During a trip to Cusco, I had the opportunity to meet with Dr. Jean-Jacques Decoster, one of Aracari's top specialist guides who accompanies travelers on tours of Machu Picchu and is a rich source of information on the Incas and Andean culture. Dr. Decoster provides insider information for a privileged insight into Cusco and the surrounding area. Aracari's Cusco Specialist Guide Dr. Jean-Jacques Decoster Dr. Decoster is a native of France, who now lives in the city of Cusco, where he is the Director of the language school and cultural center, Centro Tinku, the president of the non-profit organization, Asociación Kuraka, the French Consul and a National Geographic Expeditions Expert. He received a degree in Linguistics and Literature from the University of Lille in France and continued on to earn a master’s degree and a PhD in Anthropology from the University of Virginia and Cornell, respectively, as well as a doctorate in Social Sciences from the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos in Peru. Professor of Anthropology Over the past decade, he has held the positions of Professor of Anthropology and Ethnohistory at the Universidad Nacional San Antonio Abad del Cusco, where he teaches courses in Inca History and Andean Ethnography. Dr. Decoster’s major publications focus on aspects of the cultural anthropology of the Andes, and he actively seeks out solutions to development problems in rural areas, specifically, the relation between native groups and their environment; human rights and socioeconomic conditions of indigenous populations; and bilingual education in rural communities. Aracari's interview with Dr. Jean-Jacques Decoster Recently I interviewed Dr. Decoster about his education, field of study, current projects and work he does in the region of Cusco, which you can read below to see why Aracari is pleased that our guests can meet and learn from such an interesting
During a trip to Cusco, I had the opportunity to meet with Dr. Jean-Jacques Decoster, one of Aracari’s top specialist guides who accompanies travelers on tours of Machu Picchu and is a rich source of information on the Incas and Andean culture. Dr. Decoster provides insider information for a privileged…
Artist Grimanesa Neuhaus inaugurated her ceramics collection, “Tiempo de Amanacaes” at the art gallery and handicraft shop, Dédalo Arte and Artesania in the neighborhood of Barranco on Thursday evening. We stopped by the event and found people milling about the gallery, discussing the works and the flower of Lima that few Limeñans have the chance to see: the amancae. Sculptor Grimanesa Neuhaus The artist, Grimanesa, who often incorporates flowers into her works, wore a pink scarf and floral print skirt as she greeted the guests perusing her ceramics that ranged from candle holders, to teapots, to large fruit bowls and playful, Peruvian paso horse statues. A jazz trio enlivened the ambiance and a local news station made an appearance to interview the artist and guests. The theme of this collection, the ‘time of the amancae’, is in honor of this yellow flower that is now nearly extinct in Lima and blooms only between the months of June and August when the mist rolls in off of the Pacific and provides the necessary nutrients. Each flower lives for only two to four days. The blooming of the lily on the hills of Lima in the Rímac district was once celebrated in combination with the festival for Saint John the Baptist on June 24th, but today the plant is difficult to find, relegated to a section of low hills in Pachacamac, southern Lima. Urbanism and other factors have caused the amancae to stop flourishing during its blooming months, which is why Grimanesa and other members of a garden association had to search long and hard to finally discover the flower. The amancae appears in Inca artifacts, and Grimanesa was interested in finding this transient flower that has featured in literature and other works. Pablo Neruda alludes to the lily in his poem “Ode to
Artist Grimanesa Neuhaus inaugurated her ceramics collection, “Tiempo de Amanacaes” at the art gallery and handicraft shop, Dédalo Arte and Artesania in the neighborhood of Barranco on Thursday evening. We stopped by the event and found people milling about the gallery, discussing the works and the flower of Lima that few…
Educational institution, Kusi Kawsay in Pisac celebrated its 5th anniversary this year, and looking at recent advances the school has made, it is clear how it has matured and grown since its opening. For those unfamiliar with Kusi Kawsay, it is an independently-run school situated just above the famous Pisac Market in the Urubamba Valley with a pedagogy modeled on the Waldorf Educational Method. The focus here is on the incorporation of Andean culture and worldview into the classroom, placing a special importance on the arts. It was founded by five families who felt that traditional schools in the Cusco region discouraged Andean children from expressing and taking pride in their cultural heritage among other concerns about the overall management of students, classrooms and staff. So they started their own school, Kusi Kawsay, which in Quechua means “happy life”. Aracari has paid the school several visits, and our guests have generously donated this wonderful institution, contributing directly to its development and thus the development of the children who attend, as the school depends on individual donors and grants. Aracari also offers guests the opportunity to visit the school in Pisac to learn about its foundation and development from one of the founding parents. Below are some of the latest developments that Kusi Kawsay shared in its annual report for their 2013 academic year. The full report can be found here. Teacher training and developments - Kusi Kawsay received a one-year grant from Global Fund for Children towards organizational development of the school to work on interpersonal dynamics among faculty and assisting with the further progression of planning, fundraising, governance, human resource development, financial management, monitoring, learning and assessment. In addition to this support, Kusi Kawsay has yearly workshops for teacher training from ProHumanus, a civil association in Peru that offers teachers
Educational institution, Kusi Kawsay in Pisac celebrated its 5th anniversary this year, and looking at recent advances the school has made, it is clear how it has matured and grown since its opening. For those unfamiliar with Kusi Kawsay, it is an independently-run school situated just above the famous Pisac…
*Photo credits to RPP Noticias for images of the Danzaq and Saqra dancers featured above. Festival in Peru, Señor de Choquekillka From now through September some of the most fascinating and unique festivals will be celebrated throughout Peru including the upcoming Pentecostal celebrations this weekend followed by Qoyllur Riti, Corpus Christi and Inti Raymi in the coming weeks. The city of Ollantaytambo in the Urubamba Valley will celebrate the vibrant Festival of the Señor de Choquekillka in honor of their patron saint and Pentecost beginning this Saturday June 7th through Tuesday June 10th. Ollantaytambo is located about 80 kilometers from the city of Cusco and is known for its impressive Inca fortress, original Inca streets and architecture and the train station that services travellers to Machu Picchu. The festival, proclaimed Cultural Patrimony of the Nation in 2008, is a spectacular example of syncretism between the Catholic and Inca religious traditions and beliefs, combining dances, food and rituals of the region with the observation of Pentecost, which marks the end of the Easter season in the Catholic Church. During the festival, a cross bearing the image of the Señor de Choquekillka is taken out of the church in the main plaza and carried through the streets to the Temple of Santiago the Apostle in a colorful procession accompanied by musicians. This procession happens various times over the course of the festival. During four days the town is abuzz with festivities that include dancing, singing, religious processions and masses, bull fights and fireworks as sponsors of the festival offer the community an abundance of traditional and local dishes. There are more than 16 unique dances performed by around 400 dancers, all dressed in brilliant costumes, each symbolic of a moment or aspect of the history of the region and Peru. There are
*Photo credits to RPP Noticias for images of the Danzaq and Saqra dancers featured above. Festival in Peru, Señor de Choquekillka From now through September some of the most fascinating and unique festivals will be celebrated throughout Peru including the upcoming Pentecostal celebrations this weekend followed by Qoyllur Riti, Corpus…
It was with great anticipation (and little preparation) that I boarded my Turkish Airlines flight to Istanbul last week. Such little preparation that only on the plane did I realise I needed a visa for entry which is easily obtainable online on: https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/. Thankfully that can be obtained at the airport. The last time I was there was on a trip with my parents back in 1978, so I guess it hardly counts! Aracari's Founder Shares her Trip to Istanbul Experience I was there to participate in a conference for a couple of days, and decided to stay on when the conference ended to visit a bit of Istanbul. To my delight, a dear friend of mine and one of my favourite culture connoisseur travel companions enthusiastically decided to join me, so that made the visit much more interesting, pleasant and entertaining. After checking the Globalista report and various travel specialists in my circles, we decided that despite the existence in Istanbul of marvelous 5-star branded, deluxe properties with gorgeous views of the Bosphorus, our style (and budget) was much better matched to the small and characterful boutique hotels in Istanbul. Istanbul is huge, and there are advantages and disadvantages to staying in different neighbourhoods. There is the Sultanahmed, or old city, where the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, The Grand Bazaar and Topkapi Palace are located; there is Beyoğlu and Nişantaşi, the areas where the posh Istanbulers hang out; there is the classic seafront area where many of the 5-star hotels are located where you can afford amazing views; there is Beşiktaş, the up-and-coming seafront area, which is fabulous if you are into running; and there is Ḉukurcuma, the bohemian/antique/artsy area with its steep narrow streets and eccentric cafes and stores. The latter is what we chose, and the hotel, the House Hotel Galatasaray,
It was with great anticipation (and little preparation) that I boarded my Turkish Airlines flight to Istanbul last week. Such little preparation that only on the plane did I realise I needed a visa for entry which is easily obtainable online on: https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/. Thankfully that can be obtained at the…
The Peruvian Amazon is one of the most biodiverse environments in the world with around 300 tree species per hectare. To put this into perspective, in all of the United States and Canada (696.9 million hectares of forest combined) there are about 700 tree species in total. Take a moment to let that factoid sink in… Deforestation in the Peruvian Amazon However, as is now widely recognized, a serious issue in the Amazon is deforestation. This is largely caused by unsustainable agricultural practices, namely slash-and-burn agriculture in which trees and vegetation are cut down and the rainforest is burned to clear it for farmland and grazing livestock. The soil in the Amazon is not meant to be cleared of forest, and after one or two years of farming, the land is no longer fertile and must be left fallow for a long time. The farmers must then abandon it and move on to clear another section of rainforest. Though this method has been used for thousands of years, it can hardly be considered the most efficient agricultural practice for subsistence farmers as it causes soil erosion, destroys habitats and can lead to the permanent loss of forest. Without training in sustainable farming practices and with the need of subsistence income to maintain basic needs, farmers have depended on this method. In the Amazon of Peru, 7.9 million hectares of land have been deforested, much of it owned by smallholder farmers. As much as 18% of global carbon emissions are attributed to deforestation—more than transportation. Moreover, the Amazon Rainforest produces 20% of the world’s oxygen, which makes deforestation a critical issue as concerns about climate change become increasingly urgent. Plant your Future At this crucial moment, a grassroots organization called Plant your Future emerged in the jungle city of Iquitos. Plant your Future is a non-profit organization that disseminates
The Peruvian Amazon is one of the most biodiverse environments in the world with around 300 tree species per hectare. To put this into perspective, in all of the United States and Canada (696.9 million hectares of forest combined) there are about 700 tree species in total. Take a moment to…
