Street Performers of Peru, Part 3

I have to pontificate a little about Peru's Welfare to Work program.  They actually have a welfare system, but if a person is able bodied, he can forget it, and even if he is lucky enough to qualify, the program would provide beans and rice.  It doesn't pay for cell phones, flat screen TVs, cigarettes, booze, or lottery tickets.  Neither does a minimum wage job.

Even those jobs aren't always plentiful, so the people of Peru have managed to create a vibrant underground economy, with street vendors or every kind, and wandering performing artists.  The system that created the need for this is sad, but the talent that has risen above it is shocking.

Little kids do cartwheels in the intersections, and many learn to juggle before they turn ten - all in the hopes of earning some random coins as the heavy Lima traffic congeals around traffic signals.

Our feature act this evening was obviously a master in the art of the one-up.

"Oh, you can juggle?  Well I can juggle flaming sticks!"
"Oh.  Lots of people juggle flaming sticks?  Well let's see them do this!"

What would one call this without butchering the grammar?  A Flaming Unicycle Juggler?  No, not quite right.  A Flame-juggling unicyclist?  Close enough.

You can bet this guy got the change I had in my pocket.  He accepted it with a smile and a bow.

 See another impressive Peruvian street artist.