Today we had a 6:30 a.m. wake up call to depart Lima for Paracas. Paracas is about a 6 hour bus ride down the Pan Americana del Sur( Pan American Highway) which extends all the way down the coast of Peru. In route to our destination, we passed the slums of Lima. They are all piled on top of each other on the mountains surrounding Lima. Supposedly the Peruvian government gave them different colors of paint so they could make their tiny, concrete houses look better in pictures of the city...wow. There is no other way besides walking up the mountain to get to their houses because they are all piled on top of each other. They each built their own house by carrying what they could find/afford of concrete and stones/bricks up the mountain that they call home. Looking at this place that they call home convinced me of taking what I have for granted. I've never seen anything like it...
We drove for miles out of the city watching house by house pass us by. These aren't houses like I'm familiar with back home with yards full of grass and growth. These are houses side by side. In Lima, grass is considered a sign of growth and you only see it in wealthier parts of the city or towns that finally have enough money to plant a patch of grass. After passsing the slums, we drove through 2 different shanty towns or "pueblos jovenes(young towns)." First, we drove through Villa de Salvador. It used to be undevelped full people and bamboo houses who migrated there after several natural disasters in the Andes and their homes were washed away. Villa de Salvador is only a 40 year old shanty town, but now it is built up into a place full of business and smiles. It is the same as the slums where the people build their own homes. The first floor always has to be some kind of business where they can make money, and the second floor is their living quarters. I've never seen a harder working group of individuals. Imagine building your own home while also trying to work to get by. Be thankful.
The next shanty town we visited was "Lomas de Marchan." Probably my favorite part of the trip so far. We actually stepped off the bus here instead of just driving through. Raul said in Villa de Salvador, "they will take your socks off before you even notice your boots." Shanty towns symbolize community. They believe they couldn't get by without each other. There is a sense of unity among these families. The children are overjoyed with excitement if you take a picture of them and show it to them...to them, happiness comes from the simple things. They are the most beautiful children I've ever seen...not concerned with anything else but smiling. Even though they have nothing, they don't beg for your money because they don't need it, they have each other. I want to go back already. Maybe one day...
We are now down the coast in the beautiful town of Paracas. Traveling to the Ballestas Islands tomorrow to see penguins, sea lions, condors, etc. Should be an eventful day. Sending summer love from the coast of Peru.
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