SECWAC Presents: Lucretia Bingham "Invaders of an Ancient Culture: Conquistadors, Explorers, and Tourists in Peru"

Southeast Connecticut World Affairs Council (SECWAC) is proud to host 

Lucretia Bingham on November 15, 2023 at the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme.

The recently ousted president of Peru came from the altiplano of Peru, a vast austere landscape dotted with the rare wild vicuña, and their more plentiful cousins, llamas and alpaca. In the high mountain valleys, far from roads, the Quechua still maintain a symbiotic relationship with their animals as they have for thousands of years. Their culture, though threatened, survives. But these people and others who service the tourist industry were angry that their chosen leader was expelled. This outrage fueled the recent outbreak of political unrest. My talk will delve into the history of conquistadors, explorers and tourists in Peru, and how and why the indigenous culture still survives despite these incursions.
 

For many years, Lucretia worked as a food and travel writer. Her pieces have appeared in Vanity Fair, Savour, Travel and Leisure, and very frequently in the Travel Section and Magazine of the Los Angeles Times. But her most favorite assignment was for Condé Nast Traveler. They sent her down to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps. He was Hiram Bingham, who in 1911 brought the world’s attention to Machu Picchu. She camped where he had camped, and trekked to many ruins that he had discovered under layers of vines. In recent years she had returned many times to Peru, leading trips there for CT Audubon Ecotravel. Ms. Bingham is the granddaughter of Hiram Bingham who rediscovered Machu Picchu. She has walked in her grandfather's footsteps along the Inca trail and has explored exotic locations as a writer and painter.

As the Administrative Partner to SECWAC, the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut is pleased to offer five complimentary registration to our members. Click "Register" button and log in with your Chamber profile record to access available tickets. 

About SECWAC: 

Southeast Connecticut World Affairs Council is a regional membership organization. Our members include a diverse group of regional citizens with backgrounds in education, medicine, law, business, academia, media, humanitarian, civic organizations, and beyond. Government officials, as well as active duty and retired military personnel, are also active members. SECWAC happily accepts those interested in foreign policy and world affairs from any walk of life.