On the night of April 5 there was a curfew in Lima as a result of riots that happened in the neighborhood where I was staying. Of course I knew nothing about it, so having to catch a 6:30 a.m. bus leaving downtown, I wake up at 5 a.m. I calmly get ready and go out, planning to find an Uber on the fly and thus reach the departure station well in advance. I go out and the desert. No drivers available. After half an hour spent on the app fortunately a gentleman picks me up. I arrive at the meeting point a few minutes early. The departure is safe. Arrival at destination uncertain.
In-country scuffles continue, eventually resulting in roadblocks. In Lima it is inadvisable to go out, people take to the streets, there are so many of them. They protest against high gasoline prices, high food prices, inflation. The city’s main street turns into a red and white river, the colors of Peru. Police throw tear gas, the situation escalates, stores are attacked and looted….
I’m in South America, in the midst of a civil uprising….