| by
Nubia Perez
This
month we travel to South America to the wondrous country
of Perú in the highlands of its Andes Mountains — the
origin of Café Campesino's fairly-traded, 100% organic
Perú Decaf. We invite you to read more about this
fascinating place and the people who live there.
PERÚ:
In the Andean Midst
Intiq
Churin
Ñoqan
kani Intiq Churin, taytallaysi kachamuwan
Ñoqan kani Intiq wawan, taytallaysi kamachiwan
Taytallaysi kachamuwan, runaykunata maskamuy nispa
Taytallaysi kamachiwan, runasimita yachachiy nispa
Children
of the Sun
I
am a son of the Sun, going to those of my race.
I'm one of the children of the Sun, going to my people
I'm a child of the sun, coming for a purpose.
—
Quechua Folk Song
The
Reign of the Inca Empire is synonymous with power,
mysticism, and a grandeur that has not been replicated by
any other culture in history, especially in the Americas.
At its height, the Inca Empire extended from southern
Colombia to the northwestern part of Argentina. With the
Andes Mountains as its domain, the present-day Perú holds
what was then the Inca’s ceremonial center: Machuu
Pichuu.
Explored
by an American by the name of Hiram Bingham on July 24,
1911, Machuu Pichuu is considered the "Cultural
Patrimony of Humanity." The reason why this Lost City
of the Incas was built is still only left to speculation.
However its magnitude and beauty is truly breathtaking.
The Incas have gone down in history as some of the most
sophisticated and ingenious people ever to exist.
Ironically, their descendants, the Quechua Indians, are
statistically the country’s most impoverished. However,
the pride of their heritage is still exemplified in their
Quechuan culture and lifestyle. For example, colorful and
finely crafted clothes are still worn by the indigenous
people of Perú. Most are farm workers who live off the
land that their ancestors once walked upon thousands of
years ago. Andean music is unique, with the use of
traditional instruments found only in this region. And
their language is still spoken among them, especially by
those who live near the Bolivian border.
It
is evident that the Andes Mountains are still home to some
of the richest cultures in South America. The mountains
run all along the western coast of the continent, with a
significant presence in five different countries. However,
Perú, along with Bolivia and Ecuador, is known for the
active lifestyle of indigenous communities that dwell not
only in the highlands (inlands) but in the river valleys
as well. Along with its historical wealth, Perú, the
third largest country in South America, also gives people
the opportunity to enjoy a culture that has not yet been
completely diminished by European influences. The purity
and honor of their indigenous heritage still run deep in
their spirit.
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