Photo: Steve Burt
via Peru Food, Tuesday, August 21, 2007:
Peru Earthquake: Remembering Pisco
I'm sorry but I can't blog about Peruvian food this week; my most recent thoughts about Peru still have to do with last week's devastating earthquake. Bear with me.
Prior to the earthquake, the city of Pisco (about two hours south of Lima) was a historic small town, famous for its colonial architecture, its rich fishing and trading history, and the fact it gives its name to the most traditional Peruvian spirit: pisco.
For thousands of years prior to the arrival of the Spanish, the region was home to ancient Peruvians who thrived due to its proximity to abundant sea life. The Spanish founded the colonial city in 1640, and during the Viceregal period, it was an important port for the Peruvian colony. In 1820, Peru's liberator, José de San Martín, disembarked in Pisco and lived there for a short while. The first flag of independent Peru was designed in Pisco.
It is a region long visited by many tourists, both local and foreign, because of its rich agriculture, its wine and pisco producing heritage, and its proximity to some of Peru's most beautiful coastline, located in the National Paracas Reserve, which includes the Ballesta Islands, home to rich marine and bird life.
Now, Pisco has been destroyed. Surely, it will rise again, as it did after the earthquake of 1680, but with 80% of its buildings in ruins, the new Pisco will no longer have the genteel colonial air it once had.
These photos are of a Pisco that is no longer.
more info on the earthquake:
Pianist Alexander Paley to Perform Concert in Lima for Peru's Earthquake Victims
Latest News in Peru / Archive
Art/Culture/History | 24 August, 2007 [ 18:30 ]
Recovering from the Peru Earthquake
TIME Magazine, Monday, Aug. 20, 2007 By LUCIEN CHAUVIN/PISCO
Peru earthquake death toll rises
Forbes, 08.17.07, 2:29 AM ET
The Night the Andes Shook
TIME Magazine, Thursday, Aug. 16, 2007 By LUCIEN CHAUVIN/LIMA
Peru quake aftershocks rattle survivors, rescuers
by Reynaldo Munoz
PISCO, Peru, Aug 16, 2007 (AFP)
Peru earthquake kills hundreds
By Laura Puertas and Jon Elsen
International Herald Tribune, August 16, 2007
Residents standing in front of their houses after heavy waves hit a neighborhood known as 'La Siberia', near the port city of Callao, Peru, on Thursday. (Juan Carlos Guzman/Agencia Andina via AP)
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