishes uhmmm Aji de Gallina, Cau cau.... rico!!!

Treasures of Egypt in Lima!

Hey guys! Here is an interesting exhibition in Plaza Norte, Independencia, Lima. It is called the "Treasures of Egypt". Here you can see 84 original artefacts, the oldest being the Sarcophagus of Hetepheres which dates back 4000 years in addition to this there are 224 replica artefacts. Here you can also learn about the life of ancient Egyptians like agriculture, war, systems of government and the concept of life and death they had. 

The entrance fee is only 10 soles, also you can take pictures without issues. This exhibition opened on the 1st October 2015 but will remain open till the end of November so if you're in Lima don't miss this opportunity :) 

#MásPeruanoQue El Día de la Canción Criolla

Hello everyone! Today I want to share with you the new video spot of Marca PERÚ ‪#‎MásPeruanosQue‬ to commemorate ‪#‎DíaDeLaCanciónCriolla‬ !!! 

The Día de la Canción Criolla is a Peruvian festivity celebrated yearly on October 31, some others prefer to celebrate "Halloween" and some others prefer to celebrate both. The event celebrates the criollo culture of Peru. It was established on 18 October 1944 by President Manuel Prado y Ugarteche.

Criolla music is based in the fusion of Spanish guitar and afro instrumental ... don't worry I'll make a special post to explain you more about this tradition!

Guinness World Record: LARGEST BOWL OF QUINOA

Congratulations to the Peruvian team for achieving the Guinness Record:

 "LARGEST BOWL OF QUINOA"

The event was held in Miami (Florida, USA), the main role was played by Rosa Polo who declared to feel truly happy for the success a long with her other partners, most of them apprentice students and chefs from the Peruvian university San Ignacio de Loyola.

The challenge was to cook 500 Kilos of Quinoa and the team managed to prepare a salad of 716.35 kilos. 

Rosa Polo

"We've been working very coordinated and thank God now you can see the results" commented Polo, a Peruvian lady who's been living more than 31 years in the South of Florida.

During 24 hours, Peruvian chefs have been working on the preparation of a dish of 716. 35 kilos that finally managed to enter in the Guinness Record's book.

"Yesterday we started at 1 p.m. and during 24 hours we've been in a continues work, day and night, till now that we just finished the salad", declared Polo very excited for achieving the world record. 

The Peruvian chef also received the congratulations from the Minister of Exterior of Peru, who sent a representative to the event.

Rosa Polo also confessed: " I was convinced since the first day that we were going to achieve the record because we cared even about the minimum detail"

"587.55 kilos of quinoa was used for the preparation, among red peppers, raisins and dressing with oil" said Martínez (representative of the Guiness Record) " In this case it's been established that all the ingredients have to be prepared  for the event. We can't have any ingredient prepare beforehand, so the process of creation and cooking is a continues process" . 

The even was held at the campus in Florida International University ( FIU), also had the support of the Peruvian consul in Miami, Cesar Bustamante, and some other local authorities like Luigi Boria, Major of the city of Doral where the campus is located. 

At the end, the guests could enjoy the Quinoa salad and the rest was distributed among two charities institutions in Miami.  

Source: El Comercio 

Peru: The amazing mix of cultures

Long before the Spanish arrived to Peru there were many beautiful and interesting civilizations spanning across what is now Peru some notable civilizations when the Spanish arrived were the Huancas and the Incas.

When the Spanish arrived in 1530 they went on a conquest through religion, culture and ideologically warfare leading to the displacement of the traditional ways of life of the indigenous people and placing their minds and hands in chains. Though it is evident that the Spanish failed in wiping out these traditions due to the fact that these traditions form an important part of what makes Peru today, the culture of the indigenous people live on through languages like Quechu, Aymara and through the amazing varieties of dialects and languages of the jungle. Also through art, music( woodwind instruments), dance, festivals and food these all highlight indigenous ways of life.

Another thing to note is the Afro-Peruvian community of Peru a large community this is important to Peru in the modern age but it was not always so. When Francisco Pizzaro arrived to Peru in the 1530’s he brought with him African slaves that were common in European countries at the time. One notable slave was Juan Valiente, this of course was not his real name and it is thought that he was born in 1505 in Northwest Africa and was enslaved by the Portuguese before being bought by Alonso Valiente a conquistador who became rich after conquest of the Aztec people. Juan Valiente acquired his name when he was baptized and he was taken to Spain.


When Juan Valiente returned to Mexico he made a deal with his owner a deal that would let him participate as a conquistador in the New World in exchange profits would go to Alonso Valiente. Now in 1534 he now joined Pedro de Almagro’s expedition to Peru, it is said that 200 people of African ancestry took part in this and with disastrous consequences as many died from starvation and harsh weather conditions of the Andes but Juan survived.   This did not deter Juan from continuing he later joined Diego de Almagro’s expedition to Chile in 1535 where he rose to captain of the infantry and in 1546 he helped found the capital of Santiago de Chile for this he was awarded an estate and in 1550 he was the only person of African ancestry to be awarded an encomienda where indigenous people worked the land. Juan was killed in the Battle of Tucapel in 1553, a battle that was fought by Spanish and the Mapuche (indigenous people of what is now known as Chile). 

Now after the conquest and when the Spanish had a firm grip of Peru, most Afro-Peruvian slaves were used in agriculture while indigenous people were forced to work in gold and silver mines.   Due the death of the indigenous people due to the harsh working conditions and disease Afro slaves were then forced to work in the mines.

Eventually Afro Peruvians were allowed to buy their freedom but for most this was a really regulated kind of freedom and most joined the military or worked as domestic housekeepers. 

When Peru gained its independence in 1824 it did not give the freedom and justice to the Afro-Peruvian nor did it give the same to the indigenous people who had suffered many decades of abuse and neglect. This would all change however in 1854 with a rebellion that was led by Ramon Castilla who became president and finally abolish slavery later in1854. 

Afro-Peruvian culture is alive today in Peru once again we see their influence in the food, dances, festivals, art and music. Musica Criolla is a popular kind of music that has a lot of influence from the Afro-Peruvian community.

It is important to note another Afro-Peruvian who is well known even around the world and his name was San Martin de Porres born in Lima in 1579 a son of a Spanish nobleman: John de Porres and former slave known as Anna. He entered the Dominican clergy in 1601 and became working with the poor and the sick. There are many legends to his time in the monastery from levitation, passing through locked doors and guiding animals. He passed away in 1639 and it was not till 1962 Pope John XXIII made him an official saint.

The Chinese and Asian communities are also an integral part to Peru and also have a long history when Peru eventually abolished slavery it was hard for the now free Afro-Peruvians  as many lived in poverty and the work they left behind was filled by Chinese or Asian immigrants who mostly worked in guano mines. The movement of Chinese or Asian people in Peru varies hugely for example during times of hardship in countries like China, Singapore and Malaysia for example more would come to Peru while many leave to work in other countries.

The Asian influence can found especially in food for example Chifa a Peruvian/Asian dish created by these immigrants.

There are many influential immigrations and people that have made Peru what it is today and all of them have a unique quality that makes the country even better. 

Now since I am English I would like to point out that British-Peruvians are the fifth biggest group to settle in Peru after the Spanish, Italians, Germans and the Swiss. Between 1860 and 1950 it is estimated that 1900 British people settle in Peru many were skilled and some worked in the saltire mines in Tacna. Due to poverty and Gen. Juan Velasco Alvarado (A Peruvian dictator) in the 60’s and 70’s many British Peruvians fled the country and this was also the case when Alan Garcia caused a collapse in the Peruvian economy. 

One cultural aspect that is evident today in Peru is the famous Inca Kola a popular fizzy drink in Peru. Inca Kola was created by Joseph Robinson Lindley (1859-1932) who was born in Doncaster Yorkshire and he moved to Rimac, Lima Peru in 1910 where he created Inca Kola.

All cultures are diverse, beautiful and should be given respect especially in this ever changing world. Peru is making progress on that part and I hope to see it improve a lot more in the future.

October: Lord of Miracles and Turron

October is the start of a large and important event in Peru known as “Senor de los Milagros” or Lord of Miracles at this time of year you will see a lot of people wearing purple throughout the month. 

This festival all came about in the colonial times when an Angolan slave painted the image of Jesus on the wall of hut at the Pachacamilla plantation in 1651 however in 1655 a large and devastating earthquake destroyed much of Lima but the wall was left intact while everything around it was destroyed. 

This was then seen as divine and a small chapel was built around it but bad luck came again in 1687 when another earthquake and tidal wave destroyed the chapel yet the wall was once again left intact. By 1771 the Sanctuary of Las Nazarenas was built incorporating the wall and was left in the care of Nazarene Sisters whom still to this day look after it. Large processions take place on this day with thousands of devoted followers holding an image of Jesus above their shoulders. 

Also at this time of year Turron is eaten a really sweet and delicious dessert made from anise, flour and honey. Turrones is an Arabic tradition brought to Peru by the Spanish however, there is a branch of Turron called Doña Pepa and this has a legend of its own. 

The legend goes back to the colonial times and started with an old slave named Josefa Marmanillo who was also known as “ Pepa” and the story states that she was paralyzed but was healed when she prayed to "Señor de los Milagros" (Lord of the Miracles) during its procession. In thanks to the miracle she created the dessert and gave it to the people at the procession, legend also states that when she presented the dessert the “Lord of Miracles” smiled and blessed the offering. Ever since then Limenians eat this dessert to remember the power and miracles of "Señor de los Milagros". Another version of this legend states that Josefa Marmanillo had a dream in which saints appeared to her and gave her the recipe and this is what she used to create the dessert. Whatever version of the story you may like, you will sure to fall in love with Turron and if you are looking for many varieties you can go to Tacna Avenue where there are many stores selling it.

Cacaosuyo - Best chocolate in the world

This time I wanna share  some great news with you!!!!!  Since I'm 50% Peruvian I feel totally proud of this new title. Peru has a great potential in the choco-Industry. Their organics products are as good as Swiss chocolate brands and this award proved!  

At the International Chocolate Awards 2015, Peruvian chocolate company Cacaosuyo was awarded best chocolate in the world, among other awards.

It was Cacaosuyo’s Piura Milk bar that took home the best of the best prize, defeating the competitive Swiss chocolate brands.

In addition to winning the best in the world, the Cacaosuyo company won Gold – Chocolate Maker; Gold – Directly Traded; Gold – Growing Country and Gold – Organic.

“Today not only chocolate is exported but it is being marketed in the local market due to demand by the Peruvian consumer, who is educating their palate and wants to enjoy a good chocolate with high percentages of cacao which is also beneficial for health,” said Samir Giha, CEO of Theobroma, the chocolate factory that creates Cacaosuyo, reports Perú21.

In April this year Piura’s chocolate stood out in Seattle, Washington at the Specialty Coffee Association of America Fair. The ceremony awarded Theo Chocolate and Peruvian cacao the Best New Product and People’s Choice in Food Category.

Source

Facebook Oficial Cacaosuyo: CLICK AKI

Food truck EL GRINGO

 Hello there! Well let me start my story...It was Wednesday and I had the day off but my girlfriend was working so I decided to go out around Miraflores to chase the cats at Kenedy Park ehehehhee ...but then I got super hungry and I didn't know what to eat so I spent most of the days with the cats hoping my girlfriend will finish soon so she could recommend me a place where to eat. Finally *-* it was 5 p.m. and she came....sadly she had stomach-ache x_x so she didn't want to eat. Since we didn't want to go home yet we decided to walk all Arequipa avenue...YES! WE WALKED from Kenedy Park till block 16th ...around 20 blocks ehehheheh :P I guess my idea worked because she felt hungry xD and after she took some medicine she decided to look for something to eat. So that's how we were hanging around Arequipa avenue WHEN WE SAW IT!!!!!

*-* An oasis in the middle of the dessert!!!!!! Guided by our noses we arrived to this fancy food truck! It was burger time! OH YEAH!  We've heard about their famous home made burgers so we decided to give a try. 

HOT BARBIE Q

The Food truck EL GRINGO is a place I would definitely recommend. It is located on  Arequipa Avenue at block 12, they are open only from Monday to Friday from 5 p.m. till 11 p.m. here they sell traditional burgers and chips that are all hand made. 

My girlfriend ordered that Kiwicha chicken and I order the HOT BARBIE Q!!!!  I have to say these are sooo much better than the commercial burgers you can by, the chips were really nice and the burger I ordered was satisfying. Also, they don't sell soda, they offer you cold tea :) I would like to go again sometime, hehehehe maybe after a long walk!

If you don't like to walk around Arequipa Av. cause of the traffic and new constructions around, now you can find  them now in JOCKEY PLAZA next to Sodimac!!!!

And guess what? They are open from Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. till 11 p.m. and the best part is you don't need to pay with cash, they accept cash and visa!!!!!! A really nice peruvian company you should give a try!!!!!!!

You can visit their facebook fan page here ------------> Food truck EL GRINGO

Battle of Angamos

On 8 October 1879 a decisive and critical battle took place off the coast of Bolivia (now part of Chile), this battle is known as the Battle of Angamos and was a major defeat for Peru. So what happened and who was involved?

The War of the Pacific started in 1879 and lasted to 1883; it was fought between Bolivia, Chile and Peru and started over the control of Antofagasta, a region rich in guano and also taxes. Peru and Bolivia ultimately lost the war and land was ceded to Chile, Peru lost Tacna and Arica and Bolivia lost access to the sea becoming a landlocked country.
Now the Battle of Angamos was the standoff between Chilean Vice-Admiral Juan José Latorre Benavente (1846-1912) and the Peruvian Admiral Miguel María Grau Seminario (1834-1879). At this time Bolivia had no navy, so Peru was left with the heavy task of gaining dominance in the Pacific Ocean. 
For a long time before the war Peru had a stronger navy however, at the break of war Chile acquired ironclads, namely the Cochrane and the Blanco Encalada which were larger but slower than the faster and smaller ironclads of Peru, the most well-known one being the Huáscar. 
Miguel Grau began life on the waves at a young age, from the age of 9 after enrolling in the Paita Nautical School he worked on many ships across South America till 1853 when he left the merchant marines and became an officer candidate in the Peruvian Navy. In 1864 he travelled to Merseyside, UK to oversee the building and delivery of the new ironclads. On returning to South America he was quickly put to the test when the Chilean and Peruvian Navy joined forces to fight back the Spanish who wanted to gain control of their old colonies. In 1876 he rose the rank of admiral and his flagship was the Huáscar.

At the outbreak of the War of the Pacfic,Peru had the upper hand and this was evident as the Peruvian Navy swept across northern Chile causing havoc on the supply lines, one such victory for Peru was at the Iquique, a port in Southern Peru that was blockaded by the Chilean ship The Esmeralda on 21st May 1879. The Esmeralda was a small wooden ship while the Huáscar, an advanced ship of the time had numerous armaments and has thick iron armor. When Miguel Grau arrived to the port and confronted the Chilean Navy Captain Arturo Prat, a defiant captain who refused to surrender even if the odds were against him. It is said that Miguel Grau pleaded to Captain Prat to surrender due to the heavy losses on the Chilean side however, his plea was unheeded and he was forced to sink The Esmeralda, Captain Prat lost his life after boarding the Huáscar. The water was littered with the dead and the drowning, Grau gave an order to save as many of the survivors as possible and took them back to land. 
The Huáscar proved to be a huge problem for Chile, Chile needed dominance of the sea so it could land troops on the shores and start the land invasion. Many Peruvian ships had been sunk so the Chileans hatched a plan to trap the Huáscar and end its activity. On the 8th October 1879, the Chilean fleet of two ironclads the Cochrane and the Blanco Encalada and three corvettes were sent up north to meet Grau. Grau now realizing he was severely outnumbered tried to flee but became trapped at Punta Angamos, the Chilean ships now opened fire and the Cochrane fired an armour piercing round that hit the command tower killing Miguel Grau instantly. Command fell to Lt Captain Elias Aguirre who bravely fought on despite the grim fate; the Chileans continued to bombard the Huáscar and Aguirre fell. The command then fell to a lieutenant who with rest of the crew thought it was a good idea to scuttle the ship however, it was too late the Chileans boarded the ship and captured the Huáscar.
This devastating loss meant that the Chileans had free reign of the sea and were able to land troops on the coast without issues.
Admiral Miguel María Grau Seminario was buried with military honors in Chile but his remains were returned to Peru in 1958 and his flagship the Huáscar was kept by the Chilean Navy who utilized it during the War of the Pacific against Peru and was also used in the Chilean Civil War (1891). The Huáscar in the end was renovated and is now floating museum which you can visit in Talcahuano, Chile.
Miguel María Grau Seminario is well-known and respected throughout Chile and Peru, he is known as the Gentleman of the Seas due to the fact that despite being under enemy fire he tried to recuse people from both sides. In 1967 Grau was posthumously awarded the rank of Grand Admiral of Peru.

The 8th of October is now a national holiday in Peru, a day set aside to remember Admiral Miguel Grau, the Gentleman of the Seas and those that fought along side him.

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?