‘All of us just want to get home in time for Christmas with our families,’ tourist says.
Carolina Medina arrived in Peru on Dec. 3. But the Canadian tourist would soon be caught in the country’s political crossfire, as just four days later, its president’s removal from office ignited a wave of protests across the South American nation.
Medina, who is from Mississauga, Ont., told CBC News in a direct message that she and a group of other Canadians are currently stuck in the southwestern city of Arequipa.
Some tourists have tried to cross borders into different cities — and even into neighbouring Bolivia — but road blockades by protesters have made it difficult to do so without the threat of violence or getting stuck, she said.
“Other tourists have also experienced getting robbed on the road, and there have been many looting [incidents] happening within the city near our hotel,” she said.
“All of us just want to get home in time for Christmas with our families.”
Tourist
Ottawa ‘actively engaged,’ but tourist disagrees
There are just over 3,900 Canadians currently in Peru, but that number accounts only for those who are officially registered with the Registration of Canadians Abroad (ROCA) database, a voluntary service.
The Canadian government updated its travel advisory this week urging Canadians to exercise a high degree of caution in travel to Peru.
Airports in such cities as Arequipa, Ayacucho and Juliaca are among those that have suspended travel until further notice.
Source – CBC.CA
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