Paddington Bear, a true British icon with an endearing personality has captured the hearts and minds of millions the world over since author Michael Bond created him in 1958.

The epitome of politeness, compassion and consideration, the marmalade-loving bear has enchanted readers and film-goers with adventures galore across 56 books and a trio of films - the latest being Paddington in Peru.

During their South American discoveries, our Lifestyle and Leisure Editor, Sharon Cain, and series photographer, Steve Hare, met the genial bear in Peru and share some of the movie’s incredible locations.

Global Ambassador

We had landed in Lima the night before and the jetlag brain fog was kicking in with a vengeance.

Determined not to let it spoil a very important encounter, I raced to Miraflores Boardwalk - a clifftop promenade suspended above the Pacific Ocean.

While the sweeping, dramatic views over the Bay of Santander are lovely, meeting Paddington - whose every inch of his four foot statue stands proud in Parque Salazar - was absolutely wonderful.

Donned in a union Jack duffel coat and doffing his hat, his signature briefcase - no doubt crammed with marmalade sandwiches - sports his signature tag ‘Please look after this bear’.

The perfect spot for this whimsical bear to mingle, the monument, gifted by the British Embassy and unveiled in 2015, celebrates the bonds between the UK and Peru, where Paddington was born.

Boardwalk Beauties

From his elevated position, he can enjoy the bustling environment with contemporary skyscrapers, street performers, street cafes, restaurants and panoramic setting.

Known for his modesty, he may want to avert his eyes from a prominent Lovers Statue in the nearby Parque del Amor (park of love) who embrace in a deep, passionate kiss.

We enjoyed strolling along the boardwalk and chatting to the warm and friendly Peruvians who enjoy welcoming visitors.

Abundance of Flowers

Explosions of colour greeted us across Lima, especially at Plaza Mayor, the city's colonial centre where Peru’s independence was officially declared in 1821.

Blankets of floral arrangements with vivid orange, yellow, pink and green blooms are a key feature of the UNESCO World Heritage Site which features in the film.

The square’s architectural splendours include the Presidential Palace whose Golden Room was inspired by the opulent Hall of Mirrors at Versailles. Eighteenth century colonial architecture is evident in Lima Cathedral and the Archbishop’s palace.

Symbol of Independence

Our next stop, Plaza St Martin, with elegant French style architecture redolent of a dazzling European capital, was unveiled in 1921 to mark the centenary of Peru’s independence - a process fraught with internal rebellions.

Peru’s turbulent history has seen centuries of diverse rulers including Spanish conquistadors, dictators and freedoms fighters. A towering equestrian statue in the square is dedicated to the legendary Jose de San Martin - the liberator of Peru, Argentina and Chile.

Our visit to the plaza - a magnet for social, cultural and political events - coincided with a dynamic gathering of indigenous communities celebrating their rich heritage. Of Peru’s fifty five different native populations, the language and traditions of the largest, the Quechuas, stem from the Inca Empire.

Up The Amazon In Search of Aunt Lucy

In the film, Paddington receives a worrying letter about Aunt Lucy who brought him up in Peru after his parents died. After an earthquake destroyed their home, she helped him to stow away on a cargo ship bound for London in search of a better life and moved to the Home for Retired Bears.

The home’s Reverend Mother writes of Aunt Lucy’s strange behaviour and how she misses Paddington badly. Visibly distressed, the bear and his London family, the Browns, fly to Lima to find Aunt Lucy has mysteriously disappeared. When Paddington discovers a map in her cabin pointing to Rumi Rock, the group ventures into the Peruvian jungle on her trail.

As I can vouch from my personal experiences in the Peruvian jungle, the intrepid searchers would have to negotiate impenetrable undergrowth, a network of winding rivers and hidden lagoons – not to mention mosquitoes, venomous snakes, insects - and spiders.

Our real-life adventure included close encounters with piranhas and a Goliath bird-eating tarantula whose body can be over five inches long and legs up to twelve inches. In the movie we learn of Mr Brown’s arachnophobia - and how he overcame it after an enormous toxic, purple-kneed tarantula, hurled itself on his face in one of the most hilarious scenes. Thankfully, the spider was fictitious, as you would expect.

Machu Picchu: Mysterious and Spellbinding

Additional Paddington in Peru backdrops I explored include the sacred sanctuary of Machu Pichu - a 15th century Andes citadel towering almost eight thousand feet above sea level.

Spellbound by this architectural, engineering, and spiritual marvel, I was also enchanted by the dozens of llamas who roam freely and are considered very sacred. Helping to maintain vegetation by grazing on the terraces, their well-being is monitored by the monument’s custodians.

While real llamas feature in the background of a scene at Machu Picchu, one ridden by Paddington to him negotiate the monument's steep, ancient stone terraces to find Aunt Lucy is created by visual effects.

Embodying Ancient Traditions: The Sacred Valley

Watching the film, which also captures footage of the Sacred Valley in Cusco, a divine creation and fertile oasis, evokes magical memories of the wonders of Peru.

Here breath-taking Moray Inca ruins with defined concentric circles are etched into 30-feet deep hillside terraces as a result of advanced engineering and agricultural processes to create controlled microclimates for best farming practices and conditions.

The Inca’s ingenuity is also evidenced in the salt extraction process of the unique Maras Salt Mines. They are made up of hundreds of salt pools set in the hillside where water is channelled from a natural underground spring into shallow pools which evaporate under the sun.

The historic Town of Maras and surrounding landscapes serve as Paddington’s home town when he and the Brown’s first arrive in Peru. The terraced salt mines of Maras play a role in creating wider landscapes during the family’s journey across the Sacred Valley.

Home Sweet Home

A sucker for happy endings, the movie's finale sees the brave and tenacious bear reunited with his beloved Aunt. In the knowledge that she is now safe and well, he returns to London with the Browns who he also loves dearly - and is well loved by them in return.

In the adage that ‘home is where the heart is’, I am fortunate to feel ‘at home’ wherever our eclectic motorhome, air, sea, and rail travels across Europe and the globe take us.

As I write, the countdown to our next adventure is underway – an expedition across five African countries and the promise of wildlife sightings which are out of this world.

TRAVEL FACTS
KLM flies direct from London Heathrow to Lima, flight time is 13 hours
Peru Travel is Peru’s official tourism site
For information on purchasing tickets to Machu Picchu visit here
For information on exploring the Sacred Valley visit here
For information on UK Government advice on travelling to Peru visit here

Sharon and Steve’s Amazon adventure was part of an extended tour of South America which feature in previous articles. Their journey took them to Buenos Aires, Machu Picchu, The Amazon Jungle - and Ushuaia, The End of The World