Polish people in Peru

Children in Peru celebrates
beatification of John Paul II.

Poland and Peru despite of huge distance, has a very unique relationship. The first connection of Peruvian people with Poland is the Polish papa, polish pope, John Paul II. He visited Peru three times and his visit made a huge impression on many Peruvians. Our host lady in Lima remembered the details of his visit and she considered him as the most spiritual powerful person that she ever came across. I also met a guy in Iquitos that had been a child when he greeted the pope on the airport. And he said that it had been the most memorable event in his whole life...


In South Peru a few people knew the name Ernest Malinowski, who has been in charge of building the world's highest railway in the Peruvian Andes.

Tyminski photo with Anaconda
in his favourite cafe in Iquitos.

There is also additional Polish accent in Iquitos. It was a Polish businessman that set up the first cable TV in this city Stanislaw Tyminski. He left Iquitos and came to Poland to take part in 1990in first free Polish presidential elections. As a surprise he got to the second round where luckily he lost with Lech Walesa. I talked with one person that knew Tyminski personally in Iquitos and he confirmed the feeling that it was a very crazy fellow. In the favourite Tyminski cafe there is still his photo from his youth with the huge Anaconda over his neck.

Right now there are new generation of polish people that makes Poland recognizable in Peru. On the Amazon I almost met a great polish traveler, Alexander Doba. This guy crossed the Atlantic ocean on his canoe in 99 days. I met few travelers who were lucky to meet him personally when he traveled down the Amazon river. His next step was to cross back the Atlantic!!! Good luck man.

Pancace gang

But I was lucky enough to meet personally polish pancake band. Four young guys that decided to open the first pancake place in town. Two of them Asia i Michal were Polish, two other: Janeth from Ecuador and Tani from Peru.

Whole Asia family decided to move to Peru two years ago. They knew this place only from some documentary movies and they were not completely fluent in Spanish. They almost decided to move from day to day. Now Asia's parents lived several kilometers from the town and they had a chicken and fish farm. Asia and her good friend Michal decided to move to Iquitos for some time. They decided to set up their business and to introduce pancakes to this town. They offer sweet banana pancakes and several sour ones.

I admire a lot their attitude and they courage to go to the other side of the world and start they own business. If you ever come to Iquitos try to find the pancake gang and taste what they can offer you.