Harvest festival in Peru: Huatia

Buenas tardes, dear readers.

So, who likes Thanksgiving?? It's one of my favorite holidays because it's all about food! In it's tradition, it's really about celebrating a harvest. It's fascinating to me to learn that most cultures around the world have a similar harvest festivals. For example, there's Sukkoh in Judaism (celebrated with fruit), the Yam Festival from Africa, Harvest Moon Festival from Korea, and lots lots more. 

In Peru, the harvest festival is called Huatia [wat-iya]. Living here for the past nearly 2 years I've been able to celebrate this twice! I love this tradition because first of all it's not about buying things or supporting the commercialization of holidays (*cough* Valentine's Day, Christmas *cough*). It's a natural celebration for the food that has been grown from the Earth. So this feels very organic and something that has been meaningful for thousands of years. And for this reason, it's a holiday for even people who live in poor areas or out in the country-side. That's actually where it comes from. 

So in the mountains of Peru, potatoes are one of the highest produced crops. During the months of May-July, Andean people celebrate the potato harvest. Huatia isn't just about harvesting the potatoes, it's about creating a natural oven to cook them. Over the past nearly two years living in Peru I was lucky enough to celebrate this twice. So below I'll be showing what the process is like. Since I was working at an afterschool program out in the countryside, we did this with the kids. They actually knew more about how to do it than most of the adults. 

First step was to collect some dried dirt clods. Then we started building them up in a U-shape.

The boys also showed off their building skills - very impressive!

And the girls got right in there too!

Next we lit the fire. It burned until the dirt clods were black. 

The black clods means that the fire it is hot enough to add potatoes and beans. Some people also cook meats, but it needs to be wrapped up.

Then it's time to collapse the hot dirt clods.

By burying this with loose dirt, the pile creates a hot insulated oven. All the holes with smoke coming out were covered.

During the cooking process you can take a break on the monkey bars for awhile :)

After about an hour, the food should be cooked. You have to be careful when finding the potatoes and beans in that hot pile! It's literally like 'hot potato'!

Keep undigging until the very last ones are out. 

Then it's time to eat! Everyone gets a few potatoes and can eat it with some different sauces. No washing, just peel off the dirt-y skin and enjoy! Now that's a natural flavor :)

So what do you think of this? Do you have any special food traditions?

A Cultural Bit: Movie Theaters {+Tuesday Tunes #7}

Hello lovely ladies, and gents too! Can I share something I was SOOOO excited about from this weekend? I went to the movies!!! This was something pretty special because until recently I was living in Cusco, where there are currently no movie theaters. So this Sunday Rafa and I were exploring downtown Lima and when we stumbled upon a little local theater at 7pm with no other plans, it was just the right thing to do. Despite the run-down appearance of the place (we go for authentic and cost-effective), we had a really fun time. We saw Aviones (Disney´s new movie Planes) and it was really cute. Aside from one other movie I saw in Spain, this was my first Spanish movie in a theater. Kids movies are perfect because it kept my attention and I wasn´t lost in very fast phrases. It was definitely a success!

 

 

 

And since today is Tuesday, I have a really fun fusion of Tuesday Tunes for you! The artist is called Miki Gonzalez and is apparently pretty well known (at least in Latin America). His music is an interesting mix of techno-trance, jazz, and traditional Andean music. I heard of this guy awhile back from a traveler I stayed with but didn´t listen much until lately. I love it because of the stories of the Andean people that are incorporated into this new style of music.

 

Do you have any favorite music fusions? Or maybe a favorite type of world music?
Sending wishes for a beautiful day!

Goodbyes... {movin' from the Andes}

The Cathedral, Plaza de Armas

¡Hola a todos y todas! So big changes are happening...just today my husband and I moved from little old Cusco to the big city Lima. Since I've been there nearing 2 years and my husband a bit longer, we were a little sad to leave but excited for a change and other opportunities in the capital (plus getting his visa, which is a whole 'nother thing). I put together a little summary of Cusco and what I'll miss.

1. The colors
Peru is bright and vibrant from it´s woven textiles to typical dress...to it´s corn!?! Yep it´s true!

A woven decoration at a market near Pisac.

Natural dyes at the Pisac market

Huge arrays of maiz - all shapes, sizes, and colors!

2. The animals
There´s a few animals that are unique to Peru...guanacos (similar to llamas) and Peruvian hairless dog to name a few.

Guanaco in Machu Picchu ruins

Here´s the Peruvian dog! I love when they
have little sweaters on and mohawks!

3. The landscapes
The clouds, the sunsets, the mountains...

Me on top of Wayna Picchu! The backdrop is Machu Picchu.

Maximo playing this stringed Andean instrument
(similar to a charango) at Cristo Blano. 

4. The traditions and culture

The Andes mountains are a very culturally-rich areas. I loved learning about the different cultures and communities - from typical foods and dress to regional slang words and accents, from despachos to Huatia...

Typical dress themed bday party!

Ceremony and offering to the Pachamama (Mother Earth).

Huatia is a type of harvest fest where potatoes are cooked
in rock ovens, like the kids are constructing here.

Megan and I at the Llama Sector, Choquequirao

5. The people
I´ve had the pleasure of knowing some quality people in Cusco. I made an array of international girlfriends who I was blessed to have found. Thanks to these girls who made a huge impression on my experience. I also had the opportunity to teach English to a lively, motivated, and fun group of kids outside of town. I´ll miss all of these people so much!

5 amazing ladies adventuring across mountains

My girls in Oropesa!

Isn´t it true that wherever you are, you´ll always miss something from somewhere? What´s one thing you love about somewhere?

Expat to Expat Q+A: Yummy food!

Cusco, Peru

Hey all! I’m excited for this 2^nd expat Q+A hosted by Bailie from Hemborg Wife and Belinda at Found Love Now What. And the theme is a yummy one that we all love…food!! Here comes my sweet tooth...

1. What is your favorite food tradition in your new country?  

Ohhh there’s so many good postres (desserts)!! A few favorites of mine include:
Picarones – basically fried dough with a honey cinnamon infused syrup.
Mazamorra y arroz con leche – this is a warm, pudding-like dessert. Part is made from purple corn and fruit. Mix with arroz con leche and you’ve got a perfect combo.

Peruvian version of doughnuts, picarones!

Also, it’s very typical to have soups with meals and I kind of like this tradition. This one below was a typical one from the selva (jungle) made with a type of banana!

Banana soup!?

2. Where have you traveled to that you thought had the best food to offer?

I love the food in Costa Rica. Platanos fritos (fried plantains), rice and beans are very common. And always lots of fresh fruits and juices.

Tapas and gelato in Southern Spain!

A typical Costa Rican dish, casado. Soooo yum!

And the wide array of international variety in San Francisco.

3. What is the typical breakfast where you currently live and would you eat it back home?

Huevitos – it’s basically potatoes and a hard-boiled egg with a special green sauce called ocopa(made from a herb, huacartay). I would eat it back home but it’s really not as good without the sauce.

4. What type of restaurant, either style or type of food, do you think is lacking in your new home?

Gelato food art, Granada Spain.

Let’s just say that for as ‘international’ of a place Cusco is, it lacks this variety in food. I soooo miss a good burrito (my bf and I found one place, claiming to be Mexican. It’s not, but still is delicious so that’s my sub for Mexican food). Also, I wish there were some affordable Asian restaurants – Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Indian. There are a surprising number of chifas (Peruvian Chinese food) but unfortunately, I can’t highly recommend them.

Missing me some coconut soup and curry!

5. Do you think your home state/city/province has a food everyone should try?

Deli sandwiches with all the good stuff!

6. What is your favorite dish to prepare that you would never have made back home?

Believe it or not…crepes! My roommates taught me how and I’ve been able to practice quite a bit. Not your typical Peruvian food, but definitely delicious. The trick is getting them so thin, which I’m still perfecting.

7. What is the oddest food in your new country?

They really eat all parts of meat…stomach, feet, head, yep. The textures and smells tend to weird me out so I stay pretty far away from them. My boyfriend thinks it’s weird I get queasy seeing all the raw meat parts at the market. Cuy (guinea pig) is also a delicacy here, but it’s enjoyable. Read more here.

8. If you could have a crate of one type of food sent to you from your home country, what would it be?

Dried fruits and all kinds of nuts, spreads and sauces!

9. What three foods remind you of summer?

Watermelon, popsicles, and BBQs.

10. What food from your country are you surprised to enjoy?

Potatoes…there are thousands of varieties and colors here. And the best part, they’re real aka GMO-free. Nope, no grapefruit sized potatoes here!

Bonus: Where was your favorite place you ever took a summer vacation to?

There’s a bunch, but I’ll just pick one: road trip on the US Northwest coast. Firstly, because I just love roadtrips – being with friends, blasting music, and hair blowing in the wind. Secondly, because driving along the coast is so gorgeous.

There you have it, folks! I think I broke some rules because I have trouble picking favorites, oops...What's your favorite cultural food?? 

Peru in June: weather and what to pack

In general...
The weather differs hugely with geography in Peru. For example, it is rainy season in Cusco while it is a warm and humid summer in Lima. GotoPeru.org provides a great weather and geographical breakdown (here). A friend suggested I write a list of things to bring when visiting in Cusco, so here's my 2cents...

In Cusco...
June-July is the closest to summer that Cusco gets. It can be really warm during the days and also pretty darn chilly at night. Temperature ranges from 67*F-31*F. Cusco has a dry atmosphere and about 11,200 feet up in the mountains. It is also within a 1/2 day travel to the jungle and snowy mountains.

What to pack...
- luggage bag
- day-trip backpack
- copies of bank cards and passport
- any medications (if you decide to take for High Altitude or Malaria)
- bug spray (This applies if you may be going to jungle regions, including Machu Picchu. Unfortunately, DEET may be the best)

- a good book/travel entertainment- sun block
- reusable water bottle
- bandanna (always handy)
- bathing suit 
- hat
- boots or good tennis shoes
- good jacket/coat
- gloves/mittens
- windbreaker
- sandals
- tank tops, shirts, long sleeves - lots of layers!

A few key items

If you're thinking about hitting up the jungle, you can eliminate most of the items and just bring a bathing suit, a few clothes and bug spray. Also, you can buy most of these things in Peru if you forget something. Actually, it's also a good idea to leave some empty space in your luggage for things you want to bring back (probably some of the beautiful textiles and artisan work).

One more thing - a favorite travel item of mine is a big scarf that doubles as a blanket or headwrap.
Is there something you always take on trips?