I didn’t realize they would be throwing us a parade, but it was fun to see enthusiasm for education. Thanks, University San Pedro in Barranca. I am not sure what was being celebrated, but the queen might be “Miss Learner” 2015.

Part of the reason for the parade is to celebrate the presence of the university and I am all for that. As Jonathan noted on his facebook page, there are some dubious sponsors, like the mobile drinks truck, but the paraders were just having fun.

The blending of past and present is highly visible in parades like this one. A recent poll in Peru showed most people consider themselves to be a mix of backgrounds (mestizo).

 

 

The “Marinera” dancers here are from a traditional dance performed on the coast, especially in northern Peru.

The dancers dressed as skeletons and carrying bones display highland traditions, where there are many dances and dance groups, most consisting of groups of both men and women, like this one.

Many families that live in Barranca today emigrated from the highlands to this coastal region in search of work and to escape drought conditions. Some arrived as nomadic herders and later settled in towns and cities.