Peru

Peru, home to Machu Picchu, has a diverse tapestry of people and customs. Mestizos (mixed persons) constitute three-fifths of Peru's population, Quechua people make up another fifth, while the remainder are split between Europeans, Japanese people, and others. Spanish and Mestizo Peruvians take up a majority of the country's wealth, living along the coast, meanwhile the indigenous people live in poverty often herding llama. Three-fourths of Peruvians are Catholic, developing a syncretic religion with their native religious beliefs. Lima is far and away the country's biggest urban center, with a quarter of the population living there. Many of the country's Japanese population lives in Lima, exerting a huge influence on Peruvian cuisine and the arts. High-rise buildings tower over the city, while colonial facades are found at ground level. Transnational transportation is lackluster and rural areas see lots of tourism, a crucial and growing sector in Peru's economy, for there Incan historical sites like the aforementioned Machu Picchu. Peru has a big fishing industry, with its economy also relying on mining. Factories line the outskirts of Lima around squatter communities. Healthcare in Peru is mostly sufficient, though sanitation is a recurring concern. Also, it is hard to staff facilities outside of Lima. In housing, Peru's suffers from a shortage of accommodations, so poor squatters are forced to occupy vacant homes in abandoned neighborhoods. Education, despite hearty investments, is deteriorating in the country. There is a quickly growing young population, so public schools can't keep up with the demand, driving wealthy families to send their kids to private schools. The routines of Peruvians depend entirely on social classes. The rural poor's schedules revolve around the agricultural cycle, interrupting their routines for communal celebrations of varying occasions. The middle class, blessed with more leisure time, enjoy the mid-day siesta and spend their afternoons watching sports or telenovelas (soap operas). the upper class typically own multiple homes and have servants in their homes. Urban diets are made up of quinoa and llama or guinea pig meat. In urban centers like Lima, lomo saltado and arroz chaufa are traditional plates as well as ceviche. The fiestas centered around patron saints are important traditions in Peru, drawing migrants back to their home towns to celebrate with family and friends. In addition, festivals surrounding the Cross of Motupe are of great importance. Sport in the country revolves around soccer and bullfighting, while surfing takes mainstage as a popular pastime. Folk culture plays a big role in Peruvian society, with ancient myths taking root in modern society. In the arts, an introspective genre of writing has emerged and the theater has grown in popularity.