http://www.peruforless.com Building Magical Memories. Travel to Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Ecuador en-us Peru For Less http://www.peruforless.com/images/logo-rss.gif http://www.peruforless.com 154 50 http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=1431 Peruvian grape exports rose by 35% during the recently completed exporting season, which started in October 2006 and ended in February of this year. This year's figures are more than a third higher than those registered last year, reports Peru's Foreign Trade Society (Comercio Exterior del Peru - ComexPeru). Despite having one less month during the past exporting season (normal exporting seasons start in October and end in March), ComexPeru informs that grape exports reached a total value of US$49.9 million. http://www.livinginperu.com/news/3830 (LIP-jl) -- Peru's artichoke export industry experienced a significant increase during the year's first trimester (January through March) as exports of the pointy vegetable rose by a healthy 28% compared to figures registered during the same period in 2006, according to Peru's Association of Exporters (Asociacion de Exportadores -Adex). The United States remains Peru's largest importer of artichokes and accounted for 44% (US$5.6 million) of the Peru's total export value. Meanwhile, representing 22% of artichoke exports, France overtook Spain to become Peru's second largest artichoke importer. http://www.gothamist.com/2007/05/14/llamas_sailors.php Any drink whose roots are founded in appealing to sailors is worth a second look. Pisco, the most widely consumed spirit in Peru, Chile and Boliva, is a brandy that was first made popular by sailors that transported products between the colonies and Spain. This liquor, distilled from grapes, may be a bone of contention between the aforementioned countries - all claiming it to be their national drink; however the one thing we can all agree on is it makes a damn good cocktail. http://www.mercopress.com/vernoticia.do?id=10488&formato=HTML A Magellanic penguin whose natural habitat is the extreme south of Patagonia and the Falkland Islands has strayed thousands of miles and swam all the way to Peru's Paracas national reserve. Native of the Strait of Magellan and surrounding area, the penguin appears to have made the 5.000 kilometres journey on its own. Apparently he 'got off course' to end up just 14 degrees south of the equator. Sadly however, the Magellanic penguin's tale may not have a happy outcome since the area where he has ended up is home to 4,000 Humboldt penguins and scientists fear they will probably reject the outsider. http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/health_and_fitness/article/0,1426,MCA_522_5535373,00.html Green beans just don't get much press, and they don't get much respect. For most of us, they are one of the first vegetables we are exposed to as babies. Cooked soft, they are easy for babies to eat. By themselves, they are bland and perfect for a baby's new palate. I know very soft-cooked, cut green beans were used a lot in my house in those early days of feeding toddlers. As we grow up, green beans are sort of the 'everyday' vegetable. Not the fine-china type of vegetable like, say, asparagus. When we are planning dinner for company, we don't first think of serving green beans, unless they are doused in a creamy base and topped with canned fried onions. http://www.javno.com/en/world/clanak.php?id=43752 On May 14, 1933, Lina Medina from Peru gave birth and became the youngest mother in the history of medicine. Five-year-old Lina was taken to hospital by her parents who believed that she had a tumour that caused her abdomen to swell. The doctors, however, discovered that she was seven months pregnant. She gave birth to a boy with caesarean section a month and a half later. His birth weight was 2.7 kilograms. http://www.livinginperu.com/news-3820-economymining-perus-tomato-exports-jump-60- (LIP-jl) -- Peru's agricultural exports continuem to exceed market expectations as more importers from around the world are taking notice of the country's excellent products. This time, Peru's tomato exports experienced an increase of 60% during this year's first trimester (January through March) according to Peru's Association of Exporters (Asociacion de Exportadores -ADEX). Total Peruvian tomato exports reached US$2.7 million, compared to 1.7 registered during the first trimester of 2006. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/entertainment/books/20070513_Boredom_spurs_motorcycle_trek_for_a_new_direction.html Lois Pryce didn't have a bad life. She just had a boring one. Her job at the BBC was beyond tedious, her workspace was dubbed the 'Pigpen,' and her administrative superior made The Office's Michael Scott look like a shoo-in for boss of the year. So she did what many of us dream of doing while staring at our cubicle walls - she quit. But she didn't try to find a new job, or run off to an island where every drink comes with a paper umbrella, or try to write a novel, or loaf around her apartment. Instead, she flew to Alaska and motorcycled from there to Argentina on an old, beat-up and, at times, barely breathing Yamaha XT225 Serow. http://www.livinginperu.com/news/3807 (LIP-jl) -- The third installment of the Spider-Man movie franchise is breaking opening movie box office records all over the world. In the United States, the film broke the all time opening weekend box office record by raking in US$148 million dollars during it first three days of release. Although the numbers aren't quite as impressive in Peru, Spider-Man 3 also broke the Peruvian opening box office record this past weekend. According to film's distributor in Peru, Andes Films, Spider-Man 3 grossed S/2.5 million (US$804,000) during its first four days of release in the Peruvian market. http://www.livinginperu.com/news-3809-artculturehistory-christies-auction-off-archaeological-artifacts-from-peru (LIP-jl) -- Peru Explorer magazine is denouncing the auctioning of approximately 40 archaeological artifacts from various ancient Peruvian cultures, including the Chavin, Chimu, Nazca, and Mochica. Artifacts such as a mortar and a textile piece are reported to fetch thousands of dollars during the auction. Peru Explorer Director Jorge Sanchez indicated this morning that approximately 40 pieces from several ancient Peruvian civilizations will be auctioned by the London based auction house Christie's this May 17 and May 23, in its New York City branch, located in Rockefeller Center. http://www.livinginperu.com/news/3799 (LIP-jl) -- As word of mouth of Peruvian Pisco's exceptional quality spreads around the world, Peruvian producers are toasting their pisco glasses as they reap the benefits generated by growing export volumes. According to Peru's Association of Exporters (Asociacion de Exportadores -ADEX), Peruvian pisco exports registered an astounding 515% increase during the year's first trimester, compared to figures recorded during the same period in 2006. While the overall value remains relatively modest, the increase in percentage is a testament to the Peruvian government's efforts on promoting the distilled spirit throughout the world. http://www.livinginperu.com/news-3782-travel-tourism-foreigner-visits-peru-up-almost-13- (LIP-jl) -- As Peru continues to promote its amazing travel attractions to the world, more international tourists seem to be getting the message and have increased their visits to the Andean nation during the year's first trimester. According to figures released by Peru's Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Ministerio de Comercio Exterior y Turismo -Mincetur), the number of foreigners visiting Peru between January and March of this year jumped by 12.9%, compared to the same period last year. http://www.livinginperu.com/features-309-art-culture-lifestyle-peru-divine-mothers-cathedral Marian devotion in Peru has been--and is--expressed in many different ways. The most splendid representation, however, may have come during the Baroque period in Peruvian art, which flourished between the 17th and 18th centuries and left behind a strong religious sentiment. This religiosity, which is still evident today in the daily lives of Peruvians, is reflected in the beautiful iconography found in corners of the country's churches and convents. The Banco de Credito has patiently undertaken the restoration of these works of art and is currently sponsoring an exhibition in Lima's cathedral. http://www.livinginperu.com/news-3769-sports-perus-surfing-queen-nominated-u-s-awards-show (LIP-jl) -- Peruvian surfing sensation Sofia Mulanovich was recently nominated by the organizers of the Premios Joventud 2007 Awards, an awards ceremony held by United States Spanish language television network Univision. The awards ceremony, which will be held in Miami next July 19, will award Latino celebrities from the realms of television, music, sports, and other entertainment. Mulonavich, who has won numerous surfing events throughout her relatively young career, is nominated in the category of 'Deportes de Alta Tension.' http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0507/p04s01-woam.html POROTOBANGO, PERU - Raised in palm huts deep in the Peruvian Amazon, Gregorio Torres never imagined that below his home was something called natural gas. Now his Machiguengua Indian settlement in this rain-forest river clearing has solar-powered radio gifted by an international oil company, corrugated tin roofs, T-shirts with company logos, and a shelf of Western medicine. But this incipient natural-gas boom is bringing new worries, too. 'We want oil companies to leave the rivers and the forests like they found them,' says Mr. Torres. http://www.livinginperu.com/news-3762-peru-perus-machu-picchu-among-10-most-voted-new-7-wonders (LIP-jl) -- Peru's nationwide promotional efforts to make Machu Picchu one of the winners in the internet-based New7Wonders contest seems to be working as the New7Wonders Foundation announced today that the Incas citadel is among the top 10 most voted candidates. With the Egyptian pyramids recently designated as an honorary New Wonder, Machu Picchu's chances of earning a spot in the top seven have greatly improved. http://www.livinginperu.com/news-3761-education-perus-school-children-get-laptops-100 (LIP-jl) -- Peruvian Education Minister Jose Antonio Chang announced that Peru is on the doorsteps of signing an agreement with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to provide Peru's schoolchildren with affordable access to new laptop computers by next year. 'One Laptop per Child' is a non profit organization that works with country education ministries to distribute these low cost machines, much like textbooks, to children in developing nations. http://www.livinginperu.com/news/3767 (LIP-mr) -- As news that the nation's economy is growing at a record pace dominates the local media, issues such as Peru's enormous child hunger problem seem to have taken a back seat to other much more positive topics. In an effort to change that and to raise awareness about child hunger, the United Nations World Food Program-Peru successfully held the 'Caminata contra el hambre infantil' (Walk Against Child Hunger) in Chorrillos this past weekend. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/06/sports/othersports/06surfing.html?ex=1179374400&en=a8d55d7af8e45a7c&ei=5070 For decades, those in the wealthy elite of Lima, Peru, have been ditching the three-pisco-sour lunch to surf the long, perfect waves as high as 10 feet along the Pacific coast. But now the tides are changing, with the sport's popularity transcending class lines because of a greater availability of inexpensive boards and a homegrown 2004 world surfing champion who has sparked a wave-riding fever. The unemployed Web designer Christian Escobar paid $80 for a used board - a fraction of the $350 price tag for a new one - and stores it with fishermen near the pebbled Costa Verde beach instead of hauling it back to his poor neighborhood in Lima, more than an hour away by a rickety city bus. http://www.livinginperu.com/news-3758-travel-tourism-delta-airlines-offer-more-flights-peru (LIP-mr) -- Beginning in June, United States based Delta Airlines will offer a second flight between Atlanta, Georgia (USA) and Lima, Peru on a daily basis. The second daily flight is being initiated on a temporary basis and will be offered permanently if demand proves to be high. http://www.livinginperu.com/news/3755 (LIP-jl) -- Peruvian Customs agents routinely seize items that range from contraband to cocaine. However, Customs agents were surprised when they found something a little out of the ordinary at a warehouse located inside of Lima's Jorge Chavez International Airport. According to Peru 21, authorities found eleven feline and monkey craniums inside of a package that was heading to the Miami, Florida. In addition to the craniums, customs agent also found packages containing 32 dissected rare butterflies, jaguar and snake skins, a parrot beak, and a turtle shell, among others items. All of the packages were heading to Miami. http://www.fuerteventuradigital.com/noticias/News/2007/05/04/194020.asp FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Spirit Airlines today announced nonstop service from Fort Lauderdale to the Peruvian capital of Lima. Service will be offered daily starting June 27, 2007. Spirit will also offer convenient connections from its domestic network. The daily flights to Jorge Chávez International Airport will be operated with Spirit's Airbus A319 equipment. Spirit serves all routes with its fleet of Airbus aircraft, the youngest in the Americas. Lima, Peru will be Spirit's first South American destination served. Earlier this year, Spirit started service to San Jose, Costa Rica and recently announced new service to Guatemala City, Guatemala and San Pedro Sula, Honduras in Central America. http://www.livinginperu.com/news/3725 (LIP-jl) -- Peru's controversial representative in this year's Miss Universe beauty pageant, Jimena Elias, 18 years old, traveled to Mexico early this morning to prepare for the event scheduled to take place on May 28. Her selection caused quiet a stir in the local media as accusations of nepotism and irregularities surfaced after she was chosen by a panel in a strange 'closed door' event. Critics allege her father, who owns the University of San Juan (the event's main sponsor) influenced her selection. Even former Peruvian queen beauty Jessica Newton - regarded as the local expert in pageants - publicly alleged that 'her selection was definitely rigged.' http://www.livinginperu.com/news/3696 (LIP-jl) -- The Peruvian government has decided to invest some S/1.5 million to help with various recovery and conversation efforts at Chan Chan, the largest pre-Columbian city in South America. Chan Chan, which is located in the Peruvian region of La Libertad, 5km west of Trujillo, 570 kilometers north of Lima, has been deteriorating due to uncommon weather patterns that have plagued the area this year. http://www.livinginperu.com/news-3697-press-releases-peru-leader-wins-goldman-prize-defending-uncontacted-tribes Indigenous leader Julio Cusirichi Palacios has won the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize for his work defending the rights and lives of uncontacted tribes in the Peruvian Amazon. It is my responsibility to defend the rights of indigenous peoples, especially those living in isolation who have no voice, and are the most vulnerable peoples on the planet, said Mr Cusirichi, a Shipibo man who has worked closely with local indigenous organization FENAMAD. I need to inform the politicians who are making decisions that affect these peoples, nationally and internationally, and propose viable alternatives. http://www.latinamericapress.org/article.asp?lanCode=1&artCode=5122 Quechua continues to lose ground to Spanish. In August 2006 it appeared as though the Quechua was about to flourish again in Lima. Here, on Peru's central coast, many linguists believe the Quechua language was born at least 2,000 years ago. Congresswomen Hilaria Supa and Maria Sumire, both from the highland Cuzco department, where Quechua is the dominant tongue, took their oath of office in their native Quechua, and vowed to speak in the indigenous language on the floor of Congress. But lawmaker and linguist Martha Hildebrandt did not accept theiroath and tried to force them to speak in Spanish, causing an uproar. Most sided with the two Quechua-speaking congresswomen. http://www.livinginperu.com/news-3683-business-perus-surf-boards-riding-high-as-exports-increase-almost-1-2 (LIP-jl) -- The recent success of Peruvian surfers in international competitions has undoubtedly had an effect on the Peruvian surfing scene. Pass by any of Lima's beaches and you are guaranteed to see large groups of surfers training to become Peru's next surfing sensation. The quality of Peruvian surf boards has also caught the attention of international surf shops as Peru's Association of Exporters (ADEX in Spanish) reports Peruvian surf board exports jumped by a whopping 43% during the first three months of the year. http://www.livinginperu.com/news-3665-health-perus-little-mermaid-baby-doing-well Scientists in the United States and Canada are reporting the first scientific evidence that ancient civilizations in the Central Andes Mountains of Peru smelted metals, and hints that a tax imposed on local people by ancient Inca rulers forced a switch from production of copper to silver. Their study is scheduled for the May 15 issue of ACS' Environmental Science & Technology, a semi-monthly journal. The University of Alberta's Colin A. Cooke and colleagues point out that past evidence for metal smelting, which involves heating ore to extract pure metal, was limited mainly to the existence of metal artifacts dating to about 1,000 A.D. and the Wari Empire that preceded the Inca. The new evidence emerged from a study of metallurgical air pollutants released from ancient furnaces during the smelting process and deposited in lake sediments in the area. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070423100437.htm Scientists in the United States and Canada are reporting the first scientific evidence that ancient civilizations in the Central Andes Mountains of Peru smelted metals, and hints that a tax imposed on local people by ancient Inca rulers forced a switch from production of copper to silver. Their study is scheduled for the May 15 issue of ACS' Environmental Science & Technology, a semi-monthly journal. The University of Alberta's Colin A. Cooke and colleagues point out that past evidence for metal smelting, which involves heating ore to extract pure metal, was limited mainly to the existence of metal artifacts dating to about 1,000 A.D. and the Wari Empire that preceded the Inca. The new evidence emerged from a study of metallurgical air pollutants released from ancient furnaces during the smelting process and deposited in lake sediments in the area. http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/22393/ In August 2006 American Bird Conservancy (ABC) announced the first conservation easement in northern Peru that provides a lifeline for the survival of the rare hummingbird. The agreement, signed between a local community and ABC's Peruvian partner group Asociación Ecosistemas Andinos (ECOAN), protects a site where the species occurs which is a global conservation priority for the Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE). AZE is a coalition of conservation organizations that aim to protect 595 sites around the world that are the last refuges for endangered species which rely on single remaining locations for their survival. http://www.livinginperu.com/news-3650-world-good-news-perus-machu-picchu-egyptian-pyramids-no-longer-new7wonders-contest (LIP-jl) -- The ancient Egyptian pyramids of Giza have officially been removed from the list of candidates in the New7Wonders contest as officials from the New7Wonders Foundation have designated the pyramids as an 'Honorary New7Wonders Candidate.' "After careful consideration, the New7Wonders Foundation designates the Pyramids of Giza-the only remaining of the 7 Ancient Wonders of the World-as an Honorary New7Wonders Candidate," reads an announcement posted the New7Wonders official website. The designation was made after Egyptian officials raised their voice over the contest in which they believed questioned the status of their historical site. http://www.mercopress.com/vernoticia.do?id=10293&formato=HTML The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is sending a mission next week to the Incan archaeological ruin of Machu Picchu in Peru amid mounting concern about the conservation of the World Heritage Site as tourist numbers increase and urban development encroaches. Starting Monday, the mission will spend eight days visiting Machu Picchu and holding talks with Peruvian Government officials, local community representatives and others to discuss the implementation of the master plan for the site. Mission members will hold workshops with representatives of civil society and local, regional and national institutions to promote the greater participation of local communities in the management of Machu Picchu, which was inscribed as a mixed natural and cultural site on the World Heritage List in 1983. http://journalperu.com/?p=920 (JP-wb) -- Peruvian authorities approved an urgency decree on Wednesday which extends the current effective emergency situation for the archaeological complex of Chan Chan by another 120 days, informed president Alan Garcia. This measure was approved upon the request of the Interior Ministry during a cabinet session today. As part of its decentralization efforts, Peru's ministerial cabinet is currently on a road trip in the northern city of Chiclayo. Chan Chan, the largest Pre-Columbian city in South America, is also located in this area, in the region of La Libertad, five kilometers west of Trujillo. http://www.livinginperu.com/news/3631 (LIP-jl) -- In an effort to curb child labor in Peru, the United States Department of Labor launched its Prepare for Life program which it claims will benefit some 10,000 children and teenagers between the ages of 11 and 15 who run a high risk of dropping out of school. The program, which was officially announced yesterday by United States Ambassador to Peru James Curtis Struble, will be funded by a US$5 million donation that will enable its implementation and execution in Lima, Callao, Trujillo, and Iquitos over a period of 5 years. One of the program's main objectives is to provide aid and assistance to children and teenagers who work in Peru's informal industries. They will be provided with educational materials such as books and school supplies, as well as with health and nutrition classes. http://www.livinginperu.com/news/3619 (LIP-jl) -- According to Andina News Agency, the enchanting Incan citadel of Machu Picchu, regarded as Peru's biggest and most important tourist attraction, runs the risk of missing the final cut in the New 7 World Wonders contest scheduled to end this July. Despite constant reports that claim Machu Picchu is among the leaders in the world-wide internet voting contest, the manager of the promotional campaign in Cuzco, Moises Bendezu, assures that it still runs the danger of fading away at the end. Bendezu bases his claim on the latest reports issued by the New 7 Wonders Foundation, which according to him, suggest the Incan ruins could be bumped from its position among the leaders if more awareness is not raised by the Peruvian government. http://www.livinginperu.com/blogs/travel/300 Ayacucho, located in the south-central Andes, is one of Peru's most beautiful cities. This is due to its attractive colonial style churches and large majestic colonial houses. These elegant churches, adorned with golden altars and jewels, date back to the XVI-XVII and XVIII centuries. This city is not only known for its exquisite architecture but also admired for its deep religious beliefs and celebration of these beliefs. The people's expression of their profound faith can be seen in their 10 day celebration of Holy Week. Holy Week is not only a time of sincere respect for the death and resurrection of Christ but also a time of enthusiasm and fervor. This can be appreciated in the religious ceremonies and processions as well as in the cultural, artistic and commercial events. Just after Sevilla, Spain, the city of Ayacucho is considered to have the most traditional celebration of Holy Week in the world. http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/178265 Hi, it's me again, Artzy. Fasten your seatbelts, because we're off for another adventure. This time we're headed to Peru, a country in South America that is known for hand-sewn, three-dimensional pictures made of fabric called arpilleras (the Spanish word for "sackcloth" or "burlap"). The women who make arpilleras use the appliqué technique to attach small items to a larger cloth background. These small objects may be made out of scraps of fabric, vinyl and felt; thin pieces of wood; or fibers such as straw or raffia. If you look closely at the picture on the far right, you can see that the little baskets are made of straw fibers, the hats of felt, and the shoes of small pieces of vinyl. http://www.examiner.com/a-669832~Food_of_Peru_will_conquer_the_world.html Examiner food critic Patricia Unterman checks in with her latest report from her culinary adventures around the world. Today: Peru. Practically every first-time visitor to Peru makes the pilgrimage to Machu Picchu, the haunting, architecturally sophisticated ruins of a royal Incan retreat on a mountain top. What a food-focused traveler like me learns along the way is that the success of this pre-Columbian civilization was based on a brilliant and inventive system of subsistence agriculture. Ancient Incan stone terraces still crawl up the steep sides of the Urubamba Valley below Machu Picchu, planted, as always, with corn, potatoes, beans and indigenous grains like quinoa. Meter by meter, the microclimates of the terraces change with the angle of the sun, altitude and season. The Incans knew which of thousands of cultivated varieties thrived in each microzone. http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkyNiZmZ2JlbDdmN3ZxZWVFRXl5NzEwMjcyNyZ5cmlyeTdmNzE3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTI An international team of archeologists has found a new way to trace the rise and fall of the Inca civilization -- the fossils of tiny soil-dwelling organisms called mites. In the absence of written records, mites might provide the most reliable way to document the Incas and other South American societies, said paleoecologist Alex J. Chepstow-Lusty of the Universite de Montpelier in France, who led the study. The mites feed on the droppings of llamas, the primary beast of burden in the region, in moist grasslands and pastures and their chitinous shells are preserved in waterlogged sediments. The team concluded that the number of mite fossils in a soil sample is related to the number of llamas that used the pasture, and thus to the size of the populace. http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096414777 CUSCO, Peru - At least 2,000 Quechuan marchers and dancers filled the streets of Cusco on March 5 to protect the Andean sacred site of Q'oyllur Riti from mining activities. Dressed in the traditional clothing and masks of the Q'oyllur Riti festival, one of the most important indigenous festivals in Peru, they came in buses and on foot from eight different Andean communities in the district of Ocongate, about six hours away from Cusco. "Q'oyllur Riti is a sacred and historical site," said Felipe Achahui, president of the Brotherhood of Senor de Q'oyllur Riti and one of the demonstration's organizers. "Nobody can touch it." Achahui claimed the Peruvian Ministry of Energy and Mines had leased Lot 28T, an area within the traditional festival site, to the mining company Minsur. Ocongate residents, he said, had found out about the concession by reading public notices in the newspapers. http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070401/lf_afp/peruarchaeologyarttrafficking_070401060651 LIMA (AFP) - Smugglers are sapping Peru's ancient heritage, with statues, gold finery and other treasures stolen to meet orders on the Internet or sold on the street, Peruvian and international authorities said. Peru is the country worst hit in the region by thefts of ancient objects -- far more than Bolivia and Mexico, two other nations with a heritage of pre-Colombian antiquities, an Interpol official here, Eladio Zamudio, recently told AFP. The international police agency is investigating several cases of stolen art objects from Peru which have passed through the country's porous borders to end up in Europe, the United States and elsewhere in South America. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070330/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/peru_machu_picchu_1 LIMA, Peru - A village near Peru's Machu Picchu has built a bridge over a turbulent river to open another route for backpackers trekking to the lofty Inca ruins. The bridge was inaugurated Saturday in the village of Santa Teresa despite the objections of government cultural experts, who fear increased tourism could threaten the UNESCO World Heritage site as hostels and restaurants spring up to serve travelers. They also say more tourists could imperil rare flora and fauna in the highland jungle surrounding the ruins, which are dramatically perched on a ridge 300 miles southeast of the capital Lima. But authorities in Santa Teresa, less than 10 miles from Machu Picchu, are hoping the bridge over the Vilcanota River will help the local economy get a piece of the tourism pie. Most travelers would likely spend the night in the village before continuing on to Machu Picchu. http://www.mainecoastnow.com/articles/2007/04/03/capital_weekly/local_news/doc460bc97e92bfd931833559.txt WHITEFIELD - According to Ben Marcus, "the thing about mushroom hunting is you don't get very far," but it took the young Whitefield man all the way to South America. Marcus has a thing for mushrooms. He's also taken a liking to lichen which, as a fungus and algae composite, have a mushroom component, the 23-year-old said. When Marcus talks about mushrooms, he's rarely referring to the fibrous, toadstool-shaped vegetation most people associate with them. Instead, he's referring to the entire fungus, most of which consists of a fine, web-like structure that lies hidden in the ground, within bark or rotten wood, and other decaying matter. "A fraction of mushrooms are toadstools. The majority of mushrooms are underground and yet to be discovered. What we see are the fruiting bodies," Marcus explained. The literature indicates that there are over 10,000 documented species of mushrooms in the world and at least 140,000 more yet to be identified. A mission to find some of those still undocumented species is what led Marcus to South America last January. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17746419/ LIMA, Peru - An extremely rare species of tiny owl has been seen in the wild for the first time, the American Bird Conservancy said Thursday. The long-whiskered owlet, one of the world's smallest owls, was discovered in 1976. Researchers have caught a few specimens in nets after dark but had not seen it in nature. It was spotted in the wild in February by researchers monitoring a private conservation area in Peru's northern jungle. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20070312/ap_tr_ge/travel_brief_ancient_americas_1 CHICAGO - Aztec. Incan. Mayan. They're the most widely recognized ancient cultures of North, South and Central America, according to visitors surveyed by The Field Museum. But a new exhibit called "The Ancient Americas" shows that the Western Hemisphere was home to hundreds of diverse societies established long before European explorers arrived in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17437557/site/newsweek/ As a NEWSWEEK correspondent for 26 years, most recently as Latin America Regional Editor, Joseph Contreras has traveled frequently to Lima. Here are his favorite eateries in the Peruvian capitals Miraflores district, an upmarket neighborhood that blends seaside shopping boutiques and high-rise apartment buildings with tree-shaded parks and bohemian bars. http://www.cnn.com/2007/SPORT/football/03/08/peru.coach/index.html LIMA, Peru -- Former striker Julio Cesar Uribe has been named Peru coach for a second time and will attempt to take his country to their first World Cup since 1982. "Julio Cesar Uribe has been chosen and I just hope that all Peruvians back him in his task, " said Juvenal Silva, president of the Peruvian football federation committee. "We need a breath of fresh air, to be much more professional than we have been in the past and avoid squabbling," he added. Uribe is currently coach of Cuzco-based club Cienciano of which Silva is also president. His first match in charge will be the friendly away to Japan on March 24. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17407158/ The oldest solar observatory in the Americas has been discovered in coastal Peru, archaeologists announced today. The 2,300-year-old ceremonial complex featured the Towers of Chankillo, 13 towers running north to south along a low ridge and spread across 980 feet (300 meters) to form a toothed horizon that was used for solar observations. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070221/sc_nm/peru_museum_brains_dc_1 LIMA, Reuters Life! - Diana Rivas says it only takes her a few seconds to look at a brain to know what afflicted its owner. "This one belonged to an alcoholic...This one belonged to somebody who had Alzheimer's disease " Rivas said as she passes row after row of brains suspended in preserving liquid and stacked on shelves in a tiny room in central Lima. Rivas is a neuropathologist who runs a little-known brain museum in the Peruvian capital. She claims it is the only public display of human brains in the world. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070219/od_nm/swiss_wonders1_dc_1 ZURICH (Reuters) - What are the greatest architectural achievements in history? Rome's Colosseum? The Great Wall of China? The Pyramids of Giza? That's what millions of people are asking themselves as they vote in the largest global poll ever conducted, an attempt to recast ancient history by ranking the top architectural marvels as the "new" seven wonders of the world. http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070218/FEATURES05/702180373 The Society of International Railway Travelers International Rail Travelers Club has just released a guide to 25 "Tops-in-the-World" trains, from the United States to Africa, Peru to Siberia. The "IRT Society's Best-Loved Railway Journeys -- 2007" is a special edition of the club's magazine. The trains noted are the most luxurious and/or comfortable ways to see remote or scenic regions, such the Trans-Siberian Express in Russia or the Andean Explorer in Peru. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070219/lf_nm/peru_food1_dc_1 LIMA (Reuters) - Throughout their history of poverty and political turmoil, Peruvians have been fiercely proud of their elaborate, spicy food and new superstar chefs are now a magnet for culinary tourists. Lima used to be no more than a one-night stopover for international tourists -- many of them backpackers and budget travelers -- flying into Peru to visit the ancient Inca ruins of Machu Picchu and the neighboring historic city of Cuzco. But a culinary explosion, helped by the fame of some Peruvian chefs abroad, has made the Pacific coast capital city more attractive for visitors, especially after a leftist insurgency ended in the 1990s and was followed by economic growth and greater political stability. http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/02/15/ancient.peppers.ap/index.html WASHINGTON (AP) -- Who says food fads can't last? Thousands of years before the advent of Tex-Mex, ancient Americans were spicing up stew with red hot chili peppers. New fossil evidence shows prehistoric people from southern Peru up to the Bahamas were cultivating varieties of chilies millennia before Columbus' arrival brought the spice to world cuisine. http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/070214/nyw046.html?.v=84 (SAO PAULO, Brazil, Feb. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes (NYSE: GOL and Bovespa: GOLL4), Brazil's low-cost, low-fare airline, announces daily flights begin today on its new route from Santiago, Chile to Lima, Peru. The route, which begins in Buenos Aires, Argentina, connects three important South American countries -- Argentina, Chile and Peru. http://www.fifa.com/en/mens/index/0,2527,131828,00.html?articleid=131828 (REUTERS) - Peru may play their home matches at high altitude in an attempt to qualify for the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1982, a leading official said on Tuesday. http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/02/08/revealed.testino.bio/index.html (CNN) -- Mario Testino traverses the worlds of fashion and celebrity with ease, having shot campaigns for the biggest names in the business. Testino believes that art and business can be easy bedfellows. Now considered an iconic figure in fashion photography, his pictures have produced some of the defining images of an era, and have adorned the walls of art galleries. Born in Lima, Peru in 1954, Testino attended an American Catholic school in his native country. http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/02/07/revealed.testino.qanda/index.html (CNN) -- Peru-born Mario Testino is one of the world's most sought-after fashion photographers. Here, in extracts from his interviews with CNN, he talks about the power of photography, his South American roots and the 1997 images he took of Diana, Princess of Wales.