Birds on hats

It's been quite a while since my last post. It's been a month and a half since dad died and I'm still getting used to the idea, and to this new city. I've been working and haven't been able to go birding, but I wanted to share with you a bit of the birds I actually saw.

June is a month of celebration in this city, starts with Corpus Christi and goes on and on until Inti Raymi (Festivital of the Sun) arrives.

This is a curious city, it mixes Christian/Catholic rites with Incan Festivities. It's a wild time with lots of people on the streets and groups of dancers performing for the crowd, the saints, the sun and God.

I loved these guys:


With white masks and whips (personifying the Spaniards that came to "colonize" centuries ago), but dressed up with all sorts of symbols from the Andean world (rainbow colours, nature representations embroderied on their hats called "monteras", Andean camelids, etc.)


They "fight", although it is more like a duel to show who's best with the whip.


They look proud and beautiful.

The Ukukus are also great. Ukuku means "bear" in Quechua, the language of the Incas. These Ukukus wear black masks and usually tease the dancers and the audiences, they are funny and get lot of cheering from the crowds. These ones were pulling a small truck while dancing freely on the streets.


Andean people respect nature, they represent it in many ways...


... like in these "montera", mountains, dolphins, sun...


... or this butterfly...


... others prefer birds...


... which helped with my need for birds!


Colourful parrots and patterns brightening up my day!!!


And even a Cock-of-the-rock to cheer me up :)


This is a new city (to me!), with traditions that I used to read about but never experienced myself...



... new experiences that make me smile (like these birdies here, or is it just me??)


I'm getting used to this city, letting the excitement and the colour invade my soul (at least until I can go birding for real birds!)


It's not easy, but it helps.


I plan to go birding this Sunday, wish me good luck!

A visit to the museum

A few days ago we visited the Museo de la Nación, here in Lima.

How many birds can you find?

We found a lot of things that were not from the past, but used today; especially in the Andes. One example: MASKS.

Masks have been used for centuries in all sorts of ceremonies, from religious to entertainment; with different shapes, colours and materials. Some of them represent animals, others represent devils (it is a recurring theme - the fight between good and evil) and some are reminders of the mockery by Peruvians of the early Spanish 'conquistadores'.


My favourite piece on this wall was the following... Can you guess why?


But I have to admit that I love ancient pieces and all things related to history, so, when I found the next piece I was very excited. I've seen similar pieces in the past, but finding it among all those 'modern' items made me enjoy it even more.

It is a 'Huaco Retrato' from the Mochica Culture , a representation of an owl.

This civilization flourished in northern Peru from about AD 100 to AD 800 (relatively new compared to others from over here)

They are particularly noted for their elaborately painted ceramics, gold work, monumental constructions (called 'Huacas') and incredible irrigation systems. Their culture was sophisticated and their artifacts document their lives with detailed scenes of hunting, fishing, fighting, sacrifice, sexual encounters and elaborate ceremonies. This one is from the early years, not yet perfected.


Mochicas pottery is some of the most varied in the world. The coloration of Moche pottery is often simple, with yellowish cream and rich red used almost exclusively on elite pieces, and with white and black used in only a few pieces. Seeing them with your own eyes is incredible.

If you are interested in history too, and you want to see pieces of stunning pottery, jewelry, stone works, etc. I recommend a visit to Museo Larco, you won't regret it.

I hope you like birds too

I hope you love birds too. It is economical. It saves going to heaven.

-Emily Dickinson

Hummingbirds, traditions and luxury hotels

I was looking for information about hummingirds in different regions of the country when a friend told me that in a small region in Cusco there were 18 varieties at least.

I guess my face was like one of those cartoon characters with the eyes popping out, because he started laughing... He said he saw only 13 and all within the land of the hotel he has staying at!

He used the services of Inkaterra, a local company that manages luxury hotels and unique experiences.

As I will never be able to afford staying there, I decided to 'travel' around the web and find out more about it. I checked the online brochures, with info of every hotel and I must say they look BEAUTIFUL!! Maybe when I win the lottery I'll invite my friends from all over ;)

I found a small picture gallery that I thought would be nice to share with you so you could learn more about my country, the only problem is that the pictures don't have captions, so, you won't know exactly where or what it is or represents :(

I love the fact that they have a Wish List, but not just any... At every location of their hotels they do some kind of service for the community: Educational materials, conservation projects, seeds for native communities, conservation of traditions, even teaching English to locals!!
Those of you who know me better will know without a doubt that it is my favourite part of that website ;)

They also promote visits to local families, to learn about their traditions and culture and share experiences beyond the regular parametres.


In the Machu Picchu location, the birdwatching activities they promote are within the hotel area!... "Along the hotel's pathways, be on the lookout for the cock-of-the-rock, the golden-headed quetzal and many of the 18 different hummingbirds identified on the grounds, including the booted racket-tail and the green-and-white hummingbirds, which are native to the area."

YESSSS!!! Found the 18 hummingbirds part!!! So, it was true!!

Turns out that they also have the world's record of the largest number of orchids in natural state!! They have registered 372, and discovered 6 new species in their grounds.


The Amazon location has pretty cool excursions, one of them marked as a 1/4 day excursion reminded me of dear Sherry at Q's Corner and her love for butterflies: the Butterfly House!!

The twilight river one made me dream and of course the full day birding experience NOT for begginers like me :(


Anyway, what started as a quest for information on hummingbirds ended up with a lot of dream travels for me!

I hope you enjoyed the cyber-trip as much as I did, hopefully I'll be able to travel there soon, to dream places in my country, so close and so far away at the same time...

Please note: All pictures taken from Inkaterra's website.

Sunday afternoon

This is not far from home, about a 20 minute walk.

When I was a kid I loved to come here and see the ducks and geese. Most of the houses you see around were not there, so walking around the area was pretty cool.


I remember a bunch of all white geese and later on a flock of all brown ducks.

Yesterday, when we first got there, these were the only guys around. I like the different poses of the ducks.


Then I realized about that little 'patch' of bright colour feathers that these ones had on the sides/wings...


... purple...


... or blue!

Then, this guy saw me and decided it was a perfect moment to pose and wait for the-fat-girl-with-the-cam to finally!! take a picture...


... while this other one tried to keep a low profile and made me hide behind a bush to be able to get a close enough shot!


After a while, we saw this fellow... What happened to you???


By the time we had to leave, other odd looking duck-geese??? were arriving to the shore.


This is not what I remember from my childhood! Seems like someone's dad has been with the wrong mom! You know I have very little knowledge about this, so, if someone could explain or tell what these are, I would be very grateful :)


Lucky for us we had to leave, as these two didn't like to have their pics taken... 'What are YOU looking at?!!'

I started my research today, and found this on YouTube - I start with my homeland: PERU! (I miss home!!!)