Most wealth and power in Peru is still held by old Spanish families. Indigenous peoples remain excluded from both. The wealthy in Peru live in a state of siege; a key status symbol is the number of armed guards and security cameras protecting family property. German cars û Mercedes and BMWs û are now more fashionable than American ones, whilst San Francisco and Miami have replaced Paris as fashionable destinations. The UN estimates that over 50% of Peruvians live below the poverty line.
