My favorite way to connect with a new culture is through food. The ingredients, cooking methods, and traditions of a region tell you so much about the way people live; and the Wikipedia of any culture’s food scene is the local market. Large and full of energy, Peru’s markets each tell a story of local industry and historical influence, acting as a reflection of the city itself. The market of Huaraz was a frenzied, untamed wilderness with animal carcasses draped over every stall. Iquitos was an exotic and at times disturbing display of the magnificent flora and fauna the Amazon provides. Opening ones eyes to the very real struggle the city continues to have with poaching. The market in Tarapoto, a tropical hub of fruit production, could hardly contain the mountains of fresh pineapples, papayas, and plantains. The colors, smells, and activity all bring you a little closer to a foreign land.