Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz


"We are in the eyes of the world," said Peru's President Alan Garcia as he emphasized the importance of the two summits to be held in the Andean country in 2008.

Because the 5th EU - LAC summit and the APEC summit are to be held in the country this year, the government has declared this year the "Year of the Summits".

While the APEC summit will not take place until November, the EU - LAC summit will be held in Lima this coming week.

The summit has been the cause of everything from new holidays to the transfer of 6,000 police officers to provide safety for the 46 heads of state that will be in the country.

Over a dozen areas in Lima have been completely closed off in the city to make sure international representatives are kept out of harms way.

Two of the main areas that have been closed off are the National Library and the National Museum, two sites where meetings will be held.

One of Peru's main roads, Javier Prado Avenue, will be closed off at certain points beginning Saturday (today). This and many more of the city's streets will be closed, forcing motorists to take detours.

People living in the vicinity of the National Museum or any one of the fourteen hotels where delegates are staying have been registered and given special passes to enter restricted areas.

If residents do not have a pass, they will not be let through roadblocks and will have to take one of the many detours in the city.

El Comercio daily has prepared an excellent map showing motorists all of the detours that will have to be taken and where restricted areas are located.

Click here to view the map.