When one says, hears or sees the word white it can evoke many things and ideas from snow to skin; from clouds to cotton, and even salt and sugar. 

But white is never really true white when we look at the world and its details, white reflects a lot of light and with it other colours and shadows. If we think about sugar, granted there are brown unrefined, and white more crystalline sugars that are almost partially translucent in quality compared with the brown sugars, with salt we generally think right away of table salt - white like refined sugar, and maybe sometimes we think of pink Himalayan salts. When I was in Peru, near Cusco I visited Maras - a salt flat - in the Andes, and it was interesting to see the salts, at times of the year white, at other times of the year pale browns, greys, and pinks. In the tables where the water and salt would rise one could see many structures of salts forming and creating pools and layers within the pools, resting, forming larger crystals, and crusts, and different colours emerging from the light play on the pools. Beautiful. 

Tahira Nusrat Karim
​Tauska

One massive part of Peruvian culture, especially around the regions of Arequipa, Lake Titicaca, and the Sacred Valley (where Cusco is located) is cultural dance. From a young age, and as a part of their schooling, boys and girls partake in annual cultural dances at their schools and across the city during certain times of festivity. The dances are complex and usually of a group type. The costumes are all varied and full of colour. 

One dance that is quite unusual is one in which the girls play whip the boys and stand over them. Another that is quite unusual is one in which the participants play in herding animals. 

Theatre is also a varied and large tradition in the country used not only as a form of entertainment, but as a way to tell about histories between the Incan's and the Spanish, and to pass down Incan traditions, beliefs, and ways of life. Of course, now there is also a mix of more contemporary theatre. 

In Cusco every year during the festivals of Into Raymi - the sun solstice - many theatrical pieces of reenactments of Incan beliefs and culture take place through the walled city. 

In regards to music, dance, and theatre, Peru really is a treasure trove - there is so much, and so much of it is quite different. And it is not just for those into dance or theatre, or for the elite; these things are for everyone and they happen in the small villages all the way through to the big cities. It's a beautiful thing. 

Tahira Nusrat Karim
​Tauska

In the districts of Barranco and Miraflores, Lima is really really safe. Miraflores is more of an upity district full of all the rich peoples, and high end restaurants and stores, and very cleanly kept. Barranco is just a tiny bit grittier, and full of gorgeous graffiti and street art.  

The graffiti and street art in Barranco is pretty, meaningful, and full of love and colour, and I'm wishing I'd taken more pictures of it - which often happens when the prettiness is sooo much that one is just in that moment and the idea of coming out of that moment to capture a picture all but disappears. Anyhow, if you are ever in Lima - make that trip to Barranco and check it out!! While your at it grab a coffee or ice cream and take in the wonderful performances from the local street musicians. 

Tahira Nusrat Karim
​Tauska

Due to the influence the Spanish culture and Catholic religion have had in Peru, much of the country's artwork reflects as such. There are many ornate churches and religious paintings, as well as plazas, fountains, and park sculptures. The works are often colourful or littered with Incan designs and patterns giving a dutiful nod to the more ancient culture of the country. 

Some of the most ornate, beautiful, and unique pieces of art can be found in the church - La Merced - in Cusco - in which there are housed many paintings in the style of Cusco, and in the parks of Lima - such as the Love Park - in which the artist Victor Delfin drew from the works of Spanish Architect Gaudi - and created a colourful mosaic park over looking the ocean and centred with a large sculpture of two lovers. As for plazas, I would say that some of the most beautiful are in Cusco, Arequipa, and Lima - namely the Plaza de Armas in Cusco, the Plaza de Armas in Arequipa, and the Plaza de Armas of Barranco in Lima. These plazas are not only beautiful, but laid out so well that they are always teeming with people coming to enjoy the plaza, the people, the ice cream, and just be.

Tahira Nusrat Karim
​Tauska

Pink, Star, Flowers - some of my favourite words - and all together!! 
I happened upon these beautiful flowers whilst visiting the monetary in Arequipa, Peru. Their bright baby pink colour against the royal blue wall "popped" and caught my eye. And then I just stared - lots of them clustered and in the shape of stars. Stunning!! 

Tahira Nusrat Karim
​Tauska

I was walking through Promart the other day - Peruvian version of Home Depot and came upon a bunch of trash cans. They were round, metal, lift tops, and... they featured the design of the Campbell's Soup Can - nod to Andy Warhol :) Though of course it's not blatantly Campbells - so they did cover themselves. I did really want to stack them in a pyramid or line them up on a shelf - maybe I'll do so if boredom sets in this week. 

Tahira Nusrat Karim
​Tauska

I was in Lima a while back, to pick up my brother and his girlfriend, and before travelling around Peru together we stayed in Lima for a couple of days. We were incredible blessed to stay in one of the art and food districts of Lima - Barranco. It is very beautiful there - with tree lined streets, cliffs overlooking the Pacific, and gorgeous flowers abloom. There are musicians performing in many of the plazas and a vibe that is both lively and relaxed. And the food - Pisco Sours, Ceviches, Anticuchos (a Peruvian type of barbecue - traditionally of cow's heart), and good coffee!
We very luckily stayed in the former residence of one of Peru's most famous artists - Victor Delfin. His residence has now been converted into a small boutique hotel by the artists' daughter. The hotel overlooks the ocean, has beautiful grounds, and is filled with Delfin's art - both paintings and sculptures.

The art of Victor Delfin is full of beautiful colours, whimsical imagery of animals and people, it is also full of life. It is a mix of painting and sculpture and has a joy about it. Apart from his inspiration from nature, there are nods towards the work of both Picasso and Dali. His most famous piece in Lima is "El Beso" - The Kiss - It is a monumental sculpture of a couple kissing and it sits in the Love Park of the Miraflores district of Lima overlooking the sea. 

Staying in the house was incredible as there was beautiful and colourful art around every corner. There was also a small pool that was an artwork in itself - the water pouring out of the mouth of a lion - and yes I took full advantage of swimming there amidst the art, overlooking the sea. 

Tahira Nusrat Karim
​Tauska