Just returned from a three weeks trip to Peru. I was blown away by the poverty in that country. I saw people with one shoe, people with no shoes, dozens of kids roaming the streets in Cusco, hundreds of people (Cusco) lining up at Christmas in front of a church for a piece of sweet bread and a cup of hot chocolate. The Disneyland-like tourism of Machu Picchu is in stark contrast to this, they milk tourists like cash cows, you have to pay to use the bathroom...

The summer nights in Peru were a lot colder than expected.

Be aware of possible security problems! E.g. I used the HOSTAL ROMA in the very center of Lima, Jiron Ica 326, where the hostal staff stole money from me. (I am a hundred percent certain of this!). So be careful and prepared to face some surprises. Still there a great people in Peru there but the poverty drives some of them to extrem measures....

Iguana