"Por el GRAN CAMBIO"

Just about every square inch of Peru has been decked with campaign paraphernalia over the past few months.  I even woke up one morning to find that the view from my office window had been completely blocked by a banner the size of Florida with one of the candidates for president smiling down at the street vendors in front.  Absolutely everyone was obligated to vote yesterday.  The punishment for not fulfilling that duty is that of being prohibited to leave the country or access your own bank account.  A little harsh no?   You vote in the town you were born in, unless you've changed residency, which would kind of make you a trader.

So it was a bit tricky getting a taxi and traffic was kind of terrible.

Not only have people been wearing all kinds of brightly colored advertisements, but the streets have been full of fireworks and music and dancers and balloons and floating lanterns.  This was only allowed up until a few days before the elections.

Last week this matchbox was set on my table when eating ceviche at the market next to the clinic.  I also scored a key chain that serves as a bottle opener.  A couple of the missionaries ordered beer with their dinners at a local restaurant a couple of nights before the elections.  A little while after serving it to them, the waitress came back and apologized that because of the 'dry law' (stating that alcohol can't be sold or served so many days before and during the elections) they were going to have to take the beers back.  Public meetings are also prohibited on election day, meaning most churches had to cancel their services. 

All my friends wanted this guy on the top left to win but he failed to make it to the top two.  The candidates who did make the top two will run again in a few weeks for the final presidential position.  I hear that one of them, if he wins, will probably boot us non-Peruvians out of the country.  Bluh.