Via @GregBensel

Scott Anthony Fujita, the American football linebacker famous for his role in the National Football League has retired in Peru. What interests us is the place where he chose to retire. From the mountaintops of Peruvian Andes, Scott Anthony Fujita announced his retirement from active career. The 33 year old is a Super Bowl-winning linebacker who spent 3 seasons in Kansas City, one in Dallas and 4 with the Saints. He won the 2009 NFL championship and survived allegations during a game and was absolved by former commissioner Paul Tagliabue.

The place where he chose to retire was at an altitude of 10,000 feet above sea level, overlooking Machu Picchu. The football player was known for his charm on-field and off-field. He is a liberal who has vocally supported for the rights of LGBT people, abortion and adoption. He has also spoken for the preservation of wetlands and was named Saints “Man of the Year” in 2009, thanks to his charitable activities.

The fact that this liberal football player chose to retire on top of the Andes in Peru shows that there is something magical about this South American nation, which lures travelers and celebrities from across the world. Surely, the peace and mystic must have had a positive and calming effect on Fujita, who has recently seen stressful days. Fujita traveled to the Andes Mountains in Peru with his friend and former Saints teammate, Steve Gleason, who is fighting Lou Gehrig’s disease. The athlete went on record saying it was probably the best place to reach the end of the road, especially with his friend by his side.

Machu Picchu is one of the most visited sites in Peru, a nation that holds many better kept secrets that are more than just intriguing. Many people travel to the Peruvian Andes as a way of resolving their conflicts and personal dilemmas, which are dealt with in a calm and meditative locale in the Andes. Like Scott Fujita, you might probably want to make some major decisions on top of the Andes as well, and who knows, they might probably be the best decisions of your life!

Images 2, 3 via Wikipedia

Most of the Aqualab Club that was at the competition

Swimming is not a widely practiced sport in Peru, which makes for a less competitive, more friendly atmosphere.  Most of the competitors who have been swimming for any more than two years seemed to know most of the other competitors in their division.  Within the three days I spent at the pool, I conversed with just about everyone in my division (women 18-24) as well (not a difficult feat, considering there were less than a dozen).  This also makes it possible for anyone and everyone to go to the national championship, no matter where it is.  Most of the competitors were from Lima, but there were also swimmers from Trujillo and Arequipa.  We took advantage of the vacation to get to know the city as well!  [See Kate's Blog for a more traditional vacation in Trujillo!]

The San Borja Group at the Plaza de Armas of Trujillo

This friendly atmosphere was also apparent in the “Dinner of Friendship and Good Sportsmanship” which took place Saturday night.  It was held at the same country club that we spent the day swimming at, but at 9:30 pm in the grand pavilion.  The dinner itself seemed remarkably small by swimmers standards (most of us ended up going to by cookies and other more filling foods later), but the friendship and sportsmanship was definitely present.

Dancing around 11 pm the night before a competition!

As with most Peruvian parties, there was a ‘Show’ of sorts, complete with music ranging from Kumbia to Reggaeton to Hora Loca (crazy hour), all of which sung by the same guy, minus a few Karaoke tunes sung by various members of the swimming community.  There were people of all ages and clubs dancing until 11:30, when most people decided it would be better to go rest for their races the next day.  My group obviously didn’t care too much about those races, since we all stayed out ‘till 3 am.  At 2:30 am, a few of us decided to invade the Quinciñera (huge sweet 15 Birthday celebration) that was happening on the other side of the club.  We only managed to stay for a few songs of “La Hora Loca” before the mother of the birthday girl yelled at us to “get going.”

Can you spot the the swimmers?  Hint, we got kicked out a few minutes later for being under-dressed.

Despite our late night, the majority of my team did well in their races on Sunday.  The top 5 places for the Men’s “technical mark” (award for coming closest to the world record) trophy were won by my team, as well as 3 of the top 10 for the women’s trophy.  Arriba Aqualab!

The Group with our Medals

Coach Victor & I

The weekend ended with a trip to a tourist restaurant and a visit to Huanchaco beach!  It was beautiful.  We arrived an hour before sunset (5ish) and stayed chilling in the sand until the majority of the group had to go to airport to return to Lima and I had to find the bus station to Cajamarca to meet up with Kate for another great adventure!  [To be continued!]

The Group in Huanchaco Beach

Jacqui is a volunteer and researcher for the Karikuy Volunteer Program in Lima, Peru.

If the video above does not work please visit the following links:

http://tvperuana.pe/cmd-cable-magico-deportes-en-vivo/

http://www.teleperuana.net/2010/07/cmd-en-vivo.html

http://es.justin.tv/kiketc

http://myp2p.eu/competition.php?competitionid=&part=sports&discipline=football

http://www.tuneskatv.com/2011/06/universitario-vs-alianza-lima-en-vivo.html

http://www.visionperuanatv.com/2011/06/alianza-lima-vs-universitario-en-vivo.html

CONMEBOL South American U20 Championship Peru 2011

Stream will go live at approx 5:30pm EST we will always try to find you the clearest, reliable stream.

Click refresh before the match if the player is not live, alternatively if the stream goes down or does not work visit: http://www.rojadirecta.org/goto/www.psn-sportstv.com/p/canal-3.html

Enjoy the match.

Universitario and Alianza Lima battle it out

Attending my first soccer match ever is one thing, but getting to experience it in South America is another. The match was between Universitario and Alianza Lima: two big rivalry teams in Peru who have been battling it out for over 60 years.

Julio is a Universitario fan so I instantly became an obligatory supporter too – and I’m pretty sure I made the right choice, despite their pastey-coloured uniform.

I knew it was going to be a risky affair: passionate football fans in what I’d consider to be a fairly dangerous city. I’d been warned against bringing my camera – last time Julio took a foreigner one crazed fan attempted to rip her bag from her. Rock-throwing and riots are also common at these kinds of events.

The two rivalry teams unveiling their banners

Initially, we had to walk towards the stadium quite briskly to avoid any brawls outside the entrance gate. Once we were in, it was a little safer as we’d purchased the slightly more expensive tickets which meant we weren’t in the general section (and I’m really glad that we did).

A fight broke out in the general section above the Alianza Lima fans. Yellow plastic chairs, tables and large umbrellas were thrown around at each other, and then a few angry supporters began throwing them off the roof, into the crowd about 100 metres below.

Next thing, several spot fires broke out (all in the Alianza Lima section) and the police with their shields, big black boots and weapons came barging in. Rather than put the fires out, they charged at people in the crowd to prevent them from fueling the fire with confetti and other paper. It was a little surprising they didn’t have fire extinguishers on hand. Instead they stomped on the fire or waved their shields at the fire (didn’t quite help!).

The fight and flames break out

In terms of the actual game – aside from not having any idea about what was going on – it was great! There were plenty of yellow and red cards, failed attempts at goal and the usual drama of men faking injuries.

The most bizarre thing for me was that there was no siren. At the end of the match, a whistle blew, reporters and photographers ran onto the field and the fans bolted out of the stadium so quickly I figured they must have a party to get to.

I was a little disappointed it was a zero-scoring game – but it’s probably a good thing that Alianza Lima got to take their big trophy back home again (they won the last match). We had one rock hurled in our direction while exiting, so I’d hate to think how many more they would’ve thrown had someone scored a goal!

If you do have time while travelling through Peru I would definitely put this on your ‘to-do’ list. It’s a unique experience that’s for sure! A few tips when attending:

• Find out the colors of the teams who are playing, and wear something that is neutral. This way, it won’t look like you’re supporting either team and you’re less likely to have attention drawn to you.
• Don’t bring any valuables, or if you do – hide them in your pocket or under your jacket.
• If you’re on a budget, bring along a snack and drink as the food is at least double what you’d pay outside the stadium (a small, warm coke cost the equivalent of US$2.50)
• If you can, spend a little extra on the tickets to avoid sitting amongst the die-hard fans. It’s far better to watch from a distance than be in the scrum of it.

Eleanor Tan is a researcher and blogger for the Karikuy Volunteer Program in Lima, Peru.

Tonight at 8:45 PM EST, Group leaders Libertad of Paraguay and Universitario of Peru meet for the second and last time to claim a berth in the 2010 Copa Libertadores knockout round. The showdown will take place in Asuncion Paraguay, both teams remain undefeated in the groups stage, this match serving as a defining moment for both as they look to advance to the next round.

Catch the action here live beginning at 8:00 PM EST, we will be streaming the match live. For more information on the match and a comparison of both teams visit Soccerway.

- Libertad: Bernardo Medina, Victor Caceres, Adalberto Román Pedro Sarabia, Victor Ayala, Sergio Aquino, Edgar Robles Miguel Samudio, Rodolfo Gamarra, Pablo Velazquez and Javier Gonzalez. Coach: Javier Torrente.

- Universitario: Raul Fernandez, Renzo Revoredo, Carlos Galvan, John Galliquio, Jesus Rabanal, Reiner Torres, Antonio Gonzalez, Rodolfo Espinoza, Johan Vásquez, Piero Alva, Gianfranco Labarthe. Coach: Juan Reynoso.

Tonights big match (9pm EST) is between Universitario (Peru) and Libertad (Paraguay). Both teams hold the top spots with 6 points to their name in group 4 and should be a great match to watch as the winner will make in on to the knockout round of Americas most prestigious cup competition, comparable only to the Champions League in Europe.

if you have any problem with the video above head over to this link for more options.

The juxtaposition of climate and geography in Peru is incredible. You have urban areas, desert, ocean, mountains, and jungle all right next to each other. Needless to say, to a girl used to growing up in the suburbs and cornfields of the midwest of the United States, the scenery on the bus ride was incredible.

The bus took us from Lima to a town called Ica, where we then took a taxi to the desert oasis of Huacachina, a tiny but popular tourist spot built up around a natural lagoon. One of the things I love about traveling around Peru is that it forces me to practice my Spanish. I had a great conversation with our taxi driver, Francisco, about his brother and family that live in the US. He then pulled over to the side of the road and told us to wait for just a minute; he had to talk to a friend. Sophie, Tim, and I waited in the car for a good ten minutes while our driver argued with this man over money that he owed. Only in Latin America…

Huacachina, Peru

Anyway we finally made it Huacachina (and made sure we paid our driver). The small town is beautiful, with a main “boardwalk” around the lagoon with shops and restaurants and hostels. Our hotel, El Huacachinero, was a little on the expensive side; 130 soles for a triple room (which comes out to a little over $15.00 per person), but it included use of the pool, hot water, and breakfast the next morning. (Note to future travelers: breakfast at hotels in Peru basically means coffee, tea, and bread. Also note that when hotels have hot water, everyone gets it. So when everyone tries to shower at the same time—say, 6:30 in the evening—all of that hot water is dispersed, and you’re lucky if your shower is lukewarm. So if at all possible, try showering at off-hours—like 4:30 the next morning…)

We spent our first afternoon in Huacachina playing on dune buggies and sandboarding in the desert. Dune buggies are open-air vehicles with large wheels and wide tires made for driving on the sand. The seat belt comes over your head and straps you in like a roller coaster so you don’t fall out while the driver speeds up, over, down, and around the steep dunes.

Strapped into the dune buggy and ready to go!

While bouncing around in the desert, we also went sandboarding. Sandboarding can be done two different ways. If you’ve had experience with snowboarding, you can fit yourself into boots that strap into a board and ride down the dune on your feet. If you don’t know how to snowboard, you lie down on the board on your chest, hold onto the straps, and slide down the dune head first. I went down on my chest, and made it to the bottom of the first dune breathless and exhilarated and weighed down by the pound of sand that had made its way into each of my shoes.

When we stopped at our second dune (bigger, steeper, MUCH more fun), I asked our guide if I had to wear my shoes. He shook his head and said, “No, no, es major sin zapatos.” Which means, “No, no, it’s better without shoes.” So I went down my second dune, feet light and free, and the guide was right; it was so much better without shoes.

As our sandboarding ended and we watched the sun set behind the dunes, I started thinking. My guide earlier that day was right; it is better without shoes. Sandboarding, and life, are better without the things that weigh you down. So take off your shoes, lose the unnecessary things in life, feel the sand between your toes, and have fun!

That night we had dinner, drinks, and played cards with a couple we met while sandboarding who were from Canada (and who, incidentally, did nothing to debunk the myth that Canadians are the nicest people on the planet). The next morning we did a boat tour of the Islas Ballestas, known also as the poor man’s Galapagos. We traveled to a town known as Nazca that evening and flew in a tiny plane over the Nazca lines the next morning. You can read all about those adventures in Sophie’s blog and Tim’s blog.

We got back into Lima on Monday night. Seeing my bed back at the Karikuy Bed and Breakfast was a welcome sight. Lima definitely feels like home, now. There’s still so much to learn and explore and see and understand; I’m struggling to figure out what I need to do and how I need to do it. But the struggle is definitely an exciting one.

The noise produced by a near-capacity crowd of Peruvians packing Eduardo Dibos Coliseum may have been heard all the way to the United States.

However, a raucous crowd was not enough to keep Peru’s national women volleyball team from falling to the U.S. Thursday in the second day of the 2009 Final Four Intercontinental Cup, 25-10, 20-25, 25-14, 25-20.

Copa Chinalco. Photo: SOPHIE BALL/Perupedia

“The match was a lot about trying to manage the crowd,” said the U.S. coach, Hugh McCutcheon. “The fans are great, it’s such a great environment … so, it was a tough match for us and we’re happy to win.”

Captain Leyla Chihuan led Peru with 14 points in the loss, while Diana Soto chipped in 12 points. The Americans were led by Angie Pressey, who tallied 23 points via 15 kills on 32 attempts and a match-high eight blocks, as well as Cynthia Barboza, who added 13 kills on 25 attacks and two aces as part of a 15-point evening.

“We knew it was going to be a hostile environment,” Pressey said. “We did a good job managing the crowd and just working on our side, just trying to get better.”

Peru fell behind quickly, as the Americans took a 19-6 lead en route to a 15-point 25-10 victory. Peru responded in the second set with a 7-2 lead at the start, only to have the U.S. come back to tie the set at 15. However, behind a crowd that rose and fell with every volley, Peru scored six of the final eight points to take a 25-20 second set victory.

In the third set, the Americans pulled away. They bolted to a 5-0 lead early and used an 8-2 run to take a commanding 22-10 advantage as part of a 25-14 victory. The U.S. established an 18-13 lead in the fourth set, but withstood a Peru rally that closed it to within 19-18 before winning the set 25-20.

Despite the loss, Peru’s head coach, Choel-Yong Kim chose to see the sunny side of things.

“We have improved and I’m satisfied,” he said.

Peru vs USA Press Conference. Photo: SOPHIE BALL/Perupedia

The 2009 Final Four Intercontinental Cup continues tonight from Eduardo Dibos Coliseum, as the U.S. takes on the Dominican Republic at 5 p.m. (PET) and Peru squares off against Brazil at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at the gate and the games may be watched online at http://www.perunotas.com/2009/06/television-peruana-en-vivo.html.

As many cities in the world tend to be, Lima seems fairly polarized. You can be walking through the Plaza San Martín, staring at the beautiful architecture and fountains, while at the same time stepping around a homeless man trying to sleep on the sidewalk. I’ll be spending my time here doing more research on the marginalized groups of Peru, so I hope to learn more about their struggles, while at the same time enjoying what Lima has to offer.

Peruvian cuisine (or what I’ve had of it so far) is amazing. While some of it is fairly typical for Latin America (rice, soup, chicken), some spices and ingredients are unexpected or new, exciting, and delicious. For instance, we were served sweet potatoes at a bar the other night (love!). Apparently there are hundreds of different types of potatoes grown in this country. I also ate beef heart, which was incredible. Chewy, but incredible (I felt like I should be on one of those shows on the Travel Channel). I am a little shocked (and slightly heartbroken) over the fact that coffee is not a very common beverage, however I’m learning to appreciate the simple taste of tea.

Last night Tim, Sophie, Julio and I went to see the Final Four World Volleyball Championship Tournament. The Dominican Republic played Brazil and then the United States played Peru. Thanks to our involvement with Perupedia, we managed to get in as members of the press, meaning free entrance and prime seating in the press area. We also got to go into a little back room after the matches for the press conference with the coaches and some of the players. Very nice!

Seeing as the date is 9/11, I feel like I should make some mention of the attack on the World Trade Center in New York. With so much going on for me these past few days, I didn’t really realize what day it was until I opened up my Internet Explorer this morning and the main page popped up with a story about it. It just reminds me of how vast this world is; what is plastered all over the headlines in one country doesn’t even make the news in another. How many awful occurrences happen all over the world that we don’t pay any mind to in the US?

Okay, I’m off of my soapbox. I’m sure my time in Peru will be full of new experiences. I can’t wait to see what else is in store.