UJ #17 - Traditional Peru

Lima is a perfect mix
of past and present.
Pictured, the Huaca
Pucllana.
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it from pirate attacks were torn down, and Lima began to
expand. The neighbourhoods of Miraflores, Barranco, and
Chorrillos were established, quickly becoming favourites
amongst well-to-do Limeños, and mansions, wide avenues,
trains, and trollies appeared as the city started to take a
new, exciting shape. Today, modern areas continue to
coexist with pre-Hispanic architecture – like the Huaca
Pucllana – and parks full of history, like the Olivar.
Besides the incredible aesthetic transformation Lima
has undergone, the city’s essence has also changed
considerably. Since the 1940’s, Lima was synonymous
with progress for many of those living in the rural parts
of Peru. Around this time, people began to migrate to
the capital in search of economic opportunities, better
education and healthcare. Over the years, millions of
people have emigrated, bringing with them not only their
physical baggage, but also, their substantial and important
cultural loads.
The result? An eccentric, diverse, and multicultural city.
Lima’s gorgeous marinera dance now coexists with the
traditionally Andean huayno; street signs have become
bright and colourful – emblems of the urban chicha
culture; ceviche is as recognized as quinua; it is not
uncommon to hear cumbia on the radio, nor is it odd to
hear Quechua spoken in the streets. All these things that
once seemed so distant from the capital have become a
part of it, enhancing the culture and adding more flavour
into the local melting pot.
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Lima is the only
coastal capital in
South America.
Colour and tradition
fill the city’s artisanal
markets.
For all these reasons, Lima’s anniversary is celebrated
many different ways: with prayer, songs, dances, and
fireworks that light up the sky. Big and small, we come
together to celebrate our city: the historic, the modern,
and the future Lima. A city that – while at times may
seem noisy and chaotic – we are proud to call home.
LIMEÑOS HAVE THEIR OWN
DIALECT: ESPAÑOL RIBEREÑO, OR
COASTAL SPANISH. INFLUENCED BY
CASTILIAN SPANISH, THIS DIALECT
IS CHARACTERIZED BY ITS LACK
OF STRONG INTONATIONS. IT IS
CURRENTLY SPOKEN THROUGHOUT
THE COAST OF PERU.
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