Living in Peru : your everyday companion

First, as a matter of context, I have had a fortunate life. I’ve lived in some of the most desirable cities in the world: San Francisco, Washington, D.C, Honolulu, Melbourne (Australia) and Los Angeles. I suppose that I could live in any of these cities again if I had the desire. However, I prefer Lima and, especially within Lima, Barranco.

So why do I choose to live in Lima? There are two contrasting reasons—I feel comfortable, and I am stimulated by a challenge.

For me, Lima is comfortable.

Why is it comfortable?

I feel safe here. I should qualify that by saying that I feel safe within the small world that I inhabit. This feeling is not based on being totally free from crime which I am not. Even so, I still feel safe.

It is a lot more.

These are some of the elements:

If I get sick, I feel certain that I will get excellent treatment at a price I can afford.

If I fall in the street, or have an accident, I know that someone will come and help me.

If I have a problem, I know that someone will help me.

If I have business with someone or a social encounter, I believe that most people are going to treat me with kindness and respect.

If I want to have an extraordinary meal, without breaking the bank, I know a huge number of restaurants where I can go.

If I want to have an interesting conversation with a friend, in English or Spanish, I know I can do it without making a date three weeks in advance.

If I want a professional driver to take me to and from work at a reasonable price, I know that I can do it.

If I want to live close to the ocean, enjoy wonderful walks in a beautiful neighborhood, and not pay a fortune in rent, I know that I can, because I do.

Of course, being a gringo, I like to be independent and do things for myself. But it is very reassuring to know that there is a backup in case something happens. Until I lived here, I didn’t realize how important that is.

So, that is part of the reason I like to live in Lima, it is comfortable for me. For the other side of the coin, why Lima presents a challenge for me that I love, you’ll have to return to livinginperu.com next week for part 2. “The Challenge.”

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49 Comments

# inkarocco says :
10 May, 2009 [ 09:59 ]

Hi Larry,
Please do continue with part two of your interesting comments and  the challenges you love about living in Lima.
I'm a Peruvian ,and i'm triying to self search within me if Lima or any major city in Peru is where i want to livie in after i say good bye to San

# inkarocco says :
10 May, 2009 [ 10:33 ]

sorry,continuation from previous comment.)
Francisco.Ca
By the way, what kind of work do you do in Lima?
I'm a talented Chef  with great ideas  looking for a Gringo/a Business partmenr to launch the next hot Franchise concept and  give old McDonal's  a run for his  money ,or to open up a local Restaurant in Barranco or Miraflores  but with U.S standars in customer service satisfaction. i'll personally train the staff , 'cause the rest wi'll find in Lima.Peruvian food it's a Hot Van Wagon people need to jump in in Lima or any Metrocity in the world,but they need to have the passion ,the know how,and the ingridients.Did i forgot to mention CAPITAL? how careless of me!!
Please Respond if you're interested,or know someone who is.
Saludos,
Incarocco

# JohnnyO says :
11 May, 2009 [ 05:49 ]

Hi Larry,

Enjoyed your post and  can't wait to read part 2. How long have you been in Lima? How did you first discover Lima?

For inkarocco.  How long have you been a talented chef and are you currently working?

# David N says :
11 May, 2009 [ 04:36 ]

Interesting commentary, Larry.  Not sure how long you've resided in Peru.  I often wonder why someone would voluntarily move to Lima, which I consider to be an overcrowded third world city with very little appeal.  My Peruana wife and I maintain a second residence in Surco, not far from Barranco, and spend about 3 months a year here.  It's difficult to imagine residing in Peru on a permanent basis.

Have to agree with you on one point you made -- it's easy to find a good steak at a reasonable price.

# noname says :
11 May, 2009 [ 06:56 ]

haha David N... it's really funny, while I was reading this article I thought to myself... "hmm! I wish I could have that poor David N to read on this...."  and look! here you are, I guess I don't have to go and pull your sleeve and ask you to read that not everybody thinks alike you, on the contrary, there is people that actually know what's good and deserve to be surrounded by what's good.

Thank you Larry for your article, I too look forward to Part II.

# David N says :
11 May, 2009 [ 09:06 ]

Look here, 'noname', I don't know when you were in Lima last, or what kind of delusional childhood memories you have of this town, but it's nothing but square unpainted brick buildings and rusting taxi cabs. 

Overcrowded, polluted, with mostly uncivilized, rude and obnoxious inhabitants.  Not exactly 'paradise lost'.

Why don't you correct your immigration status in the U.S. and come down and see for yourself what Lima REALLY is and not some fantasy you have conjured up in your mind.

# Federico says :
12 May, 2009 [ 11:42 ]

David N if you don't like Lima you don't have to go spend 3 months every year.  There is more to Lima than meet the eye and you are focusing only in the bad things....

# David N says :
12 May, 2009 [ 07:02 ]

Fredrico before you know someone else's responsibilities and obligations, you should keep quiet.

Problem with Lima and Peru in general is nobody here will accept even the slightest criticism of this country.  Especially the government.  No wonder it's such a mess.

# im says :
13 May, 2009 [ 03:35 ]

Dear Mr David N

Have you heard about the word DIPLOMACY????
well by your comments I can tell that you are an educated person.
One has the right to express his thoughts about things, places countries but one has not the right to offend others regardless of......
It is very unplesant and insulting  to read comments from people like you who has no hint as to how the world outside is. you seem to be a man that has never had the chance to travel around the world to gain different impressions and experiences of what is life is about.Somehow you were forced by the circumstances in your life to come to Peru to be around people who are ...what did you say: uncivilzed, rude and obnoxious????Well hoepfully you do not feel that way about your wife and her familiy members.
Did you know that people are treated the way they  treat others? Or did you know that we the civilze the educate etc etc can help others to become better?
And even if people should be uneducated we do not want to put ourselves in the same level don`t we?
Unfortunately for you and your poor pervian wife that is exactly what you have done.
Please go to your dictionary and read and maybe learn for the next time what Diplomacy and education means. It will expand your horizon.
Otherwise if you travel around the world you will always meet people who are rude and obnoxious and you will  have to fill the chat sites with your unpleasant comments and people will just know that MR David N is an aneducated short vision man who has nothing better to do that to complain about things that happen every day in any country of the WORLD.
have a nice day

# Vi says :
13 May, 2009 [ 09:03 ]

Hi Larry,

Seems that your article provoked a little controversy hahaha...Looking forward for part 2

BDW: I couldn't agree more with 'im'...You got it mate

# Federico says :
13 May, 2009 [ 10:55 ]

Dear David N:
The last thing we need in Peru is a Gringo with a superiority complex to come tell us how to live in our own country.  If you don't like it!!! don't come.  It may make your wife visit to her homeland lest stressing without you by her side critizicing her homeland every two minutes...

# Dave says :
13 May, 2009 [ 03:01 ]

No wonder the word "gringo" has such a connotations with David N as an example. As a gringo I have traveled the world and find Peruvians some of the nicest people in the world. As a so called third world country it has lot going for it over many other countries and I for one plan on retiring near Lima with my lovely Peruvian wife because I do like it so much. Ya things may not work quite like in the US but so what, the Peruvian way works good for Peruvians and it will work well for me. So lets get to Chapter Two, I can hardly wait!

# eileen gobitas says :
13 May, 2009 [ 03:40 ]

Dear Mr. Pitman,  
I loved this article and can`t wait to read part II, I myself have lived here for over 11 years, and am truly amazed at all of the wonderful benefits living in Peru has to offer, and although there have been times when I  have felt like the untactful David N, I just remember all the hoops one has to go thru to live in the states. Which hoops you may be asking?  How about the high cost of obligated insurance. How many Katrina victims have actually received their insurance money which they were sure  would be receiving  since they've been paying  since the day they signed their mortgage papers?  At least here you know what to count on.  Anything you get is just icing, like the chincha victims receiving govt. money to rebuild. Unexpedcted and a nice provision.  Or how about the peace of mind of sending your children to school here, knowing that some lunatic wont be shooting anyone or that some gang member wont be intimidating your children, I have yet to see anyone in my kids school with any piercing or tatoos of any kind.  I can just go on and on.  But bottom line, I could live anywhere and I choose to live in Peru.  There's nothing better out there, I know, I've traveled everywhere and nothing compares... so don't pay anymind the the unpainted buildings, and perhaps people are  rude to you Mr. David N,  because you're rude.  Your comment speaks for itself.

# Hitrac says :
13 May, 2009 [ 07:58 ]

Hello to all.

I have been to Peru 3 times for a grand total of a month or so. My wife is from Peru (we met online). I've read the article and all the comments and I just wanted to add my one cent worth.

When I came down to Lima for the first time to meet my wife in person I was paraded around to see the whole family, tourist sites, etc. I was amazed and excited to see all there was to see in Peru. All the places i've been has been wonderful. The people, food, history, atmosphere are all great. I would love to go stay there for extended periods of time one day.

Peru is like any other place (city, state, counry) on this earth. They all have their bruised spots but there's more good out there.

I love Peru and try to do everything I can to promote it to everyone I see.

Viva Peru!!!

# Kevin says :
13 May, 2009 [ 07:59 ]

Peru has borders that constitute some kind of nationalism and after living here for 4 years I have come to the conclusion that not everything within those borders can be called Peruvian. First of all because the Spanish never fully conquered this place- they just took the gold and taxed it's settlers.

Lima is one of the most intense whirl-wind adventure cities of the world where the once majestic City of Kings has been eaten by termites or sacked in an earthquake arquitectually speaking so that those who have the most capital on the inside can resist the provincial people from encroaching on their standard of living.

Add all kinds of culinary delights, the Formal, Informal, and Delincuent mix of doing business and charging for goods and services that offer you lots of options.

If you are already poor you can steal from the rich very easily and if you are rich you can easily lose your money on vices.

Lima is in with the new and out with the old, it's less pituco and more cholo (Today more than yesterday). Add lots of gringos who marry cholas and you've got the making for a new thematic movie industry appropriately called- Bricholiwood- A place where both gringo and peruana are winners and losers of the moment. I know- I should be one of it's A-list actors. (I'm from SoCal) I say- out with the old and in with the new- because there are too many funny and tragic stories that go untold here in Lima and it's because many men from privilaged societies come to reap the benefits of another socioeconomic class thinking that they found it all. It's the perfect greek tragedy, but one worth being apart of whilst the old buildings crumble and the new cocaine apartments and condos go up. Go down to your local casino and smoke a fag while you waste your foreign dollars. It's Chic, mediocre, a good way to go unnoticed and less taxed until you get married to a beautiful peruvian girl by signing on the dotted line. Come be apart of a new statistic- marry - divorce - suffer - and flee. You've got everything to lose and nothing to gain

Better yet- come down here with little money, no contacts, and stay way past from when your visa expired and try to get a job and then you'll really learn how to enjoy Lima- Through love and desperation- I'll admit- Lima has many attractions.. Theres a constant buz here in Peru and in Lima it's something you have to learn to detect based off of who you know, where you drink, the clothes you buy and where you go on vacation.

Oh yeah- the ceviche is just as good as the women so get in on the booty while it's still cheap because you never know when the Japanese are gonna overfish the sea or when all the white men overfish las morenas here in Lima. Happy fishing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

# Sylvia says :
13 May, 2009 [ 11:26 ]

Larry:  I enjoyed your article very much....a lot of people, foreign and Peruvian will relate to it. 

David N: why do you hate Peru so?? your poor wife!

Kevin:  you and David N. have something in common.

Let's not spoil a good article with cynical comments....as we say in Peru: "bueno es culantro, pero no tanto!"

# Im says :
14 May, 2009 [ 02:29 ]

This has nothing to do with the article but I just wonder if you eileen gobitas is the one that moved to chaclacayo and open the language school there years ago.
i find myself in Germany.
If you are the one I am thinking of we have common friends that are also here in Germany!
just let me know it pls. are you a JW?

# eileen gobitas says :
14 May, 2009 [ 04:26 ]

Dear Im,   Yes, it is my family that opened the language schools in chacla. and I do have friends in Germany, and yes, I am a JW. My email is incamama@hotmail.com .

# Jaime says :
14 May, 2009 [ 07:50 ]

My take on David N is that he is a grumpy old man. I can't say I disagree completely with what he says but you have to be considerate and use some tact. You can't just go on a country's news website and spew hate, negative opinions and illgotten feelings. You have to have some respect David N and don't spoil the party!

Personally, I'm not at the point of my life were I want to live in Peru, I'm happy living in the US. I'm a lot happier now that we have a "NEW" direction because I would have wanted to move if we had the same old leadership. That being said I think Peru just like any other country and has its positives and negatives. In this story we are talking about its positives so I will share some of mine (that I miss):

- Having the big family support (gets kind of lonely here sometimes)
- The FOOD (nothing compares not even if you live in a city with great international restaurants)
- The social life (might not have the big fancy clubs like NYC but the buzz is ever present)
- The beach (maybe if I lived in Cali or Miami I wouldn't miss this)
- The cost of living (it's so low you can splurge a lot more)
- The cheap taxis (funny thing to miss but here I feel forced to drive when I go out because of taxis being expensive)

That's it for now ;).

# Maria Lourdes Niggle says :
14 May, 2009 [ 09:34 ]

This is for David N.
You truly are the icon for the UGLY AMERICAN. I am from Peru married to an american who appreciates and respects my country, my culture, my language; my husband is an individual with an open mind and with an open heart.  How fortunate I am to have a husband like mine and how unfortunate must be for your wife to hear you talk like that about the place that she is from.  How would you like for her to talk ugly about your country,  For people loke you, the USA is a big dot and the rest of the world is the tiny one.

I live in your country and I might disagree with many, many things about it, but I would never talk trash about it  as you do.

May you live forever in your golden USA, may you never come back to Peru and be disrespectful and hurtful to the country and to its people.

Best regards to an unhappy soul!

# Mitchell Teplitsky says :
14 May, 2009 [ 10:13 ]

Hi Larry

I always enjoy your writings, so straightforward and from the heart.

Mitch Teplitsky
http://www.soyandina.com

# Jean Paul says :
15 May, 2009 [ 04:49 ]

I am 65 and I have lived all over the world. Now I live in Lima. I don´t have to be patronizing or condescending about my living here. I only know that it is so much better than living in the mall-centered, uncultured, no history, all exactly the same, boring 95% of american cities, or the coldhearted, self-absorbed, no-time-for-living-or-for-friends 85% of big european cities.In Lima there is good theatre, good food, nice places to walk in, fair weather, enough culture and history to study for a lifetime, interesting architecture, time to enjoy life, easygoing friends, familiy suport, flexibility and tolerance for other peoples defects. The traffic is horrid and there is increasing contamination, They should do something about it. I don´t know where or how David N lives, but I suspect that where ever he lives, he lives the life of an outcast, that usually is a sad life. Kevin, he is just young, he´ll mature 

# stefano says :
15 May, 2009 [ 05:39 ]

David N is just a magnified example of old american arrogance

# Jorge Zamudio says :
15 May, 2009 [ 06:11 ]

It is significant that whenever sombody writes something nice about Lima or Peru in this web page, somebody, usually an American, jumps up and barks back. 

If they feel that way they shouldn´t even be members of this page. Of course Peru is a country with problems, just as the USA is also.

There is 15% of people in the USA under poverty line. Only they segregate them more efficiently than in Peru. That is why it is nice to walk through some parts of Manhattan. It is called financial segregation.

# Nina Kuoppa says :
15 May, 2009 [ 07:58 ]

Hi Larry =)

I think about Peru like you =) I love Peru and I have had chance to be there twice last year. I have a peruvian friend =) I hope next year I will come again. People are so nice, even what is their financial and others situations. I think that peruvias are very beautiful too =) I live in finland, so it´s so different. Everything. Eg.Peruvians take care of their family, but not in here, europe.

Greeting from Finland to you all and have a nice weekend

Nina =)

ps. sorry, my english is not so perfect... ;-)



 

# Rocio says :
15 May, 2009 [ 12:46 ]

I enjoyed reading some of the positive comments above and related the most to the one from Jean Paul. I just hope that people like him, who enjoy living in Peru, will treat my country and its people con carinho, as I'm sure he does. We have a saying "Amor con Amor se paga". Please David N, refrain from putting the dark note on LIP...live and let live!

# David N says :
17 May, 2009 [ 07:39 ]

LMAO, such an outpouring of outrage over a third rate, third world cesspool.  

Writing this as I sit in my living room here in Lima and enjoy the smell of rotting sewage coming off the Pacific Ocean.  Lovely. 

# happy to live here says :
17 May, 2009 [ 10:01 ]

Dear David N,

GO HOME!!!!! Peru doesn't want you here, or do your wife a favor and just disappear....................you must be the most narrow minded, culturally ignorant, arrogant, trash I have ever come across, I hope you leave soon.

# Abelardo says :
17 May, 2009 [ 01:54 ]

LIVING IN PERU:  you need to block David N....now. Since
he's always posting, if I didn't know better..I would think that it's someone in your office who's writing this trash. It hurts my sensitivities to have my city called a "cesspool".  Please Sr. Carsten, do something about this.

# says :
18 May, 2009 [ 12:14 ]

I'm a gringa living in Peru and I Love it!!

I feel so sorry for anyone from anywhere who would come here to live or visit and not see the beauty in it, which is after all not difficult to find, it's not as if you have to search high and low, there is something everywhere, and just around the bend from Lima we all know the natural beauty one can encounter.  People here are some of the nicest in the entire world I will agree with one commenter.  AND the culture!!  The sense of Nationalism!  

I think if you live in Lima and only have terrible things to say about it, you must be dense.  How sad not to be able to open your eyes and realize what's around you and educate yourself, language, culture, social structures, history, etc.   Besides, we should all be able to recognize beauty in things even when they are not so obvious, as they are not to the writer who many people are so astonished and offended by of whom I only feel sorry for.  Hopefully for his sake and his families he will start to focus on the positive. 

# says :
18 May, 2009 [ 12:14 ]

I'm a gringa living in Peru and I Love it!!

I feel so sorry for anyone from anywhere who would come here to live or visit and not see the beauty in it, which is after all not difficult to find, it's not as if you have to search high and low, there is something everywhere, and just around the bend from Lima we all know the natural beauty one can encounter.  People here are some of the nicest in the entire world I will agree with one commenter.  AND the culture!!  The sense of Nationalism!  

I think if you live in Lima and only have terrible things to say about it, you must be dense.  How sad not to be able to open your eyes and realize what's around you and educate yourself, language, culture, social structures, history, etc.   Besides, we should all be able to recognize beauty in things even when they are not so obvious, as they are not to the writer who many people are so astonished and offended by of whom I only feel sorry for.  Hopefully for his sake and his families he will start to focus on the positive. 

# me says :
18 May, 2009 [ 04:25 ]

David N is the Peter Griffin of these boards. :D


Funny with some of his smart-aleck commentaries (you could just picture him laughing it up himself while he clutches on to his pot belly), cute in a sense of high school freshman virgin (outcasted and ungrateful but still searching for that magic hole) and dark (as in The Nightmare Before Christmas, a cool movie but only in the first 5 minutes until your high goes down).


Don't quit your day job, sir, while your poor wife goes out and slaves to support your sorry behind.


Looking forward to more conversations with you now that I'm here.

# says :
19 May, 2009 [ 02:25 ]

Dear Editors,
please be so kind to banned this "gentleman" David N.
such dishonoring comments of any country  in the world should not be tolerated.
On top of that I think we are just wasting our time by reading his comments and allowing his "rotting sewage" comments to dirt this interesting articles that you Mr Larry Pittmann are writting.
It woulb be great not to have to see that name anymore.

# William Watts says :
19 May, 2009 [ 09:57 ]

In my opinion, peruvians are very nice with foreigners that is why ...gringos like to live in Lima or in Peru, now, I don't think Peruvians are nice to peruvians,....they are only nice when it is their convenience,...Lima is a nice city don't get me wrong...but....it is not for everybody.....the real question is....if you think the peruvians are nice to gringos when they come to Peru....Are Gringos nice to Peruvians when they go to visit or living in their countries????...You know what..I don't think so.....!!!, so please, don't try to embarras yourself writing the second part.....try to analize and understand...why peruvians are so nice to foreigners......you will be surprised...!!!!!

# happy to live here says :
19 May, 2009 [ 10:15 ]

Dear Mr. Watts,
 I beleive you should work on your reading- comprehension skills, this article is not about how or why Peruvians are nice to foreigners, Its about why Mr. Pitman likes living in Peru and he mentions many reseaons.  I beleive there are people who like to take advantage of others everywhere you go, which is what you are trying to get at.  Mr. Pitman you need to write part II of your article, your fans are waiting to read it. And perhaps Mr. Watts needs new friends..

# William Watts says :
19 May, 2009 [ 01:23 ]

Mr. Happy to live here,
Perhaps you are the who need friends since your communication is insulting people,.....don't take it personal.... I gave my my opinion about peruvians because, that is the whole idea that Mr.Pitman make himself undertood....maybe you are the one who need to work on your skills,,,maybe writing or spelling....reality is most of the times hard....and I don't try to get anything...only to post my opinion about what is real.......Have you asked Peruvians why they are so nice to foreigners?????....you'll be surprised too....

# Neil says :
19 May, 2009 [ 04:25 ]

I am an American, and married to a Peruvian woman. I spent 2 years in Peru, and honestly complained most of the time. I am now back in the USA, and alot of the time I catch myself thinking about Peru. I lived in Lima, and Piura. Visited many of the beautiful and not so beautiful cities. I seen most of the country. And after being back in the USA for a few months, I actually miss Peru. I miss that I can spend less then $40 and take my entire family out for the whole day. I miss walking all the time. I miss all the little corner stores. Fresh fruit and fresh bread. I miss going to the beach on a daily basis. I'm not going to lie, but there were a few things about Peru I didnt like, but for the most part I would rather live there then in the USA any day! (80 days and counting untill I return)

# Zaida says :
19 May, 2009 [ 05:30 ]

Welcome back to Peru, Neil!  Just learn to take the good with the bad. Peru is not perfect, but it's oh..so...nice!

William Watts: stop generalizing and appearing to be an expert in human behavior. I am Peruvian and I can tell you my people treat each other nicer than I have seen anywhere. As a matter of fact, I'm going to Peru in a few weeks myself!!  I can hardly wait to see a large group of friends that have been tightly-knit for over 60 years! We're traveling from all over the world for a reunion and we're all looking for presents to give each other. The Lima ladies are the closest group you can ever imagine! Go back and read what Larry wrote about how when he has a problem, there'll be someone there for him....and it's not because he's a "gringo" either! We are good to each other because we are humane and compassionate people 

# Thomas C says :
21 May, 2009 [ 12:39 ]

Hello everyone

Great article and I love how the majority of comments have been directed at some guy David when it's ment to be about the beautiful country of peru. Anyway I was just wondering of anyone could give me some advice, I'm 19 and from London, England and I want nothing more than to get out of this fastly crumbling little island. I have some alright qualifications, don't mind getting my hands dirty and don't have allot of money. So i ask, What would I have to do to go and live in Peru, Secure a job and a place to stay etc and how much money would i need to get me going?? any currency will do ill just convert it myself. Any way my e-mail address is s.e.r.t@hotmail.com if you would like to send me any advice or tips to get me going. 
Thanks everyone and goodbye! 

# says :
21 May, 2009 [ 01:56 ]

Mr. William Watts

"All generalizations are false including this one" Mark Twain

I find the contrary. My wife, who is Peruvian by the way, has introduced me to her friends that she has had since childhood. They have been nothing but nice to me and generous to both of us. Not because I am a foreigner but because I am married to  her and she is happy. To her friends her happiness is everything and her friends are the nicest most accepting people I have ever met. I also show her friends respect and do the best I can in both speaking Spanish and learning how to be a good friend in Peru, there are cultural differences you know. Our friends are Peruvian and they are nice to me not for their convienience but because they are genuinely nice people. I am sure there are some in Peru as there are in the US that want to be friends only because they think the foreigner as having a lot of money, which in relative terms we often do. There are good people and not so good people all over the world. But what I like about Peru is the emphasis on the family and not the emphasis on the individual as in the US. In the US you can become very isolated because family is not important, that would be pretty difficult in Peru. Probably a reason why the US has lots of mass shootings and Peru doesnt. The character of the Peruvian people I find to be is one of hard work, patience and dilligence in their business affairs and lives. In the US Peruvian people are sought after as employees because of their work ethic and demeaner. Sorry William that you have such problems, maybe your might look in the mirror and reflect on how you  present yourself to others.

# William Watts says :
22 May, 2009 [ 02:10 ]

Mr. Mark Twain
I guess you are not getting my point, I don't want to generalized , like you say,.....I talked to peruvians, and they have told, what I'm saying, I don't want to be rude to you, but If you haven't been a foreigner, you probably hadn't met your wife.....just ask the question to them....to peruvians I mean....check the actitude, the way they talk to peruvians, and the way they talk to foreigners.....I'm telling you...you can see the different....they always think that foreigners are better than any peruvians.....I went to a wedding party once, and there were two guys, not dressing properly, in jeans and T- shirt...and they were in the party ..with no problem...dancing with all the girls who went crazy to see gringos..and dancing with them....at the end of the party..they were so happy..saying the peruvians are so nice people, and everything....now, what would had happen if those guys were peruvians and not properly dressed....ask any peruvian...and check what they say....I'm telling you.....they even wouldn't have get into the party.....hmmm.....you'll be surprised.....I was very disapointed...now I'm not saying that all peruvians are like that......but this is the real mentality of these people....the country is nice ..don't get me wrong...nice places, nice food, cool weather....but the people....hmmm I don't know sir.....

# sue valdivia says :
23 May, 2009 [ 08:12 ]

hi, im peruvian and my opinion might be obviously biased, but i live in naples florida and im visiting peru after four years, i find it interesting that peru keeps having the same caring and loving people it always had, all my friends are astill the same and i feel that they care about me., like the article said, u can have an interesting conversation with anyone at any time and dont have to make an appointment, peruvian people are people that give even if they dont have and im talking about time and money there is always something we can give. I feel that in the US everybody is only focused on their own time, and coming back here has made me realized that i rather live here than in any other part of the world i also learned to be selfish and to worry about my own things while i live in naples, and i have progressed a lot because of that in college and in my job in the US. But coming back has thaught me once again that THAT IS NOT WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY...i rather not have any of the things i have there(material things) and live here i lvoe my family and my friends, my food, my people my culture and MY HISTORY... that is something not a lot of people have... and to answer to that story about the two gringos...i mean come the ff..!! on!! if girls like a guy they are obviously gona b nice to ethem in any ff...part of the world u f...IGNORANT!!! so dont generalize and reflect more on what u have to say...there is wayyyyyyyyy more racism in the US  than here... and we are not nice to foreigners we dont need to be cuz PERU HAS IT ALL..i love walking and being pushed in the bus when there is no seats....i love sweatin like apig because there is no ac...and holding my purse tight when i walk trhough "dangerous" places because thats what makes it peru... and at the end of the day all the bad things that happend we turn them into jokes and laugh about them like its no big deal...and i love that i am buying my ticket to come back in december and i plan to come to study here for a semester later on and hopefully move back in the future...cuz this is where i belong..peru is not perfect but is the closest thing to paradise i know=)

# Roslyn says :
27 May, 2009 [ 04:50 ]

Sue   your comments  are so true
Its not what we have that makes up happy, i had to reread  your comments over y over again  because its  excatly  my thoughts as well

Your are proud of your Country,your Culture return in December Peru is waiting for you

# Patrick says :
27 May, 2009 [ 05:28 ]

Sue Valdivia: right on!  I think you pretty much squelched David N and William Watts with your posting.   Now...let's concentrate on being positive and wait for Larry's "Part II". By "positive" I mean the kind of "light-hearted" truth that Sue shares with us.....not the malicious, hateful stuff that David N and others enjoy dishing out!

# Ame says :
24 June, 2009 [ 10:55 ]

Dear Larry,

I've always liked your writings, I enjoyed them very much; it is obvious that you love Peru and I thank you for that.
I'm looking forward to reading more of your articles.
I don't understand how such positive writings could bring so much bitterness in some... could it be just to get attention?

# Mario says :
27 June, 2009 [ 05:56 ]

it seems it has always been like this with Peru, full of contradiction and with people quarreling over it. Peru is impossible to understand, even for Peruvians. What is true is that Peru isn't Lima, and a lot of the negative comments have to do with problems that happen in any sprawling overgrown capital. Lima went into uncontrolled growth for 30 years, and that comes with a myriad of urban problems, and I think its actually done quite well considering the difficulties. Peruvians are aware their capital city needs more cleaning, more decor, more order, it will take time, and they dont need any foreigner to tell them about it, they are the first to comment negatively, often. But Peru is a magical place by any measure. Much like Larry, I have lived in many places, 4 different continents, and Peru really has it all, as Sue says (in a very literal way). Who cares about some dirt, lousy politics (they certainly don't have the monopoly on that), or lack of "gringo" order,.. when you can eat like a god, see the friendliest smiles all the time and everywhere, enjoy relentless generosity (and who cares, what motivates this, it happens, a lot, and I don't have people asking me to pay them back favors... which is very much our European way), enjoy gorgeous landscapes you would need to look for in different continents all in one place, and what for me makes the biggest difference, people taking some of their time getting to know me. I find that in Peru there is less selfishness, that is just a fact. Of course, we are all selfish, but it is a bit less than you find in most countries, and that makes all the difference. Peruvians actually waste their time on just getting to know people and having some fun with them, for the sheer enjoyment of human interaction. Thats why medical treatment seems great to foreigners, not because doctors are better or equipment is better, simply because you aren't just a number, you are a person. That's also why you can call someone out of the blue and you are sure to be told to come over or go somewhere for a drink. And finally, that is also why people who don't want to go through life feeling like they are a a bank account, or that their lives seem to be a holographic expression of one, will often prefer to live in a place like Peru. 

Some people might prefer crisp clean orderly lives, filled with cold programmed agendas, and being a nice fitting piece in a well oiled machine, making sure life passes by orderly and painlessly. Others don't care so much about orderly details, and prefer to focus on things that make you feel alive. Peru and Peruvians, make you feel very much alive. 

# Mike says :
2 July, 2009 [ 08:39 ]

I think Larry's article shows more about who he chooses to associate with in the US then anything else.

It's funny - aside from the restaurant point (which is a good one), and the professional driver thing (I would argue the point about many of the drivers in Peru being professionals) - I have easy access to everything he lists that is good in Lima in the USA.

Not to say I lived in all of the cities he claims to have lived in, but I find it very different from my experience in US cities.

Which isn't to take away from anything positive he says about Lima, just that he seemed to write this to contrast his previous living experiences.

I will, say, though, personally, I don't care much for cities in general, and definitely do not care much for Lima.  It has its good points, but it has far too many bad points to get me to live there on any sort of permanent basis.

Sort of like the saying goes "It's a nice place to visit, but....."

# frank says :
2 July, 2009 [ 01:29 ]

Hi There:

I really enjoyed reading larry's article and all of the comments after. I am an american married to a peruvian living in Lima now for 10 years. Im not a retiree married to a young peruvian girl. Just an average middle aged american guy fortunate enough to be married to  gorgeous Limena women now going on almost 20 years. I have mixed feeling about my life here and do many times miss the order and general cleanliness of the USA. But I do appreciate all the good aspects that the commenters have sited about life in Lima. Thats why I'm a lifer. I must say I really enjoyed David N's comments the most - found them very tongue and cheek and downright funny. Here's to the smell of rotting sewage!  

# michael says :
24 September, 2009 [ 03:25 ]

I applaud the authors of this page year to date and the honesty or as we say in america, freedoom of speech. Hence the cycle of life, speech, those who reject, those who get angry and then dictate the actions of others. In the U.S, you cannot be sued for giving your opinion but you can be sued for stating somehting that is not true and it damages another person or entity.

So you are free to hate or love peru and free to say you like it or not.

Personally, I dream about going there with my peruvian wife to live and this Board has given me the thought that everyone is correct and has some insight.

Here is to the scent of peruvcian women and low cost of living!!!!!!!

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