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Published: November 21st 2011
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To mark the end of our time in Peru, we chose to stay in a small fishing town on the pacific coast. The place is called Los Organos and our accommodation was the most spectacular beach bungalow. We shared it with Neil and Nilla and several litres of rum and beer. Your correspondent has some hazy recollections of our stay here and will try to recall some for his dear readers.
The bungalow is owned by Carlos. He is a Peruvian who lived for many years in Australia, thus he has the most bizarre accent that you could imagine. He is also quite mad but one of the best guys we have met on our travels. His plot of land on a hill just back from the ocean has four bungalows. Each has it’s own view of the water, not just from the front veranda but from every room !!! He built them all himself and is planning on building a pool and a bar. Sadly, he has run out of money, but I cannot see that mere fact slowing him down.
Was only a few minutes to the beach, so as soon as we arrived, W had costume
on and was in the water immediately. Your correspondent, being allergic to any form of exercise, sat on the beach guarding the towel. A task that I performed to the best of my ability. It was amazing to see pelicans zooming by over her head as she swam to and fro. As well as the pelicans, I saw frigate birds for the first time. They are so graceful as the glide effortlessly on their bat shaped wings.
The town itself was small with a few shops, stalls and bars. We found one fantastic bar that helped me to continue my love of ceviche. We ate there several times and were never disappointed. The shops were primarily used to buy rum and beer.
This was imbibed in vast quantities as the four of us would sit outside the bungalow playing cards and dice. There was a direct correlation between the amount of alcohol being consumed and the level of swearing. Your correspondent was shocked to hear such profanities.
After 4 days here we sadly had to leave. Our plan was to get a local bus north to a town called Tumbes and from there get a bus to
take us over the border in to Ecuador. Here we come to a part of our trip that many of you will already know about, but I feel that I have to mention it without too much embellishment.
Basically we were driven in a taxi for 50 minutes and conned out of £25. that was quite scary. We got to the town called Tumbes in north Peru to get a bus to the Ecuadorian border. Got off a local bus to be met by a taxi driver who offered to take us to the bus terminal to get across the border. Perfect we thought - just what we needed.
Thought it would only be a few minutes. Ten minutes later we were on a road in the middle of nowhere . He explained they were actually taking us to get a bus at the border which was 40 miles away. Was quite frightening but we didn't feel physically threatened but were convinced that we were going to lose everything and be abandoned in the countryside somewhere. Eventually we turned up at the border town and were driven down a back street in to a scary looking market.
One of the guys in the taxi (there were two) said we had to pay $50 each. We were nowhere near a bus terminal and thought we were just getting thrown out in to the market place. I explained we didn't have dollars (we did but all hidden in a secure place). He then said it would be 500 soles (peruvian money). I told him that we only had about 200 soles with us and gave it to him with a lot of coins from my pocket.
He must have believed me as he then told us to get out. We had all our rucksacks and passports and laptop and everything... would have been so easy for them to have taken it all but for some reason they didn't. Was another adventure getting through the market and finding a bus terminal, but we made it.
I think we just felt more annoyed with ourselves afterwards for being conned in such a way, but if that is the worse thing that happens to us on our travels then we can count ourselves lucky.
Was a bit of a sad way to leave Peru, but we have had great
time in the country. We surprised ourselves at being able to complete the Colca Canyon and Machu Picchu treks without any major injuries and the food in Peru has most definitely been the best so far.
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albert
non-member comment
End of Peru
You were ripped off - should have come to me. I'd have charged just 180 soles, a bottle of rum and the mouse from your laptop!