In Lima, there are no red states or blue states. Everything is purple. Well, at least today. Since I’m too lazy to google what the purple parade and celebration is about, I’m guessing it’s not to honor Barnie the Dinosaur or the Late Great Californian Raisins.

It’s Mes Morado, or the Lord of the Miracles Month (I asked someone).

This celebration was in an area south of Miraflores, Lima, in a vibrant district known as Magdelina, which is booming with local markets that have everything from seamstresses to whole bean coffee. You will also find a jungle market in Magdelina on Sundays. Assorted vendors come in from the Amazon with organic produce, chocolate and these banana thingies, which aren’t purple, even though you can buy purple bananas here.

The purple Mes Morado parade was a delightful surprise, event though it screwed up bus service, which, is back in service (no buses were set on fire this week). The trumpeter really rocked the place, along with a Peruvian Kenny G and some tuba players.

My favorite part of Mes Morado was this religious coat of arms made out of flower pedals.

The incense didn’t smell as good as the food in the jungle market. Actually, Peruvian church incense smells a lot like the mug wort of Chinese Traditional Medicine shops in my past life. It doesn’t burn your eyes as much as the natural incense used in Tibetan Buddhist temples. Trust me, none of these would be good Glad Plug In smells.

Well, the parade is over. I’m back home and my coffee beans are in the canister. I hope someone tells this guy to take the music off his back. It reminds me of the KICK ME signs kids would put on you in middle school.

Mes Morado is celebrated throughout Peru. It’s just one of the colorful celebrations in this country that keep me from finishing my lesson plans.

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