Authentic art in Peru Walking into the bright spacious studio of Ishmael Randall-Weeks, you instantly get the impression of an artist busy at work and creative juices flowing. The space is full of projects in progress – sculptures, building materials, drawings, photos and the sound of a power tool in the background. Ishmael calls it his ‘think tank space’ and it’s where all his work begins. The finished project might turn out to be a huge location-specific installation, that would never fit in his Baranco studio, but it’s here that the ideas are born and developed. “I never keep finished work here in the studio” he says. “Once it’s finished it has to go”. He explains that the space is about evolution and change, so not for anything stagnant and finished. Influences and Stimuli Through his art Ishmael communicates his observations of landscapes and life in Peru. He was born in Cuzco in 1976 to a painter mother and writer father, so it’s easy to infer that he grew up surrounded by creativity. He describes the escapism and nomadic lifestyle of his childhood in the Sacred Valley as having a lasting influence on his work. He explores themes of urbanization, transformation, regeneration, and is often pigeon-holed as an environmental artist but says this is too literal an interpretation of his work. Influences also come from his time abroad. Ishmael left Peru to study and work in the United States, with many years spent in New York before returning to his homeland. He now splits his time between the two. He has had solo exhibitions in New York, Rome, Mexico, Peru, Italy and Bolivia as well as a long list of international group exhibitions. He has represented Peru at the 10th Havana Biennial as well as the 9th Cuenca Bienal. Reclaimed and
Authentic art in Peru Walking into the bright spacious studio of Ishmael Randall-Weeks, you instantly get the impression of an artist busy at work and creative juices flowing. The space is full of projects in progress – sculptures, building materials, drawings, photos and the sound of a power tool in the…
Peruvian ceviche The Pride of Peru Although many Latin American countries lay claim to ceviche, I'm going to remain unashamedly biased, and uphold Peru's claim to the dish. Gastón Acurio, from one of Lima's top restaurants Astrid y Gastón agrees, explaining that because of Lima's prominent position on the coast and its strategic importance as a trading base for the Spanish conquistadores, dishes like ceviche quickly spread to other Spanish colonies, and became assimilated into their own local cuisine. Although there are many variations, even within Peru, ceviche is essentially strips of raw fish which are 'cooked' in lime juice. In Peru it's usually served up with red onion, cilantro (coriander), aji amarillo - a flavoursome and spicy indigenous chili pepper, sweet potato and choclo, a local variety of corn with giant kernals. Whilst there are a wide array of restaurants we can recommend for you try this classic dish, my colleagues and I recently had some exciting ceviche experiences that we'd like to share. Lima with Zest Matt, Erika, Silvana and Claudia from Aracari's sales team recently went on Aracari's Lima with Zest tour - one of our best selling experiences in Lima. Led by local chef Penelope Alzamora this is a great hands-on introduction to Peruvian food, including a cooking lesson where you prepare ceviche and other classic Peruvian dishes. For a full description of Lima with Zest, check out our previous blog about the experience. I recently opted for a truly local experience, at a bustling marketing in Lima. The freshest ceviche in town A great experience is to eat Peru’s celebrated national dish right in the fish market. Last Saturday, bright and early, I headed to Mercado Central in downtown Lima. The market sprawls across two levels of an entire city block, and spills out into the streets and buildings that surround it. I found a popular local fish
Peruvian ceviche The Pride of Peru Although many Latin American countries lay claim to ceviche, I’m going to remain unashamedly biased, and uphold Peru’s claim to the dish. Gastón Acurio, from one of Lima’s top restaurants Astrid y Gastón agrees, explaining that because of Lima’s prominent position on the coast and its strategic importance as…
Peru navy history I’d read about the famous Yavari and the fascinating story of the Victorian steamship that journeyed from the shipyards of London all the way to the shores of Lake Titicaca. But I finally had the opportunity to visit the ship myself and can now add an exciting update to the story. Categorised by the National Historic Ships Committee of Great Britain as being in the same league as the Cutty Sark (famous British clipper ship and top tourist attraction in London), the Yavari is the oldest single propeller-driven iron ship operating in the world today. However, what makes her remarkable is not just her existence in such illustrious company, but the journey she made to her home high in the Peruvian Andes. If you don’t know the story, which involved the ship being disassembled into thousands of pieces and carried over the mountains by pack mule, read about it in our previous blog. Now let’s fast forward to the present day. For several years the Yavari has been stationary, moored at the edge of Puno, the Peruvian city on the shores of Lake Titicaca, at 3,810m (12,500 ft) above sea level. Yavari has been welcoming visitors aboard to walk her decks and browse the onboard museum - a fitting tribute to her extraordinary history of service, and salvage. On a recent trip to Lake Titicaca, I went to visit the Yavari. Moored outside Puno, not far from the famous Uros Islands, I boarded a small dingy which took me to the great vessel. I’m pleased to report back that the iconic vessel is now on the move again. After some refurbishments to meet international safety standards, a good lick of paint and much needed work on the engine, she’s doing what she was destined to do –
Peru navy history I’d read about the famous Yavari and the fascinating story of the Victorian steamship that journeyed from the shipyards of London all the way to the shores of Lake Titicaca. But I finally had the opportunity to visit the ship myself and can now add an exciting…
The oasis of Ica, some 300km south of Lima, is home to Peru’s wine and pisco-producing vineyards. There, tucked amidst rows of grapes, sits the sprawling bright-pink Hacienda Tacama, a standout winery in the region, which lays claim to being both the oldest winery in South America and Peru’s largest. Having undergone extensive renovations in 2016, I headed to the sand-dune surrounded valley to test out the updated tour of Hacienda Tacama and to learn about and sample some of Peru’s best wines and pisco - a white grape brandy and the much-loved national spirit. Hacienda Tacama offering heaps of history A long driveway greeted us as we entered through the imposing estate walls. The property extends over 250 hectares in an area that has long been used for cultivation - the Incas planted coca leaves here long before the Spanish started growing grapes. The vineyard at Hacienda Tacama was created in the 16th century, thus eliminating the need to import communion wine from Europe for the recently established religious orders. Then in the 18th century pisco production began in the region. We were quite happy to sample both products of the vine – enjoying creative pisco cocktails and wine paired with our lunch. We ate on the patio of the onsite restaurant Tambo – a new addition to the property with an otherwise long history and commitment to preserving tradition. 1889 was the year the Olaechea family purchased Tacama from the Order of St. Augustine, and it has remained in the same family, producing wine and pisco, to this day. Tacama Horses at Hacienda Tacama While we ate lunch, we enjoyed a traditional horse show on the green grounds in front of us. The first owner of the vineyard was an equestrian fan and brought over Arabian horses from
The oasis of Ica, some 300km south of Lima, is home to Peru’s wine and pisco-producing vineyards. There, tucked amidst rows of grapes, sits the sprawling bright-pink Hacienda Tacama, a standout winery in the region, which lays claim to being both the oldest winery in South America and Peru’s largest….
Peru with flavour Peruvian food is now well established on the world’s gastronomic map. With Michelin-starred restaurants in Lima and cities across the world, more people are getting to know the culinary delights of Peru. While it’s great to sample food from a distant country in your own city, nothing beats culinary travel -getting to know a country through your taste buds. In this culinary blog series, we’ll introduce you to some of Peru’s iconic dishes that will have you booking a flight and a table for as soon as you land! Causa - so much more than mashed potato The potato. Most people know that this humble root hails from Peru. The country boasts nearly 3,000 varieties in all shapes, sizes and subtle flavour distinctions, so it’s not surprising that potato is a staple of Peruvian cuisine, and used in many dishes. When you think of mashed potatoes, you often think of a dish that’s heavy, starchy and certainly served hot. So encountering causa is a surprise for all your senses. First of all, who would have known that mashed potatoes can be so aesthetically pleasing! Causa features tuna or chicken, layered with silky smooth mashed potato and a vegetable layer, often avocado. The colourful layers are often topped with drizzles of sauces, and other vibrant garnishes. Taking a taste leads to more surprises. Causa is served cold, and the layers are flavoured with delicate hints of lime and aji amarillo - the delightfully flavoursome orange chilli pepper that is ubiquitous to Peruvian cuisine. The result is light, refreshingly lifting flavours. Nothing of the heaviness or blandness you might expect from mashed potatoes. A bite that cuts through the layers, results in an explosion of flavours in your mouth. Causa is a Limeño classic, enjoyed especially in the summer, often as a
Peru with flavour Peruvian food is now well established on the world’s gastronomic map. With Michelin-starred restaurants in Lima and cities across the world, more people are getting to know the culinary delights of Peru. While it’s great to sample food from a distant country in your own city, nothing…
Corpus Christi Cusco Festival Corpus Christi, a Catholic holiday celebrated worldwide, is very distinct in Cusco. It’s the city’s most important religious festival and a public holiday in Cusco, which is celebrated with fervor. It is also the occasion that most exemplifies the synergy between Catholicism and traditional Andean beliefs and customs. The main procession takes place with 15 adorned statues each representing a different parish church. The procession is followed by thousands of people, carrying flowers and offerings. For more details on the nature of the festival, check out our previous blog. If you’re in Cusco during Corpus Christi this year, here are our 5 top tips to get the most out of the experience: Corpus Christi in Cuzco is not a spectacle created for tourists, but an important religious celebration for Cuzqueños. Because of this, we recommend enjoying the celebrations accompanied by a local guide who can explain the significance behind the pageantry which is otherwise hard to follow, and take you to the best spots to view the procession (Aracari can arrange this as part of your trip). With thousands of people lining the routes of the procession, arrange a booking (in advance) at a restaurant or bar with a balcony overlooking the route – you’ll get a great view, especially for snapping photos, and a comfortable seat to take it all in. There are many on the Plaza de Armas. If you'd like to be part of the action, head down into to Plaza de Armas - Cuzco's main square is not cordoned off as it is for other festivals like Inti Raymi, meaning you can wonder around, including walking along the façacde of the Cathedral. Be warned that because of crowds, it can take you half an hour to get from one side of the small square to the other.
Corpus Christi Cusco Festival Corpus Christi, a Catholic holiday celebrated worldwide, is very distinct in Cusco. It’s the city’s most important religious festival and a public holiday in Cusco, which is celebrated with fervor. It is also the occasion that most exemplifies the synergy between Catholicism and traditional Andean beliefs…
