Well, I made it.
We arrived in Lima at 1am Saturday morning, by taxi. As usual, there were a few hiccups in transit.
The minister of education (with whom I am living for the week) gave us his address when we met him in Boston. He wrote it down and drew a map. He warned us that the taxi driver would not know his address or where to find his house. He was correct. We located the stand for "Taxi Green" and we were assured that the driver would be able to find the house. Three gas stations, two security guards and one random individual later- I arrived at Oscar's house.
At this point, I think it is relevant to mention the system of driving in Peru. There is no system. There aren't lines on the roads and it seems like driving is more of a competition than an actual means of travel. Every 200 meters one must blow their horn, cut someone off, flick off someone else, and put on the breaks. Needless to say, crashes are pretty common. If only cabs had seatbelts...
Everyone has been asking me, so I may as well make this a public announcement: yes, the toilets do flush backwards down here. The water does swirl in a counterclockwise fashion which is confusing- but not really a dealbreaker for Peru.
This week should give my project a bit of direction. I'll finally find out where exactly I am going and how I am going to get there (llama anyone?). Oh, and by the way- my duffel weighed in at 49.5 lbs. Impressive, huh?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
You're welcome, Ms. 55 pounds...
Ashley,
I'm so glad you've arrived safely in Lima. I look forward to following your adventures. Even the mishaps make fabulous stories. Take care of you.
Ms. E.
National Anthem of Peru
Spanish lyrics
Coro
Somos libres, seámoslo siempre,
y antes niegue sus luces el sol
que faltemos al voto solemne
que la patria al Eterno elevó.
I
Largo tiempo el peruano oprimido
la ominosa cadena arrastró;
condenado a cruel servidumbre
largo tiempo en silencio gimió.
Mas apenas el grito sagrado
¡Libertad! en sus costas se oyó,
la indolencia de esclavo sacude,
la humillada cerviz levantó.
II
Ya el estruendo de broncas cadenas
que escuchamos tres siglos de horror,
de los libres al grito sagrado
que oyó atónito el mundo, cesó.
Por doquier San Martín inflamado,
libertad, libertad, pronunció,
y meciendo su base los Andes
la anunciaron, también, a una voz.
III
Con su influjo los pueblos despiertan
y cual rayo corrió la opinión;
desde el istmo a las tierras del fuego,
desde el fuego a la helada región.
Todos juran romper el enlace
que Natura a ambos mundos negó,
y quebrar ese cetro que España
reclinaba orgullosa en los dos.
IV
Lima cumple ese voto solemne,
y, severa, su enojo mostró,
al tirano impotente lanzando,
que intentaba alargar su opresión.
A su esfuerzo saltaron los grillos
y los surcos que en sí reparó,
le atizaron el odio y venganza
que heredara de su Inca y Señor.
V
Compatriotas, no más verla esclava.
Si humillada tres siglos gimió,
para siempre jurémosla libre,
manteniendo su propio esplendor.
Nuestros brazos, hasta hoy desarmados
estén siempre cebando el cañón,
que algún día las playas de Iberia
sentirán de su estruendo el terror.
VI
Excitemos los celos de España
pues presiente con mengua y furor
que en concurso de grandes naciones
nuestra patria entrará en parangón.
En la lista que de éstas se forme
llenaremos primero el reglón
que el tirano ambicioso Iberino,
que la América toda asoló.
VII
En su cima los Andes sostengan
la bandera o pendón bicolor,
que a los siglos anuncie el esfuerzo
que ser libres por siempre nos dio.
A su sombra vivamos tranquilos,
y al nacer por sus cumbres el sol,
renovemos el gran juramento
que rendimos al Dios de Jacob.
English translation
Chorus
We are free, may we always be so,
and let the sun rather deny its light
Than allow us to break the solemn vow
which the motherland elevated to the Eternal.
I
For a long time the oppressed Peruvian
dragged the ominous chain;
sentenced to a cruel servitude
for a long time in silence he moaned.
But as soon as the sacred cry of
"Liberty!" was heard on its coasts,
he shook off the indolence of slavery,
he raised the humiliated neck.
II
Now the roar of rough chains
that we had heard for three centuries of horror
from the free, at the sacred cry
that the world heard astonished, ceased.
Everywhere the inflamed San Martín
"Liberty", "Liberty" pronounced;
and the Andes, rocking their base,
announced it as well, in unison.
III
With its influx the peoples woke up,
and like lighting ran the opinion;
from the Isthmus to Tierra del Fuego,
and from Tierra del Fuego to the icy region.
Everyone vowed to break the link
that Nature denied to both worlds,
and break the sceptre that Spain
had reclined, proud, on both.
IV
Lima fulfilled this solemn vow,
and, severe, her anger showed
by throwing out the powerless tyrant,
who had been trying to extend his oppression.
On her endeavor the shackles cracked,
and the furrows that she had repaired in herself
stirred up her hatred and vengeance,
inherited from her Inca and Lord.
V
Countrymen, may we see her a slave no more.
If for three centuries she moaned, humiliated,
forever may we vow that she be free,
maintaining her own splendor.
Our arms, until today unarmed,
be they always readying the cannon,
that some day the beaches of Iberia
will feel the horror of its roar.
VI
May we arouse the jealousy of Spain
since it has a premonition, with want and furor,
that in a contest of great nations
our country will enter in comparison.
On the list formed by these
we shall fill the line first,
ahead of the ambitious Iberian tyrant,
who devastated all of America.
VII
On its summit may the Andes sustain
the two-color flag or standard,
may it announce to the centuries the effort
that gave us being free forever.
Under its shadow may we live calmly
and, at the sun's birth over its summits,
may we renew the great oath
we rendered to the God of Jacob.
Who knows where to download XRumer 5.0 Palladium?
Help, please. All recommend this program to effectively advertise on the Internet, this is the best program!
Post a Comment