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Published: August 5th 2007
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Indian Dancing
This is where we meet the family Well here I go again. It seems it is time to tell of more adventures.
I now find myself in the mystical land of Peru. This is a country that has every landscape known to man. You can pass from an arid, sandy desert to lush green forests to awe inspiring mountains in a matter of hours. Ok maybe it can sometimes be quite a few hours.
So far we have yet to truly explore much of this land, but the time is coming to see new places. We spent our first day in Lima wandering the streets and trying to get a bearing for where we were at. There are so many old churches and buildings in Lima so even wandering the streets can be interesting. We eventually wandered across a small festival in a park. We figured we would grab a pisco sour and head down to see what was going on. We spent some time watching some indian dancing and eventually wound up having a conversation with a peruvian family who lived in a little town called Chancay, about two hours north of Lima. It is on the coast, but also at the end of a
Time for Breakfast
Jeff´s first meal in a third world country desert so the landscape is really interesting.
After watching the dancing for a while the family invited us to dinner with them. After dinner the mom and younger sisters went back to Chancay and the brothers and older siters took us to a peruvian discotech. At the end of the night, before we split ways they invited us to come to Chancay with them in the morning and stay at their house. Who could refuse such a generous invitation. I swear this stuff never happens in the US. Every other country I have ever traveled to, except Malaysia, we wind up meeting people who invite us to their homes for food or a place to stay. I am still constantly amazed at how generous the people who have basically nothing can be.
So as the story goes, the next morning finds us on a bus to Chancay with our new peruvian friends. I must say that the landscape we passed through on our journey was some of the most amazing I have ever seen. It is what I would picture the Middle East to be like. Giant hils and mountains of sand as far as the eye could
Welcome to Lima
Just some of the sights see. No plants, nothing but sand. And on the other side of the bus was the ocean. It is amazing to see the desert come right up to the edge of the ocean. Certainly unlike anything I have ever seen. I was waiting for some crazy arabian people to come riding up on camels and wearing turbuns.
Chancay is a little town that I could find no mention of in my Lonely Planet. As they told us before we arrived ¨¨mio casa es porquito pero la corazon es muy grande¨ (my house is small, but the heart is large) It was very true. Jeff certainly was in for an eye opener as well as his first cold shower. They were so generous. Our first night there they fed us dinner then we all sat around and talked. Thats right people my spanish is getting better and better. I probably still sound like a child, but my accent is getting better and I can mostly carry on a conversation. After we talked for a while we all danced to peruvian music until the end of the night. When the night ended they carried alittle bed out for us. I slept
Children of Chancay
Some kids who enjoyed practicing their english while I practiced my spanish. on the couch and Jeff took the bed.
The next morning I woke up with a really stuffy nose and I guess the mom heard me sneezing in the middle of the night, so she took me to the market and got me this weird, thick, green, plant drink. She said it would make me better and it did.
Later in the day we went to explore the Castillo de Chancay. It is an old castle built in the 1800´s. It was beautiful right on the ocean. Unfortunately the water is really contaminated here. After some exploring we stopped in for a little snack of cerviche - the national dish of Peru. I thought it was quite good and I am proud of Jeff for trying it because he hates seafood, especially fish that is cooked only in citrus juices.
After a quick lunch with the family and a tearful goodbye (Jeff and the women were crying) it was time to head back to Lima
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Dee
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WOW!!!
That view from the castle is amazing!!!! Hope ur having a great time!!! See ya when u get back!! Stay safe!!!!! Lotsa luvs :-)