Bits 'bout Peru

First and foremost, Chad made it there alright. I received an abbreviated email last night that they were in Huaraz, that he had a headache, and that he was planning to sleep in today. I'll leave you to do the guessing... Today is actually his birthday, so I thought I'd do a little Bird-day (as my dear friend, Erin, puts it) Blog and include some tidbits on Peru.

This is Peru's national bird: Yes, the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock

National Name: Republica del Peru

President: Alan Garcia (2006)

Prime Minister: Pedro Pablo Kuczynski (2005)

Populations: 28,302,603 (2006)

Languages: Spanish and Quechua (both are official), Aymara, and many other Amazonian languages

Agriculture: coffee, cotton, suagrcane, rice, potatoes, corn, plaintains, grapes, oranges, coca, poultry, beef, dairy products, fish

Labor force: 9.06 million; agriculture 9%, industry 18%, services 73%

International Disputes: Bolivia continues to press Chile and Peru to restore the Atacama corridor ceded to Chile in 1884.

Happy Birthday, Babe!!