12 July 2008
Health Politics + Biodiversity
Great day in Lima! Today we went to the Clinica AngloAmericana; the Museo de Nacion; Museo de Oro del Peru; and Mercado del Indios... in that order.
We me the nicest man at the Clinica, a doctor, much to our surprise. His
name was Huerta Mercado. He spoke with us and made us both feel much better about the remainder of our stay in Lima. Hey he gave me at 12.5, and how bad could that be... in fact it thrilled me. Jeff of course had to embarrass me and take a picture. of the two of us together.
We me the nicest man at the Clinica, a doctor, much to our surprise. His
name was Huerta Mercado. He spoke with us and made us both feel much better about the remainder of our stay in Lima. Hey he gave me at 12.5, and how bad could that be... in fact it thrilled me. Jeff of course had to embarrass me and take a picture. of the two of us together. 
Next up, the National Museum. The museum had three major exhibits. One was a more traditional ceramic and metals show. Great examples of both Inca and Nasca Styles of urns, vases, and figurines. We each had a few favorites. I liked the ceremonial
mask. Ablaze in all it glory... with shining bolts of gold irradiating from its center. Jeff's pick was a small Cinchu ceremonial ceramic statue inlayed with multiple stones. 
We then went to a photojournalist exhibition of the rise of the communist terrorist group the Shinning Path. A very sobering experience, to see in pictures, the death and destruction that results from car bombs, raids, and torture. It was made all the more personal because it took place during the 
1980's thru the early 2000's, and the people in the pictures shared my "pop culture"... they wore Puma shirts, Nike’s, and other icons of the present day. This did not happen in a distant past.... no this just happened!
1980's thru the early 2000's, and the people in the pictures shared my "pop culture"... they wore Puma shirts, Nike’s, and other icons of the present day. This did not happen in a distant past.... no this just happened! One section on the murder of eight journalists showed a series of pictures taken by one of the journalists that was murdered. It showed a succession of photo's as they were taken, made to kneel, and shot. He managed to catalogue his own death with his camera. The last photo was a blur of rock and soil...
Finally, and a favorite for both of us was the potato exhibit. Peru is the country with the greatest variety of potatoes in the world, and has 8 native species that are domesticated and cultivates more than 2000 types. From Peru the potato migrated to the rest of the Andes and, after the arrival of the Spaniards it was widespread to te rest of America and from there to Europe. Ireland... want some ice for that burn!
There were displays of dozens of varieties of real potatoes, contemporary potato paintings, potato skin silhouette cuttings, displays of potato products, and an endless array of potato ceramics. Much of this artwork was from early Inca culture... apparently the potato was highly respected by the early civilizations of Peru as a life sustaining plant... and by its present denizens too.
# posted by Henry @ 6:15 PM 
