tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49475274268446736662024-03-13T03:28:22.133-07:00KarikuyJuliohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06947714874128523896noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947527426844673666.post-42505406241620373792009-03-21T13:03:00.000-07:002009-03-21T13:09:05.406-07:00Karikuy Blog Has Moved<div style="text-align: justify;">I apologize to all those following the blog through blogspot for the inconvenience and late notice. But we have moved to www.karikuy.org/blog . Our new blog is a much better improvement over this one and features even more content. So get over there right away and see what you have missed. Also make sure you subscribe to get Blog updates. Thanks for all your support and continue to ask you for it at our new and rightful home.</div>Juliohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06947714874128523896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947527426844673666.post-87038500000827441492009-01-30T09:02:00.000-08:002009-01-30T13:24:00.825-08:00Obama Ignores Peru<br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQdK7fKRJfs1up8CJ-Wf6LTIGLdakOSRfBwG_HHmbXFHrR50cznqQlhGjkDV0KJEEz8LarzI2rSmFcwZeg3XaEaJNwkBFp8OLGQEiJp50QA3nwFqcPfHtG8VT7p7pAbSM4g2xMTVww3Jj/s1600-h/ObamaFavorito.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQdK7fKRJfs1up8CJ-Wf6LTIGLdakOSRfBwG_HHmbXFHrR50cznqQlhGjkDV0KJEEz8LarzI2rSmFcwZeg3XaEaJNwkBFp8OLGQEiJp50QA3nwFqcPfHtG8VT7p7pAbSM4g2xMTVww3Jj/s400/ObamaFavorito.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297143395623499842" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">While many Americans were caught up in the media frenzy that was the Presidential Campaign of Barack Obama, only a few were really paying attention to the actions of the man who would become President. This side of the equator actions speak louder then words and Barack Obamas support of the new US free trade agreement with Peru has kicked up a hornets nest of problems. Now I do not intend this to be an anti-Obama article, just for my readers to open up their eyes and realize that the actions of men stand as their ultimate legacy, defining them throughout history.<br /><br />To understand the North American Free Trade Agreement and how it has impacted Latin American Countries, we must first look to our own shores and how it has profoundly impacted Americans in the United States. In Massachusetts alone it is estimated that 100,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost in the last decade and 3 million jobs at the national level sent oversees due to NAFTA. Perhaps this "free trade" agreement can hold some responsibility for our current economic crisis, as it seeks to set up trade deals that benefit corporations and profit rather the workers and progress.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://blog.lib.umn.edu/govref/fdlp100/nafta_signing.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 564px; height: 386px;" src="http://blog.lib.umn.edu/govref/fdlp100/nafta_signing.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />NAFTA was created on December 8th, 1993 by the leaders of Canada, Mexico and the United States, it is one of the most powerful, wide-reaching treaties in the world. Its two supplements, the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC) and The North American Agreement on Labour Cooperation (NAALC) make up the bulk of the document. What is wrong with this free trade agreement is that it hurts consumers in countries where NAFTA is in effect and cripples the small farm or manufacturer who has to compete with monopolistic and massive corporations who sell their products cheaply. These same corporations hire cheap labor and despite all the legal paperwork that is supposed to be included in NAALC, companies would rather outsource their labor to cut costs and make more profit. All of this is at the expense of the workers from both countries in agreement, NAFTA in essence is government-directed, government-negotiated trade, which is mercantilism and not free trade.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpmK_YpZMDMwrxwl7200SwQfU815YqWaEoe4Qvl0w3a5MrQzy6w2eHxnUqx2zpr3S2IGOL7ojMX4OKdWY9GcqPhKxK0jaQNk-5GMDWCTP0sdN6TQEbMIukN6T481mNXtZx7HnSB1oX1vnL/s1600-h/nafta.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 294px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpmK_YpZMDMwrxwl7200SwQfU815YqWaEoe4Qvl0w3a5MrQzy6w2eHxnUqx2zpr3S2IGOL7ojMX4OKdWY9GcqPhKxK0jaQNk-5GMDWCTP0sdN6TQEbMIukN6T481mNXtZx7HnSB1oX1vnL/s400/nafta.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297191486734586882" border="0" /></a><br />Real free trade is as easy as cutting tariffs on imports and exports, doing away with the International Trade Commission and a host of other restrictions that seem to favor monopolistic corporations instead of the start up small business owner, manufacturer, farmer etc. In all Obamas speeches about "Joe the Plumber" and "Main Street" and how he was going to try to work on the economy, Barack Obama did not at all seem to mention his opinions on NAFTA, an agreement that if dissected would reveal to be a major contributor to the United States current economic depression. Or did he? On February 24th, 2008 while campaigning in Ohio, Obama said "I don't think NAFTA has been good for Americans, and I never have," So why skip a very important vote in the senate and not vote against an agreement that would damage so many economically in both the United States and Peru?<br /><br />We can all hope that his skipped vote wasn't politically motivated, after all it is Republicans who overwhelmingly vote for these trade deals to pass anyway, I am sure the trade deal had very strong support amongst liberals and Senator Obama would just vote among party lines. In fact the Peru deal was approved by an overwhelming vote of 285 in favor to 132 against. But its most striking aspect was that 109 Democrats voted yes and 116 voted no. So what was the President-elects motivation behind skipping the vote for the NAFTA agreement with Peru after publicly supporting it along with Hillary Clinton? It's safe to assume that he didn't want to be labeled a flip flopper and lose his support among the majority of South Americans that few NAFTA dis favorably, however in a vote that gained very little media attention in the United States, would it really have been too much for Obama to stand by his principles and vote against the trade deal? Would it have been too much for him to accept Peru's invitations to the APEC Summit being hosted in Lima to discuss economic cooperation? Hey and what about the Peruvian hairless "Machu Picchu " that was offered to him and his family as the new White House Dog?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7bZLHIACvOB4N5pdQrd2JRbqsN5ic8DYZ0yviOViQcBJbt5CkOwcl087cUJGH_2-8IUVOrOdMeV0EhypkZnTm_hWZrVsvKwyZKuF6zFxXZ0H4N4oiMi7g9LuztMaGz0aM-5Ak61tMMP5L/s1600-h/hairlessdog.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7bZLHIACvOB4N5pdQrd2JRbqsN5ic8DYZ0yviOViQcBJbt5CkOwcl087cUJGH_2-8IUVOrOdMeV0EhypkZnTm_hWZrVsvKwyZKuF6zFxXZ0H4N4oiMi7g9LuztMaGz0aM-5Ak61tMMP5L/s400/hairlessdog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297197379986145778" border="0" /></a><br />In a open letter to Obama from the <a href="http://www.faireconomy.org/news/open_letter_to_barack_obama_from_lasa">Latin American Studies Association</a>, they describe to the new President that "Latin Americans have often viewed the United States not as a friend but as an oppressor, the guarantor of an international economic system that works against them, rather than for them-- the very antithesis of hope and change." and that "While anti-American feelings run deep, history demonstrates that these feelings can change. In the 1930s, after two decades of conflict with the region, the United States swore off intervention and adopted a Good Neighbor Policy. Not coincidentally, it as the most harmonious time in the history of U.S.-Latin American relations. In the 1940s, every country in the region became our ally in World War Two. It can happen again."<br /><br />Farm workers and manufacturers are bracing themselves in cities and rural communities throughout Peru. For the past couple of months Peruvians were told that the economic depression from the US would not impact them too severely, that our trade relations were deeply rooted worldwide and that our financial institutions independent. All of the rhetoric was taken lightheartedly as the reality of the signing of the new free trade agreement began to emerge. Foremost is the unjust competition between Peruvian agricultural products and North American products which are subsidized by the US government, unlike the agricultural products of Peru. If that wasn't enough new labor laws introduced by the agreement fail to address many key labor issues such as overtime, pay and social security. It is expected that a privatized social security system similar to the proposal by President Bush will be implemented in Peru. The main beneficiary seems to be Citibank, the largest shareholder in ProFuturo AFP, a company authorized to compete against Peru's national social security system.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB03G4CgZsFr5Uq-5kEhNYhNnqZayawmBVlb3dtpnoJCnDs5C_Wz7QraYA0Wrf7Fq6LM7W4hx9dnoZEH6M8Ik_b-UOO17d8HlWGmz4OtdxJgPz6EQ2zxi6mgByWu0SO2mo8Daqvx94kMu5/s1600-h/610x.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB03G4CgZsFr5Uq-5kEhNYhNnqZayawmBVlb3dtpnoJCnDs5C_Wz7QraYA0Wrf7Fq6LM7W4hx9dnoZEH6M8Ik_b-UOO17d8HlWGmz4OtdxJgPz6EQ2zxi6mgByWu0SO2mo8Daqvx94kMu5/s400/610x.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297194454314616738" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Protest against free trade deal in Lima</span><br /><br /></div>American mining companies who have made billions in profit in the last 30 years continue to abuse worker rights and continue to offer low wages to their workers , many of whom suffer from fatigue and bronchial infections. And whats on the horizon? What can Peruvians and Latin Americans alike look forward to in the future due to the new free trade agreement? Likely more American corporations who have just been handed the paperwork to let them consume foreign resources while maneuvering around labor and environmental laws. We can only hope the new American President stops ignoring his neighbors and his own citizens and draft a new <span style="font-weight: bold;">real</span> free trade agreement.<br /></div>Juliohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06947714874128523896noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947527426844673666.post-40801558643234868912009-01-29T08:47:00.000-08:002009-02-02T08:20:05.106-08:00The Virgen de la Candelaria Festival Set to Begin<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpcXnM4nQpcWie2c0O4Zpn5-WUlEieKNrrVmzUZQAWpqNrmdJGZ6CEKgLfPGTfWDurARnJX_0cBJORwdyQae9U7aJq4y8gYZnnfPFOvWmezQKQ8HEFLAfvh8HHufmeLP4rHrAWQZhf2a-w/s1600-h/candelariajpg.jpg"><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpcXnM4nQpcWie2c0O4Zpn5-WUlEieKNrrVmzUZQAWpqNrmdJGZ6CEKgLfPGTfWDurARnJX_0cBJORwdyQae9U7aJq4y8gYZnnfPFOvWmezQKQ8HEFLAfvh8HHufmeLP4rHrAWQZhf2a-w/s400/candelariajpg.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298233632828272850" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Every year beginning on the first of February, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Puno</span>; the Folkloric Capital of Peru, explodes in celebrations to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Virgen</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">de</span> la <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Candelaria</span>. The Virgin is the patron saint of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Puno</span>, and la <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Candelaria</span> translates to the presentation of her son Jesus. The festival lasts for many days and can be seen as a prelude to Carnival which is celebrated throughout Peru in February.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://wiki.sumaqperu.com/es/images/7/74/Fiesta_de_la_Candelaria_danza_puno.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 397px; height: 268px;" src="http://wiki.sumaqperu.com/es/images/7/74/Fiesta_de_la_Candelaria_danza_puno.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">This year this festival begins on Sunday, February 1st, lasting <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">approximately</span> 18 days the festival will exhibit more then 200 groups of musicians and dancers from the many areas of Peru. An expected 40,000 tourists will be on hand to experience the parades, processions, heavy drinking and fireworks.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://blog.pucp.edu.pe/media/29/20070304-banda-pasa-edit.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 389px; height: 292px;" src="http://blog.pucp.edu.pe/media/29/20070304-banda-pasa-edit.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The history of the festival is said to be linked to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Pre</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Hispanic</span> agricultural <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">cycles</span> of sowing and harvesting. Both Aymara and Quechua cultures celebrate the festival which also attract Christians and Pagans alike. The worship of the Virgin is also attributed to mining in the region. The dance of the demons called <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Diabladas</span>, which<span id="lblContenido" class="edpNoticiaContenido"> is the main dance of the festival, is said to have been created by a group of miners trapped in a mine who in their fear and desperation gave their souls to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Virgen</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">de</span> la <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Candelaria</span>.</span><br /></div><span id="lblContenido" class="edpNoticiaContenido"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://portal.andina.com.pe/EDPFotografia/Thumbnail/000071596T.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 290px; height: 257px;" src="http://portal.andina.com.pe/EDPFotografia/Thumbnail/000071596T.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The festival has two main phases. The first is described as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">el</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Dia</span> Principal, the principal day, in which a procession carries the statue of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Virgen</span> around the city, while dancers in lavish costumes dance around the main square to join the parade. The dancers, by group, pause in front of the cathedral to be blessed with holy water, after which they are cooled with water thrown from nearby houses. </div><p style="text-align: justify;"> The second phase occurs on the Sunday after February second, called the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Octava</span>. On this day, El <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Sugundo</span> Gran <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Dia</span>, translated into the Second Great Day, costumed groups from the surrounding areas of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Puno</span> dance day and night in religious fervor and competitive spirit. </p><div style="text-align: justify;">As the festival <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">whanes</span> it is not uncommon to see water fights erupt throughout the city as Carnival in Peru begins. So if your in the area please make sure to check out <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Puno</span> and all the colorful festivities that surround La <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Virgen</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">de</span> la <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Candelaria</span> Festival. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Puno</span> is an 8 hour bus ride south from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Cusco</span>.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.punored.com/candelaria/fotos2005/foto21a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 550px; height: 413px;" src="http://www.punored.com/candelaria/fotos2005/foto21a.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">What the...? must be <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Punos</span> version of the Yeti.</span><br /></div>Juliohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06947714874128523896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947527426844673666.post-84286003759212199322009-01-28T19:19:00.000-08:002009-01-29T08:37:16.518-08:00Karikuy Volunteer Program In Detail<div style="text-align: justify;">If you haven't already checked out the Perupedia project web site please head over to <a href="http://www.karikuy.org/perupedia">www.karikuy.org/perupedia</a>. You can find more information on the volunteer program and an <a href="http://www.karikuy.org/perupedia">application form</a> you can fill out if your interested in joining the program. I will now go ahead and explain the program in detail, including your jobs as a volunteer, the meal plan, boarding and explain a basic day in the life as a volunteer in Peru.<br /></div><br />Volunteering Information:<br />-Free Room and Board<br />- $22 a week meal plan<br />-Monday through Friday workweek (3 day weekend can be set up for excursions)<br />-8 hours of work (10am to 8pm lax hours with meal breaks)<br />-Discounted tours for weekend travel<br />-Holidays off<br />-Stress free environment<br /><br />Work Expected<br />-Information gathering<br />-Essay writing<br />-Web site layout<br />-Photo editing<br />-Blogging<br />-Video editing (not part of job requirement)<br />-Minor Maintenance (mostly personal cleaning, painting, etc.)<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">OK great! so lets say you have made the decision to become a volunteer, you fly out to Peru (you pay your own round trip airfare of course) and land at Jorge Chavez International Airport. You'll find me at the airport waiting to greet you and help you change any currency, just as I would any of my customers who come to Peru on one of our tours. Here's where your adventure volunteering in Peru begins. First stop is the bed and breakfast where I will show you around the house and how to use the facilities. I give you the rest of the day off to settle down and take you on a tour of the surrounding area. If it's a weekend we'll go out so you can experience Lima to see what you have gotten yourself into ha ha no joke really your going to have a lot of fun.<br /><br />On your first workday you get up pretty much the time your use to, just remember you are expected to put in a good 8 hours a day into the project. I will discuss where we're at in the project and give you a starting point from which to begin. For example I could say we need to catalog and write about popular hotels in Puno, you will then get on your laptop (required) and look up the top reviewed hotels in Puno and write a good description for each with location information, current prices and contact info. You have various options in obtaining this information, you can look on the web or call the hotels personally if well versed in Spanish and ask them yourself. This is what we mean when we say the project is looking for good information gatherers.<br /><br />So back to explaining your day to day as a volunteer. After a breakfast consisting of some fresh bread, eggs, oatmeal, coffee and all that good stuff you head to work. At around 1pm lunch is served, lunch being the most heavy and important meal of the day in Peru, the meal is a bowl of soup and a main course accompanied by some freshly made juice, tea or more coffee. These meal are about an hour long usually depending on how fast you eat and then it's back to work. Dinner is a lighter meal consisting of either the soup or main course from earlier in the day, if your hungry your free to have both. After dinner the clock is at about 8pm and you have an hour or so to wrap up and save any writing you have been working on. The work day normally doesn't last any later then 9 although you are free to work longer if you wish. From the time you stop working until the time you go to sleep you can surf the web, watch TV or movie, and even go out, although I caution anyone from going out at night alone. That's your average work day summed up in a nutshell.<br /><br />It's also very important to me to hear what you have to say about your experiences in Peru, for that reason I will reserve one day of the week for the volunteer to write a blog about a certain subject that relates to them and their time in the country. These blogs will be posted on a new site and not on this personal blog. That platform, which will debut as soon as our first volunteers join us with the project, will be hosted on the Karikuy web site using Wordpress. This special blogging day will be Fridays unless I specify otherwise or there is a more important topic that needs finishing.<br /><br />On the weekends you have the opportunity to travel throughout Peru, I would recommend visiting Cusco and Machu Picchu. For longer planned trips I am more then glad to give you a 3 day weekend and even a 4 day weekend depending on the location and the circumstances. I will also honor Birthdays and other Holidays that may be personal or religious. Depending on where you wish to visit, know that you will receive the lowest possible price Karikuy can get you for your travels. All we ask is that while you are away you always carry a notepad with you to jot down information on locations, transportation, prices and news. All this gathered information is extremely valuable in order to help the Perupedia project grow. When possible and if you request I can accompany you on some tours, giving you my expertise on certain locations and helping you with your information gathering.<br /><br />I have described your work on the project above as information gathering, however at any time and depending on your qualities I could ask you to put a short video together, or to help with the layout of the Perupedia site and edit other sections. Remember that the Perupedia project is very open ended and that there will be other volunteers working from their own homes uploading information into the site from around the world. One of your jobs will be to review these additions and check for errors or misinformation. On occasion I may even ask you to clean your room ha ha if your not too neat that is, or maybe to help me paint a part of the Bed and Breakfast and do repairs, all of these being minor physical work. I hope I have given you a good picture of how volunteers can expect to spend their days in the country. I also want to add that parties and social events are very common so as to not make the program seem uneventful. Peruvians love to dance and have a good time and I am certain you will too.<br /><br />Peru is a great place to volunteer and I really hope to have a great time with some of you who qualify for this project. Although this isn't your more traditional Peruvian volunteer program, please understand that you are doing a great service to people around the world who wish to know more about Peru , its culture and people. This ultimate reference of Peru will have it's place on the Internet as the most thorough database on Peru and has the opportunity of becoming a focal point on attracting more attention to the social and political issues that affect the country. Depending on the success of this project (which is entirely up to the volunteers, I could never do it all myself) I will choose to open similar projects for other South American countries that would have volunteers be boarded abroad as well. For now I will take it one step at a time and invite you to come to Peru to get to know the country and then share it with the world.<br /></div>Juliohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06947714874128523896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947527426844673666.post-74926287480048287342009-01-27T16:37:00.000-08:002009-01-28T10:52:43.894-08:00The Perupedia Project<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRGFf_UcPSyNzLc8YZBUbcf1yfvXUXHdsjEAo1XD5Y5s7PY6aeCWGQ2Pd08aslZYpR301aC9GMUN0jmL4UktW2f-jA9142mZ_LjzcEu8yEs523z2OuMdb6FqHxWm6vXt2vNeG794J9dsR/s1600-h/peru-reference-guide.gif"><br /></a><a href="http://www.karikuy.org/perupedia"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 59px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRGFf_UcPSyNzLc8YZBUbcf1yfvXUXHdsjEAo1XD5Y5s7PY6aeCWGQ2Pd08aslZYpR301aC9GMUN0jmL4UktW2f-jA9142mZ_LjzcEu8yEs523z2OuMdb6FqHxWm6vXt2vNeG794J9dsR/s400/peru-reference-guide.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296183549275875298" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Today I want to explain one of our most ambitious projects, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Perupedia</span>. My goal for this project, for which I will be looking for volunteers, is to gather as much information as we can about Peru and its culture. The layout of this project will use the powerful open source <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Twiki</span> program to collect data not just from me and my volunteers but from anyone willing to contribute to the project. You may ask "Why not just go to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">wikipedia</span> for the information?", the answer is that although Wikipedia is great for general reference, it is not as in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">depth</span> as it should be about certain topics. This project will gather information regarding current news, articles, blogs, video and music media, travel and general information about Peru. It will include sections that go far beyond Peru @ <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Wikipedia</span>.<br /><br />Our new volunteer program which I will go over in more detail tomorrow will be vitally helpful in building the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Perupedia</span> site. I encourage all of you to visit <a href="http://www.karikuy.org/perupedia">www.karikuy.org/perupedia</a> to visit the landing page and read more about the project. The new landing page includes a volunteer application form for those interested in coming to Peru and helping out. A reason I will keep this post short is because you can find a lot of useful information on that page regarding the project.<br /><br />So when can you expect to see <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Perupedia</span> begin to add content? I would say as early as the first week in February. Right now I'm in charge of the huge task of not just installing a massive database addition to the web site but also to begin going over volunteer application forms which I have <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">already</span> received many inquiries about. I guess the free room and board, as well as the cheap meal plan has been very well received and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">that's</span> a great thing for the project! Although I must stress that I can only have a maximum of 2 volunteers at a time helping me on the project for now. So If you are interested please fill out the <a href="http://www.karikuy.org/perupedia">application form</a>, if you are interested in working on the project at home you can email me at jctello@karikuy.org.<br /></div>Juliohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06947714874128523896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947527426844673666.post-15253993367947974472009-01-26T17:59:00.000-08:002009-01-26T21:09:25.999-08:00A Karikuy Christmas, better late then never.<div style="text-align: justify;">When we think of Christmas and the holidays, the majority of us envision a house full of relatives on a cold and snowy morning. As kids we would try to get some if any sleep the night before, our minds occupied by what could be under the tree. Heck even at 20 I was a bit restless thinking of what high tech toys I would receive or even accept from myself. These traditional scenes of Christmas have very little in common to how it is celebrated in Peru. And although I have always celebrated the holidays with a mix of both the Peruvian and American versions of Christmas, this year I was able to celebrate it in Peru among my family and friends with all the excitement which is Christmas in Peru.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2218/2109227622_1abe1faf6d.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2218/2109227622_1abe1faf6d.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">The Plaza de Armas of Lima, light shows and other activities are common leading up to Christmas night.</span><br /></div><br />To begin I must explain that Christmas in Peru is celebrated at exactly 12:00am on January 25th. The family begins arriving around 11pm on the 24th. Traditionally turkey or ham is prepared as the main Christmas meal. There is a calm leading up to midnight, family members greet each other as they begin to arrive. Salsa music begins to echo through the house, the artists singing their own creative mix of holiday songs, a favorite of mine being "Aires de Navidad" by Hector Lavoe. Five minutes to 12 and you can begin to hear the first firecrackers exploding throughout the neighborhood, and although it might seem outrages to us westerners it is common to see 5 year olds throwing firecrackers into the air as the streets explode at the strike of 12.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYtpefLgCDEkmGWVrCrOKTtOiliziW-5jN1URRwkFmJ5RG19Ck9rQdWgrIg9HHxfvpNCrH1ccirWAJrJ4GJQllj36p1f259yx95ie0Ne_axyFqQ1WsWnsMb48MpegfxapDYs0kb6adc4O8/s1600-h/DSC01680.JPG"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz1A-D5J5-EtilS2urKu0UhtiQtZzCcJovWDywk1HZa2axJqAOGM_s36_ubViLeASMklRBE_TMIsQyLDyaT-Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></a><br /></div><br />And so the celebration that is Christmas begins in a country where 89% of the population is Christian. The thunderous applause of a Christian nation can seem overwhelming as the firework tribute to the birth of Jesus lasts approximately half an hour at its peak. Fireworks are continuously heard through the evening of the 25th. Shortly afterward hugs and kisses and the customary "Feliz Navidad" as family members gather around a nativity scene, the children tare into their gifts, as it is only them who receive them. It seems older folk are left to break open the champagne or wine bottles and toast the night away. At the nativity scene (which all families construct and try so hard to out do one another with) the family gathers as a baby Jesus is brought out to take his place as the focal point of the midnight celebration. The Christmas meal is then served to a hungry family which is used to eating supper around 7pm. Depending on the circumstances Christmas parties can last throughout the night. It is also customary to leave your door open as your neighbors and friends pop in to say hello and receive their slice of Panetone (sweet bread) and hot chocolate, preferably beer or wine is handed out.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKyiQHXwABMgcOYboai6tvGOXFd7YbvYxu18hc6gprNxtK6CbUdxlPCfuya2qpLNCc3GeorlmArxS4oG4NJoFGZBLYY0FiPBxr0jnxir214APfFl62dmFk7SLXBTyCNpbhUYrIKevlHOz/s1600-h/DSC01681.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKyiQHXwABMgcOYboai6tvGOXFd7YbvYxu18hc6gprNxtK6CbUdxlPCfuya2qpLNCc3GeorlmArxS4oG4NJoFGZBLYY0FiPBxr0jnxir214APfFl62dmFk7SLXBTyCNpbhUYrIKevlHOz/s400/DSC01681.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295806760522485698" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">The Nativity Scene or "Nacimiento" every family creates their own version.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYtpefLgCDEkmGWVrCrOKTtOiliziW-5jN1URRwkFmJ5RG19Ck9rQdWgrIg9HHxfvpNCrH1ccirWAJrJ4GJQllj36p1f259yx95ie0Ne_axyFqQ1WsWnsMb48MpegfxapDYs0kb6adc4O8/s1600-h/DSC01680.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYtpefLgCDEkmGWVrCrOKTtOiliziW-5jN1URRwkFmJ5RG19Ck9rQdWgrIg9HHxfvpNCrH1ccirWAJrJ4GJQllj36p1f259yx95ie0Ne_axyFqQ1WsWnsMb48MpegfxapDYs0kb6adc4O8/s400/DSC01680.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295806762838274770" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">Family dinner after midnight, tired and full. More wine please!</span><br /><br /></div>The day of the 25th is spent lazily toasting to the day, remember that it is summer in Peru and the temperature is a lovely 70 degrees, perfect for going to the beach or playing a game of volleyball or futbolito (futsal) with the neighbors. As for me, I believe I was up till about 7 am having a few beers with my cousins. Christmas in Peru is very much different then from American traditions. Celebrating both versions I can say that the traditional South American Christmas is a little more lively then its northern counterpart. As an example you might find it rare to find a night club open and packed on Christmas night as opposed to in Peru where they are open until the last clients leave, usually around 8 - 9 am.<br /><br />New Years on the other hand is very similar to festivities worldwide as it is primarily an adult celebration and is centered around parties. At 12 fireworks once again fill the streets with the only difference in customs being that in Peru you gather up all your old clothes to create an effigy and burn it at 12am. In a way you are burning past burdens and the old year away and bringing in the new. Now had I brought more clothes in from the states I would have probably contributed to this truly unique Peruvian custom.<br /></div>Juliohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06947714874128523896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947527426844673666.post-69396166495240659142009-01-25T11:14:00.000-08:002009-01-25T13:31:41.199-08:00The State of Karikuy<div style="text-align: justify;">So how has to worldwide recession affected <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Karikuy</span>, and what is being done to promote and grow the organization? To answer those questions I will first describe the situation <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Karikuy</span> finds itself in at the moment.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />A year ago as the organization went public and saw its first couple of clients arrive in Peru, the economic landscape was much different then we see it today. There was talk of recession as financial institutions reported on their negative earnings, and for the most part people could sense what was about to happen but wasn't of immediate concern to them. Today as news of the worsening situation is almost inescapable, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Karikuy</span> has seen it's clientele cut almost in half.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioRx3R4sdBsrMcb_itI7FcZyJuZZhqiCT6MIAj9pfuBofX1rTuca6FjrRv67kutgg__VtCGAtv8pss0y6VGuiYRHL7lFvsTLoV-GJpIdvsGac4wP9H-1Cz1QEHwmFCB9B6WCd7wnR_PNy2/s1600-h/huacachina.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioRx3R4sdBsrMcb_itI7FcZyJuZZhqiCT6MIAj9pfuBofX1rTuca6FjrRv67kutgg__VtCGAtv8pss0y6VGuiYRHL7lFvsTLoV-GJpIdvsGac4wP9H-1Cz1QEHwmFCB9B6WCd7wnR_PNy2/s400/huacachina.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295344849394724178" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">uncertain future? not really, I don't believe in trying, only doing.</span><br /><br /></div>Although many would say that it is probably the worst time to even think about starting a company, let alone an organization that makes very little profit, I differ. Yes it's harder to attract customers then it was a year ago, but you can't fight an economic depression through stagnation and ceasing to create jobs and business. Are their risks? of coarse but through smart investing and managing anything can be overcome. The fact that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Karikuy</span> offers tours of Peru at very low prices can also only help in attracting customers who don't have to much capital to spend.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOaKLpna1dnwjkdJtCEK2FRKjHJrf6wYZizL6_anJk2uF9A-wUwGTQgI8X3upE2qa-6X6AZ0qPkTQkYAdP90GcgrPhFf-GifWT0bDTIir9AfuO_5MhnLPVYm-SaOZA7gaYXjNQ-Cpe5La/s1600-h/nazca.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOaKLpna1dnwjkdJtCEK2FRKjHJrf6wYZizL6_anJk2uF9A-wUwGTQgI8X3upE2qa-6X6AZ0qPkTQkYAdP90GcgrPhFf-GifWT0bDTIir9AfuO_5MhnLPVYm-SaOZA7gaYXjNQ-Cpe5La/s400/nazca.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295344850923458594" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">New sunrise, new opportunities.<br /></span><br /></div>So what is the state of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Karikuy</span> at this moment? It is stable and healthy, all is going according to plan, our goals are still very much the same, and our determination is even stronger. The drop off in customers is expected but not detrimental to our success. In February we will begin advertising on the Internet for budget oriented customers. We have a February sale in effect that slashes $100 off all of our tours in February with the exception of The Backpacker. February is normally a slow month for tourism in Peru as the Inca Trail is closed and the height of the rainy season hits eastern Peru and the highlands. However I encourage all travelers to take the opportunity to visit Peru in February, the New Inca Trail is available and it is summer on the coast with the month long Carnival taking place throughout Peru.<br /><br />I will also be traveling to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Cusco</span> in late February to interview new guides to follow our commitment to offer the highest quality service for your buck. In order to bring you even lower prices <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Karikuy</span> is planning of starting a Merchandise for Cut in Price service where you would bring certain electronics like laptops or game consoles to Peru, where these items are rare and expensive, to be sold to us at a profit. With the Merchandise for Cut in Price service you could see up to $300 cut off the price of many of our tours. That's a lot of money saved just for bringing in a product as a personal item.<br /><br />We are always thinking of lowering our prices for our customers, however sometimes we need your help in doing so. the Merchandise for Cut in Price will be optional and if you may have any doubts know that according to customs law you are allowed to bring in several personal items without being taxed at the airport, 1 camera, 1 video camera, 1 laptop etc. Again more information about this service will be available in the coming weeks.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFfYUJDboB-p9jO6wcrw5ENhji1OQBjJqOg2uPD_4wzN3r3WWGRVW5B6Au-_JyoLv-Bnita1tH0u3Prz_eFwWSAUClx3cuM2fy6NFg75L-WriQl-c-jqtUxk6SbWWnHEVx_51qJ_0uNkfL/s1600-h/julio.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFfYUJDboB-p9jO6wcrw5ENhji1OQBjJqOg2uPD_4wzN3r3WWGRVW5B6Au-_JyoLv-Bnita1tH0u3Prz_eFwWSAUClx3cuM2fy6NFg75L-WriQl-c-jqtUxk6SbWWnHEVx_51qJ_0uNkfL/s400/julio.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295344850992005602" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">Hard at work; volunteers can expect to be hunched over their laptops at the Bed & Breakfast pictured above.</span><br /><br /></div>Finally I want to write a little about our new volunteer program. This program is made available to anybody of any age who wants to spend some time in Lima working on our <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Perupedia</span> project. this is a very affordable if not the most affordable volunteer program I have seen on the Internet. It includes free room and board and a cheap $70 a month or $22 a week meal plan that includes breakfast, lunch and dinner at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Karikuy</span> Bed & Breakfast. Your job Monday through Friday would be to gather information on certain areas in Peru and present them in a neat format to post on the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Perupedia</span> website. For an example pick up a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Frommer's</span> or Lonely Planet guide book for a similar layout. This project will be exclusively on the Internet and free to anybody who wishes to know about all things Peru, travel, news, sports etc. On the weekends you are free to travel throughout Peru and see the country, three day weekends are available too if necessary. Or if your a workaholic like me then your free to keep working on the projects or even travel and work on the project gathering information from place to place. More detailed information on the volunteer program will be available later this week.<br /><br />To conclude this post I want to assure our past customers and our future customers that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Karikuy</span> is healthy and we continue to offer our services to those looking for a truly authentic experience in Peru. Later in the week I will explain how the economic crisis has had very little impact on the Peruvian economy itself so far, well that's excluding the tourism industry. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Karikuy</span> will always be as strong as its supporters, this is an organization of people and not so much capital. We will ride out the crisis one smile at a time and one adventure after the next.<br /></div>Juliohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06947714874128523896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947527426844673666.post-18312147122348564772009-01-24T17:50:00.000-08:002009-01-24T20:21:43.867-08:00New Karikuy Website, New Volunteer Program, Project Perupedia, and the Return of the Blog<div style="text-align: justify;">After about 3 months of hard work and production I have finally put the finishing touches on the new <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Karikuy</span> Website. Go check it out, there is a bunch of new information regarding the organization and our tours. While I was creating the website I unfortunately neglected this blog and wish to apologize to my readers, I am going to make it up to you by posting new content everyday for the next week followed by weekly updates every Friday.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">You may notice that the new site has a section called <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Perupedia</span>, albeit not yet up and running, this new section will feature a plethora of content regarding Peru. Eventually it will become a guide only comparable to those of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Frommers</span> and Lonely Planet, but on the web. For this huge task <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Karikuy</span> will be accepting applications for volunteers. Our new volunteer program will give students and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">travelers</span> the chance to live in Lima for an extended period of time and work on project <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Perupedia</span>. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Karikuy</span> volunteer program will include free room and board at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Karikuy</span> Bed and Breakfast as well as a cheap $70 a month meal plan, not bad right!? All we ask for is 5 days a week of hard work mainly in information gathering, writing and lay out of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Perupedia</span> website. I will be explaining Project <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Perupedia</span> in a full blog in the next couple of days.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">So what else can you expect to read about in the next 7 days of daily blogs? Well tomorrow I begin with a State of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Karikuy</span> post explaining the current progress and future plans of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Karikuy</span>, with more information on our volunteer program. On Monday I will recap Christmas and New years Celebrations in Lima and Peru in general with several videos and photos to explain our traditions and how Peruvians celebrated the holidays. On Tuesday I will explain Project <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Perupedia</span> as well as debut a new anchor page for the program including a volunteer application form. On Wednesday I will provide more technical detail about the Volunteer program and where you will be staying and what work you can expect to be doing on the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Perupedia</span> project and some requirements we're looking for. On Thursday I will be blogging about the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Virgen</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">de</span> la <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Candelaria</span> festival in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Puno</span>. On Friday I'm off to a wedding so I will most likely be writing about current events in Peru regarding our economy, the worldwide recession and how the election of Barack Obama will impact South America. And finally next Saturday I will write about the start of Carnival in Peru which is a month long festival of parties and water pranks and everything summer.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">So stay tuned to the blog, this next week is going to be packed with content and you won't want to miss a single post if you are interested in contributing or being a part of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Karikuy</span>. We encourage your comments and participation, this organization would never survive without your support and opinions. Thanks to all! and I look forward to the next week of blogging.<br /></div>Juliohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06947714874128523896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947527426844673666.post-35980790089278360382008-12-01T19:18:00.001-08:002008-12-01T20:50:26.622-08:00The Karikuy Bed & Breakfast<div style="text-align: justify;">I thought I would take some time off from preparing to head back to Peru to introduce the Karikuy Bed & Breakfast. Yes it has a new look! I'm sure most of you who've had the chance to book through Karikuy have had an overnight at the B&B. Depending on the time of your visit you probably got the chance to see it at various stages of its renovation. We continue the renovation process this winter at the good ole house by renovating some of the rooms and adding a dormitory for our backpackers.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi55quSZqW2c3jlHTy7E0rNsyKhQp9csTucfQBth2aQ2pb_7wr4DeR7xVwVjoXQdEY-cMEjX_KlWld2zvXGbEtgdJXAQ2eiXeaS0nN9rMd6htZDo0GKqxXANs88uV2Vxy6LC92hH-wHLpHU/s1600-h/1613alonsohouse.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 336px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi55quSZqW2c3jlHTy7E0rNsyKhQp9csTucfQBth2aQ2pb_7wr4DeR7xVwVjoXQdEY-cMEjX_KlWld2zvXGbEtgdJXAQ2eiXeaS0nN9rMd6htZDo0GKqxXANs88uV2Vxy6LC92hH-wHLpHU/s400/1613alonsohouse.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275033968825545602" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">Killer the guard dog waits outside to greet guests, don't let the name fool you.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Last season we laid down a new floor covering our traditional concrete floor; yes it might sound a bit old fashioned but that's the norm in Peru. Now over the rough finish that was concrete we laid down some Italian tiles that really make it stand out against the brilliant white walls.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF086eONNPkKp7GQy9yrruahJD0ZrLt4pg-J5ph4q-D95MJbC_3W4kXA2Wlw97gyfbSJlTM26KQ1R4lvxRc3Y5iHCk4wmAKMdwTzpN8kawzYj8LHehsdrKaJ-BHPiDjAYrXJj2pgfywOpS/s1600-h/BBhall.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF086eONNPkKp7GQy9yrruahJD0ZrLt4pg-J5ph4q-D95MJbC_3W4kXA2Wlw97gyfbSJlTM26KQ1R4lvxRc3Y5iHCk4wmAKMdwTzpN8kawzYj8LHehsdrKaJ-BHPiDjAYrXJj2pgfywOpS/s400/BBhall.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275037788218824242" border="0" /></a><br />Here's a shot of the small dining room and computer terminal. Also new this season is a faster and more modern computer replacing the old Pentium II as seen on the photo, boy it sure was a clunker. Now our guests can check their email and get up to date with the family back home, just make sure you don't catch yourself doing any actual work, this is your vacation!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoIIAbCSqazbY2Macu4MbQtWGMZSOLEtVMbwRhOwoYf-4YhOBhbOyHcRBG73gQw1Cc7bEQYUk7Cj2mivpCvX6pq1rpZZsG7Dco0_q4DI3H5QGghsWSxGj1M6_-ZT9biXo1nViF9Wm5cuhw/s1600-h/BBdiningroom.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoIIAbCSqazbY2Macu4MbQtWGMZSOLEtVMbwRhOwoYf-4YhOBhbOyHcRBG73gQw1Cc7bEQYUk7Cj2mivpCvX6pq1rpZZsG7Dco0_q4DI3H5QGghsWSxGj1M6_-ZT9biXo1nViF9Wm5cuhw/s400/BBdiningroom.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275039555195390002" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The large and breezy windows at the B&B has always been a hit with guests. We'll continue to keep the shades open for ya! nothing like the sounds of a morning in Lima to get you out of bed with roosters crowing and street sellers yelling at the top of their lungs; "Frutas! Huevos! Tamales!"<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQc80vH6JEreHFLfcZ8wruh2cr7gr2RBY1ENOKjFx5HcEQboejYdAphtY6uoDuXDJGK4brJkhRCw830e5dyVO1Ep5mw68ciwJ6o02lCZNUKoyW7HXtRxzqftAmNF7UNNt_hZEk4dib0D3b/s1600-h/BBlivingroom.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQc80vH6JEreHFLfcZ8wruh2cr7gr2RBY1ENOKjFx5HcEQboejYdAphtY6uoDuXDJGK4brJkhRCw830e5dyVO1Ep5mw68ciwJ6o02lCZNUKoyW7HXtRxzqftAmNF7UNNt_hZEk4dib0D3b/s400/BBlivingroom.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275040180699377730" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">An Xbox 360 and surround sound home theater system to keep the kids busy or even yourself.</span><br /></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So if you've missed out staying at the B&B for an overnight or two on one of your past tours? it is likely that you designated a three to 5 star hotel service for your entire trip with us. Our Bed & Breakfast caters to the budget conscious traveler and to Backpackers worldwide. Our rates are super affordable and in return you get a mini apartment of sorts, as there are rarely more then 6 people spending a night in the house at a time. The Karikuy B&B is that comfortable not so out of the way place that even top publications like Lonely Planet tend to miss. I mean where else are you going to shell out $15 a and have a bedroom, dining room, free Internet connection and a living room with an entertainment system at your disposal. Did we mention there are some really awesome Peruvian Hamburgers down the road?... or that the price includes a free breakfast? yes free continental breakfast!<br /><br />So next time your in Lima check out or ask for a night at the Karikuy Bed and Breakfast. You won't regret it and you'll really get to see life in a traditional Lima neighborhood. We are 10 minutes from the Lima Plaza de Armas and 15 minutes from the Airport.<br /><br />We are located at 1613 Alonso del Rincon in Cercado De Lima, you can book a night by calling me at the B&B, just dial our new Toll Free Number: 1888-802-INCA<br /></div></div></div></div>Juliohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06947714874128523896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947527426844673666.post-87799962820511346472008-10-10T16:48:00.000-07:002008-10-10T18:23:46.660-07:00El Vuelo del Verano<div style="text-align: justify;">I want to thank all the adventurers that made this summer so enjoyable. From the first group of the season to the last group, I had a blast. I have to say it really is rewarding to see fellow travelers really enjoy themselves on my tours and most of all to come away with an appreciation of my country.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvheqQPDsm8fYyqq_AgasFsOu85KX5zxhYSv29wS5ctnff7fxs638NThYD6zB3UcwGYob6JuYcHZkBoW8L5_g8sLLC1_X9aWdWxM0irz1op3Rg3F5BiDSTqmvJPPaMfDg6Vcc6WxIgDLT/s1600-h/DSC01055.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvheqQPDsm8fYyqq_AgasFsOu85KX5zxhYSv29wS5ctnff7fxs638NThYD6zB3UcwGYob6JuYcHZkBoW8L5_g8sLLC1_X9aWdWxM0irz1op3Rg3F5BiDSTqmvJPPaMfDg6Vcc6WxIgDLT/s400/DSC01055.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255694932730924850" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">This winter I'm back in Peru ready to continue building Karikuy. I encourage you all to check out the updated catalog and check out the Backpacker. This new package includes domestic airfare inside Peru and all the hotels booked for you as well as the bus fare from city to city. This tour is for travelers who want to keep their days open ended and free to explore the locations they're visiting. Although Karikuy tries to provide the tourist with the best guides, I know that sometimes tour groups can feel rushed and guides not at 100%, hey they are human too. For that reason the Backpacker lets you takes the stress away from confusing bus schedules and hotel hunting and gives you a more relaxed do it yourself experience. The Backpacker includes your admission to the Nazca Lines and Machu Picchu , you can also choose to add Karikuy tours if you are having trouble finding reputable tour agencies in the cities you visit.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnn1FZ1-IJabjeqmgXCi9N_oESCWvrMrtrOAF5QfK_hpCUVGzdgLqP02mcJtfjJi6km154Rqj17GOrApbBVqfTHlFIh0pwRz3MOpYKTSe74Urok8agvHLgxBkCyyIlsBu718qSSyZW114C/s1600-h/DSC00210.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnn1FZ1-IJabjeqmgXCi9N_oESCWvrMrtrOAF5QfK_hpCUVGzdgLqP02mcJtfjJi6km154Rqj17GOrApbBVqfTHlFIh0pwRz3MOpYKTSe74Urok8agvHLgxBkCyyIlsBu718qSSyZW114C/s400/DSC00210.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255699030844008946" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Now this past summer due to all the activity I didn't have the chance to post many blogs up or to finish the Tariy series. I will try to post as often as I can with informative and entertaining writing. Running a business is pretty tough especially when you are doing it all alone so bear with me. In the next couple of months you will see various updates to the Karikuy website and to this blog. I invite you all to participate in the future projects of Karikuy, volunteer programs are in the works as well as the renovation of the Karikuy Bed & Breakfast. That's all for now, my next post will be about the renovation of the new Karikuy B&B and all the improvements I am making to Karikuy as a whole.<br /></div>Juliohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06947714874128523896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947527426844673666.post-22134297344601151362008-07-23T13:46:00.000-07:002008-12-09T13:15:07.825-08:00Last Month of Tour Season - 50$ Off All Tours<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl4zNAgH1C1CZx25vS2vpI3UFNFcLKVJgYO4COlTOruoZ5Vofd31m6S7Z1r645eZDWJaJxtdBP5uD2hYf3N_gtXcD01vmG_ENg23tTf9M94jFDcLr1FmVbjgOdrlymH-WyQqO5fNBZKEYe/s1600-h/catalogrph.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl4zNAgH1C1CZx25vS2vpI3UFNFcLKVJgYO4COlTOruoZ5Vofd31m6S7Z1r645eZDWJaJxtdBP5uD2hYf3N_gtXcD01vmG_ENg23tTf9M94jFDcLr1FmVbjgOdrlymH-WyQqO5fNBZKEYe/s400/catalogrph.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226317144217315346" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">From this post through August 25th, 2008 all tours on the Karikuy Catalog are being offered with $50 taken off the final price. Here are the updated prices of all Karikuy Tours through the end of the season:<br /></div><br /><a href="http://www.karikuy.org/classicincatr.html">Classic Inca Trail</a> - 7 Days - Sold Out<br /><a href="http://www.karikuy.org/newincatr.html">New Inca Trail</a> - 7 Days - $649<br /><a href="http://www.karikuy.org/mpadventure.html">The Machu Picchu Adventure</a> - 8 Days - $749<br /><a href="http://www.karikuy.org/mop.html">Mysteries of Peru</a> - 8 Days - $899<br /><a href="http://www.karikuy.org/pachamama.html">The Pachamama</a> - 10 Days - $899<br /><a href="http://www.karikuy.org/intitour.html">The Inti</a> - 9 Days - $949<br /><a href="http://www.karikuy.org/mopgt.html">Mysteries of Peru Grand Tour</a> - 11 Days - $999<br /><a href="http://www.karikuy.org/aqua.html">Aqua Adventure</a> - 8 Days - $1049<br /><a href="http://www.karikuy.org/terra.html">Terra Adventure</a> - 8 Days - $999<br /><a href="http://www.karikuy.org/jungleadvent.html">Jungle Adventure</a> - 8 Days - $1349<br /><a href="http://www.karikuy.org/greatadvent.html">The Great Adventure</a> - 16 Days - $2249<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Make sure to ask for the promotion or include the promo code of summer0850 in your emails. Book your spots on these trips before they are booked solid!</div>Juliohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06947714874128523896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947527426844673666.post-73386857642526051782008-07-08T19:42:00.000-07:002008-07-23T13:45:17.284-07:00Believe in Karikuy<div align="justify">Lately have been finding it hard as the owner of a young company to attract clients. Yes, I´m using the Paypal system to process payments and I hope that is not hurting this organization, and hopefully not your interest in using Karikuy to travel to Peru. I hope to be processing payments directly through MasterCard and Visa by the fall, I apologize if you are reluctant to use Paypal. Just know that I use Paypal because it is reliable, it gives me the ability to issue refunds if necessary and gives you the consumer fraud prevention tools and security, most of all the ability to get your money back if you decide not to make the trip.<br /></div><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/CodeSonic/SHJIPOo0GBI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/5pPUW0wihR8/DSC01091.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /> <p align="justify">I will be putting up a testimonials section on the website in September so you all get to hear what my past clients had to say about their experience with Karikuy. For now you can check out the Reviews section of our Facebook business page for traveller reviews. I really want all of you to get the best out of your trip here to Peru. I know I offer the best prices and most for your buck out of any tour company in Peru, I guess letting the world know that is another small hurdle I will have to jump in making Karikuy the great organization it will become.</p>Juliohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06947714874128523896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947527426844673666.post-6776130674777726472008-06-13T12:34:00.000-07:002008-06-13T13:13:41.798-07:00A Karikuy Summer<div align="justify">Ok so it´s winter here on the Peruvian west coast, although it feels like summer in my current location of Huacachina. The sun is shining off the massive dunes of this tiny oasis town, a town which is as lively as the parrots that occupy its surrounding palms. At a warm 75 degrees with a slight breeze, Huacachina remains its sleepy self, albeit with the sound of the Euro Copa blasting on almost all the televisions in town.<br /><br />I'm currently on my second tour group of the season and all is great! Little by little Karikuy is growing, gaining a wider reputation, and I find myself as the founder evermore responsible for showing my guest the best of what Peru has to offer. I have been running into many travelers who have been arriving on their own terms, trying to wing it as far as travelling throughout the country. The majority I´ve found are getting bad prices on hotels and being ripped off by taxis and tour groups looking to cash in. I can only hope to gain some of their confidence and trust by helping them as much as I can, not so much by offering them one of the Karikuy tours on the spot, but to guide them, introduce them to great hotels and services. I hope in doing so they can help this little organization grow by recommending me to their friends and family.<br /><br />I will be posting pictures in the next couple of days and adding to this post. I am looking forward to having unlimited internet in my apartment in Lima soon where I´ll be able to finish the Tariy Blogs as well. Lastly I wish to thank those who have toured with Karikuy and those in the process of doing so for your help and your support, by touring with us you become a part if our organization and our future goals in humanitarianism. Thank You! </div>Juliohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06947714874128523896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947527426844673666.post-16167979684536317792008-05-09T18:12:00.000-07:002008-12-09T13:15:08.204-08:00Return to Paradise<div style="text-align: justify;">In five days I will be heading back to Peru, I have been counting the days since I last left that beautiful country of mine. My adventurous spirit, coupled with my vigor to see <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Karikuy</span> succeed in its broad vision, have reawakened my previously fatigued state of mind. You see, I've been spending about 10+ hours everyday hunched over a keyboard, my eyes enveloped in a mechanical light that has become my daylight the past couple weeks. Booking, planning, advertising, developing, its all very methodical work and nothing cheers me up more then knowing I'm only a couple days away from putting all that behind me and dealing with the exciting end of my job. Getting to know my clients and seeing their awed faces as I show them around my country is irreplaceable, I know of no other reward similar to it, at least not in any previous job.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-RFTK2WdUoTJ2JJhR2nghHTEjMUUzNZ83YuXf3thmJyN_-Q3oO0LYE20p4zCRB-KKq-WAiKh6tpzzLnQclmEUOSoTZYntRHyc1P_DphPyktr6k6QajNzTVYL0FVB4mVwPhkTD1ITMF_PO/s1600-h/working.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-RFTK2WdUoTJ2JJhR2nghHTEjMUUzNZ83YuXf3thmJyN_-Q3oO0LYE20p4zCRB-KKq-WAiKh6tpzzLnQclmEUOSoTZYntRHyc1P_DphPyktr6k6QajNzTVYL0FVB4mVwPhkTD1ITMF_PO/s400/working.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198559007363674482" border="0" /></a>So as I start packing and getting ready to depart the good old USA, I think to myself what adventures and surprises I will run into this summer, or then again I should say winter, even though I just returned from summer...oh wait a coastal summer in Peru is a Andean winter, either or. Ha ha yes it's all very incredible really, in the next four months I will have experienced every season and almost every micro climate. What a wonder Peru is, I look forward to meeting all of you who have signed up for one of the trips and those in the process of doing so. If there's adventure to be had, you will find it in Peru.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOafpSzp3vRVQ8sKkFCLsKV9Wvz9CPUPKa8TAwz3sZ9S8SOQEHTKoWRxAuSbcNHv62whfM8sRwEL-PnBd6UA1YS7d631D_s2MgbSzmIqNqQYw-tEP34r1RWanoAEY4h_ZoFul-GGPrGKU-/s1600-h/DSC00810.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOafpSzp3vRVQ8sKkFCLsKV9Wvz9CPUPKa8TAwz3sZ9S8SOQEHTKoWRxAuSbcNHv62whfM8sRwEL-PnBd6UA1YS7d631D_s2MgbSzmIqNqQYw-tEP34r1RWanoAEY4h_ZoFul-GGPrGKU-/s400/DSC00810.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198560806954971522" border="0" /></a>*<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Tariy</span> Update* I will resume writing about the trip in my downtime in Lima. I have not forgotten about it, and have it organized in the blog links section of the blog for better structure.<br /></div>Juliohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06947714874128523896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947527426844673666.post-21033083426528718402008-04-21T15:35:00.000-07:002008-12-09T13:15:10.213-08:00Tariy, Days 10 & 11: Cumpleaños Feliz y la Resaca<div style="text-align: justify;">I apologize for the lack of blogs as I have been real busy with Karikuy as of late. I'm also trying to finish the new company video by the end of this month. I started a new advertising campaign with facebook.com and that has kept me busy the last couple of days. So here is Tariy 2008, continuing where it last left off.<br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wednesday March 19th</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Ahh there is nothing like waking up to the sound of salsa in the morning. It's almost as if you could dance right out of bed and into the chilly shower to further awaken your senses. Surprisingly the music invades my floor in layers, salsa from the neighbor to the east, reggaeton from the neighbor to the north. Downstairs my cousin plays Grupo Nectar, a group whose tragic end brought life to their music that now lives on to awaken a people on a brand new day. It just so happens that on this day I turn 25.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQoOb9cXFXHI8V9d4LaeJ0v_Jk_RnML6nctZ9rvOagEF0168DfLdhHzRaNGOO_b6CpNuKdH87MFaU3ArGHlekWIca8Sn77lL_nq_Cq7HOV1GzHVEnlYrCndI0j_F3suwNY5FGE9zf_2Yj/s1600-h/DSC00418.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQoOb9cXFXHI8V9d4LaeJ0v_Jk_RnML6nctZ9rvOagEF0168DfLdhHzRaNGOO_b6CpNuKdH87MFaU3ArGHlekWIca8Sn77lL_nq_Cq7HOV1GzHVEnlYrCndI0j_F3suwNY5FGE9zf_2Yj/s400/DSC00418.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191840211425534018" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I hopped out of the shower trembling as usual but with a bounce to my step. I wasn't necessarily thinking about turning a quarter of a century old as I was about what the night might hold in store. I put on some shorts and a t-shirt and climbed to the roof to check if my clothes for the night were finished drying.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXS1wkMEheNxgkUWAoFMnt1si-yoN8Kif1-uXYpMw40vqctYARza4M4Y5L62vz2oU90EZdtuWZATe7C-JZomAgZCz9d7XhMjXqkd5e3dstjGyuc-4DiMYl3gafOrJE0fuKPOugSx4R3PR/s1600-h/DSC00423.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXS1wkMEheNxgkUWAoFMnt1si-yoN8Kif1-uXYpMw40vqctYARza4M4Y5L62vz2oU90EZdtuWZATe7C-JZomAgZCz9d7XhMjXqkd5e3dstjGyuc-4DiMYl3gafOrJE0fuKPOugSx4R3PR/s400/DSC00423.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191845678918901842" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Before any festivities could kick off I had reminded myself that I was to visit the cemetery and pay a visit to my grandparents. The story of me and my grandparents is a sad one, and so I try my best to pull myself together and go visit them once a year or whenever I am back in Peru. It took us a good afternoon before we arrived back at my house where I would get ready for the nights celebration.<br /><br />You can probably guess that I didn't chronicle this day too heavily, it was a personal day and I was having way too much fun at my birthday party to really take pictures or videos but here are a few;<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy1caZzuwQUASoBPNxxix8gzvxyLckPJiUljH4P9GUlZhjRTeuCa5sIuJNOr7tp0Zn6HuCOo5AqafHnrcVuHg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzzHmS3as96G8wcDpcSnz-x204qaAxs6ZsTY0jXcSTjxRwp5cvQUUOJsS8XH7OBqren3ie358dp62FI_dYLtA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwikprzYbJZCT1l2wyjvhXU-UdG3F0qJev_6Xcwuz-zV8Gyulgsx433USWMaoWqCD8-bNc_BTZQyWCKQkgySw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">25 and still goofing off...<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span>The party went on until the first rays of sunlight hit the dusty Lima streets. Well actually it went on way after the sun went up, I can last remember looking at a clock that read 7 am before I crashed. But that's the thing about Peru, the people here love a good party and most clubs don't close until the last patron has left.<br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thursday March 20th</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I remember waking up at around 3 in the afternoon and being greeted with another bottle of Cristal. Yes the party continued until about 5pm and a case of beer (12 large Cristal bottles) later I decided I was probably suffering of alcohol poisoning and retreated back to my house to crash. I slept from about 7pm until the following morning. It was probably for the best as the next day Maycol and I would be heading to Ica and Huacachina to continue our trek.<span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></div></div></div>Juliohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06947714874128523896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947527426844673666.post-77130701993424712742008-04-16T12:43:00.000-07:002008-12-09T13:15:14.045-08:00Tariy, Day 9: Ceviche in CallaoTuesday March 18th<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I woke up to the sound of our bus speeding it's way through the dusty desert coast of Peru. About half our bus was awake and watching a movie, in a little while the bus steward would be passing a small snack for breakfast. We soon entered the city of Lima, the city however is huge and it would take another forty five minutes until we reached the bus terminals in the heart of the city. I didn't mind the wait, I was glad that I would be in the company of my family once again and that tomorrow we'd all be together celebrating my birthday.<br /><br />My uncle Freddy was at the station when we arrived, being a taxi driver he's the one that usually drives me around when I go home and it is him and his friends that provide the transportation for Karikuy. So as we made our way back to my neighborhood in Central Lima I had very little on my mind as to what I would be doing for the day, what I knew for certain though was that I'd be in Callao eating some of the best ceviche in Peru.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuXWZSKr6hq7NiVKkTz6luiS8_KC5AVh1XHq88v2fwEZb90gIrd9iWtZYFwmYI7rl7Ddpmy69h-nry7YraBEZuBRYjn9m2QdM9vCptSxRtxreq8TP0MnNaqQ8PoGASTPXuIGwC4s-h_mV/s1600-h/DSC00362.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuXWZSKr6hq7NiVKkTz6luiS8_KC5AVh1XHq88v2fwEZb90gIrd9iWtZYFwmYI7rl7Ddpmy69h-nry7YraBEZuBRYjn9m2QdM9vCptSxRtxreq8TP0MnNaqQ8PoGASTPXuIGwC4s-h_mV/s400/DSC00362.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189935842243845618" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:78%;" >My neighborhood of Planeta, the smoke is of a train that just rolled on through.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">I had a couple of hours to take a nap and get in a good breakfast before we set off again at noon. Before leaving for Peru I had failed to pack much clothing for myself due to all the gifts and donations I had received. So first on my list of things to do was to head to one of the large super centers found throughout Lima and pick up some shorts and a shirt for tomorrows party.</span><br /></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKw54zI_qTp690WNRBc5BTIlj8b0ZnhrbRL7mvpi0iKLajJG8aUt45JrgyqJUVyD2HkX3m7jsN_usmuBPzaFzWCUmG9STPfcsiifrENzGLkukAVnPtVSoTP9Q2dh5HGPJ0In3gLrIGeC3Q/s1600-h/DSC00364.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKw54zI_qTp690WNRBc5BTIlj8b0ZnhrbRL7mvpi0iKLajJG8aUt45JrgyqJUVyD2HkX3m7jsN_usmuBPzaFzWCUmG9STPfcsiifrENzGLkukAVnPtVSoTP9Q2dh5HGPJ0In3gLrIGeC3Q/s400/DSC00364.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189952657040809474" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">After picking up some clothes and sipping on a delicious fruit smoothie we headed to the port city of Callao. Callao has remained the biggest port in Peru since it was founded in 1537, the city was largely destroyed and vast areas flooded when a tsunami hit after a strong earthquake in 1746. I commonly hear that 1/4 of the original Callao lies underwater, however that number fluctuates with each story and it's hard to tell, I will do more research on that when I return later in the year. Here are some pictures:<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFGiww8SCCgwmTc1rRruMdv6vZuewrEdV-PVgEAu3VjpFBNr8kwyKAV1h7_39E3CAn_EC6zizETAAnjVCuNMBgLmbNDLnOuOMxJqQw_edAC9i3eQiuZ6Fd_2nUhPmYLidXVUms7WpsJ0BS/s1600-h/DSC00375.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFGiww8SCCgwmTc1rRruMdv6vZuewrEdV-PVgEAu3VjpFBNr8kwyKAV1h7_39E3CAn_EC6zizETAAnjVCuNMBgLmbNDLnOuOMxJqQw_edAC9i3eQiuZ6Fd_2nUhPmYLidXVUms7WpsJ0BS/s400/DSC00375.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189960929147821634" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe7coKkb6A3h2YSA8WU7ijix2Hq_9RDVnQgh9fwvK61XkgZcttVa969j4hUx5BfGmF0s2WCVvXgkRysd3aciFxCCUwMMtS43A7D3EnYwQ8xlrifW0lw174FP2v-IOPybz3TX3roISQIEN0/s1600-h/DSC00376.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe7coKkb6A3h2YSA8WU7ijix2Hq_9RDVnQgh9fwvK61XkgZcttVa969j4hUx5BfGmF0s2WCVvXgkRysd3aciFxCCUwMMtS43A7D3EnYwQ8xlrifW0lw174FP2v-IOPybz3TX3roISQIEN0/s400/DSC00376.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189960860428344882" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj364fb7jDGOZrixL4XHflmHjjxfGeu5hyLM-llHTOYEGbGsT3rIGiPXr-uEuGBa_FVYYPtbvQCacToypYiQ1wKTJSZW4sJei6sArN9ljdtSdYVSgyzR1UZHpfJYn4fIaDI65vchcu5G3H2/s1600-h/DSC00377.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj364fb7jDGOZrixL4XHflmHjjxfGeu5hyLM-llHTOYEGbGsT3rIGiPXr-uEuGBa_FVYYPtbvQCacToypYiQ1wKTJSZW4sJei6sArN9ljdtSdYVSgyzR1UZHpfJYn4fIaDI65vchcu5G3H2/s400/DSC00377.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189960800298802722" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUK2oN5prdqH1qrwJ7Nc7AM6IGan1k1ByXEL98959nfE_GPmbCkuxj39o3fwnnF4wNv1UjBYJoVw9NLOIEa0dKKdtGxx0uMDs1otW_7_k0Vg8Th0LtXAuoDNu6dhJJL_qJHdI7cjbAY7Oo/s1600-h/DSC00396.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUK2oN5prdqH1qrwJ7Nc7AM6IGan1k1ByXEL98959nfE_GPmbCkuxj39o3fwnnF4wNv1UjBYJoVw9NLOIEa0dKKdtGxx0uMDs1otW_7_k0Vg8Th0LtXAuoDNu6dhJJL_qJHdI7cjbAY7Oo/s400/DSC00396.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189960740169260562" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">And a short video of the ride up to La Punta, notice the fortress at the end of the video, it is the largest and strongest Spanish fortress built in Latin America.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzqMe0qUNFNNFYt4mP1Kn9MtqqMq88RpyVt_3IVS6WOEJlE7A9Ph5o404ZFQ-lx_by1DB96e8dKfy7oFHSpLg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">There is a little restaurant at La Punta (The Point) of Callao and I recommend it for anyone who is in the area, it is called the Neptune. I bring tourists and guests there and frequently include it in my trip itineraries. It has to be my favorite place in Peru to eat ceviche, because not only do they make one amazing dish but they also provide the best setting and scenery to wolf down a plate of this signature Peruvian dish.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1wEUXvFBhC8T_YQ7P98AnR9OoCvA4iGmmzlrRz0N7uqRLeRfwSoVToIueBttQV3fGl0jFzzLTOodLorxQoVjKUmxl8S7yD1Kg6LRMYAMRsC2dVlV84D4xfeXZSRj_qN_6DfrzYWnrsJke/s1600-h/DSC00379.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1wEUXvFBhC8T_YQ7P98AnR9OoCvA4iGmmzlrRz0N7uqRLeRfwSoVToIueBttQV3fGl0jFzzLTOodLorxQoVjKUmxl8S7yD1Kg6LRMYAMRsC2dVlV84D4xfeXZSRj_qN_6DfrzYWnrsJke/s400/DSC00379.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189966366576418418" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:78%;" >Everyone dig in!</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPrREAiR5Jn97_k5kaxao-yd0-gLE0z8iot-nrsKXezqqD6jKtTU6rKYYNk7qtYlA761GgODiCV4ECc88H80xlLAx_Zb16swvvAvEHA0dfArdTas9jWrIpo9Xf8ZIPCnRKAR9QLLgp_VX/s1600-h/DSC00384.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPrREAiR5Jn97_k5kaxao-yd0-gLE0z8iot-nrsKXezqqD6jKtTU6rKYYNk7qtYlA761GgODiCV4ECc88H80xlLAx_Zb16swvvAvEHA0dfArdTas9jWrIpo9Xf8ZIPCnRKAR9QLLgp_VX/s400/DSC00384.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189966276382105186" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Second course of fried calamari...mmmm.</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJxTgfyfe41gwPDjx7RnFsq6E65ASoCixFE7HAResUlRcBtFfu4h7lgHQjRYNUAP3z4rMnrEpVxjGNa-AX7y1lXOKjIphUPi4SU42XQ7U0Z5di2N7Lskn497lbdesB0KeVcM82fYAiVsFi/s1600-h/DSC00392.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJxTgfyfe41gwPDjx7RnFsq6E65ASoCixFE7HAResUlRcBtFfu4h7lgHQjRYNUAP3z4rMnrEpVxjGNa-AX7y1lXOKjIphUPi4SU42XQ7U0Z5di2N7Lskn497lbdesB0KeVcM82fYAiVsFi/s400/DSC00392.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189966207662628434" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">All gone :(<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Finishing up a meal at Neptune's is always followed by a stroll over at the oceanfront which is about a hundred feet from the restaurant itself. Currently a lot of La Punta is under construction which is slated to be finished by next year but there are still plenty of spots where you can go and watch the waves splashing against the barrier wall. The feeling of being under the warm sun after a filling meal of ceviche can be enough impetus for anyone to return to Peru and is always one of the highlights of my trip back home, I recommend it to everyone I meet.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhooXopQbq7Vv2g42EZTQpXXzlU-rN1eQ_e1uYaVRcTtSISLmAqTA_gLYTwP6W87xwKnvqAj0u72x_CywtskKOqxX6J0jbae78IyRpIQsGHdh69ZQEA0WKn47sHumycIc0lcLoU6nRDikiH/s1600-h/DSC00414.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhooXopQbq7Vv2g42EZTQpXXzlU-rN1eQ_e1uYaVRcTtSISLmAqTA_gLYTwP6W87xwKnvqAj0u72x_CywtskKOqxX6J0jbae78IyRpIQsGHdh69ZQEA0WKn47sHumycIc0lcLoU6nRDikiH/s400/DSC00414.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189971997278543506" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTbYLGbSYy_TtydnVEuAJLuLpxhjBN8-whsrDqoHpNmiAyXv-4_JaopiqdyMTAvKYsxTgni5NzVnu3dK6W3RrqMfzQ4eGzRy_0335xQtl61tTb69wKAFpmuJd6o_W1PwAIPjnSKuPTuqhw/s1600-h/DSC00410.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTbYLGbSYy_TtydnVEuAJLuLpxhjBN8-whsrDqoHpNmiAyXv-4_JaopiqdyMTAvKYsxTgni5NzVnu3dK6W3RrqMfzQ4eGzRy_0335xQtl61tTb69wKAFpmuJd6o_W1PwAIPjnSKuPTuqhw/s400/DSC00410.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189971932854034050" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwPjVXxdABl1e-0U4-SAOQ0EIaxPk4vII9TEk7lrtDFshyY126g_a86ErWyX4Mxk5cK7rPIyu-uxRMjdZvnfA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">There is not much to tell about the rest of my day, I spent most of it back home catching up with family that would drop by to say hello as well as doing some laundry and double checking my budget for the rest of the trip.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinZ0AHrkWFCj5qbuRPz6VaFvVZs3xzNqITzlm8eklW9EEdAkWW-m9jB8_mv5IbmVMLePKo-854C0N5lTIi7_W1vf1AGk2gsk7nNarOJvLLuBrZ-jUYn6z4e34oKQbzEW9duaX9TUpc68c0/s1600-h/DSC00417.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinZ0AHrkWFCj5qbuRPz6VaFvVZs3xzNqITzlm8eklW9EEdAkWW-m9jB8_mv5IbmVMLePKo-854C0N5lTIi7_W1vf1AGk2gsk7nNarOJvLLuBrZ-jUYn6z4e34oKQbzEW9duaX9TUpc68c0/s400/DSC00417.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189978074657267362" border="0" /></a><br />Knowing that I would get very little sleep the following day I made a point of heading to bed early. My birthday party would not disappoint.<br /></div></div>Juliohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06947714874128523896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947527426844673666.post-71582998578836215432008-04-14T19:17:00.000-07:002008-12-09T13:15:16.893-08:00Tariy, Day 8: The Road Back to LimaMonday March 17th<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Maycol and I woke up to a chilly Monday morning in Cajamarca. It was around six in the morning, the plaza lay eerily silent with the sound of a few roosters in the distance. Up to this point I had a beef with roosters going back to our days in Casma, there a rooster had started crowing at three in the morning just as we were about to go to bed. The rooster had only been about 20 feet away from us and it's loud calls were head splitting. This morning the crowing seemed to only add to the beauty of a sleepy Cajamarca at dawn.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1FB11BSalg0L1U6_ILw7gMdyLGcLp9zIVLkVWmRXIQbsOFbx6TS-MmRlGx93lyU16s_AnhicFuFa7DcmTi9xWxHyMzOxRv_kiiU8HTiSlXlerrgT5f8JykVBdcGJDATcNLi9oFliy58SH/s1600-h/DSC00266.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1FB11BSalg0L1U6_ILw7gMdyLGcLp9zIVLkVWmRXIQbsOFbx6TS-MmRlGx93lyU16s_AnhicFuFa7DcmTi9xWxHyMzOxRv_kiiU8HTiSlXlerrgT5f8JykVBdcGJDATcNLi9oFliy58SH/s400/DSC00266.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189298095434964242" border="0" /></a><br />We made our way to the bus station and hopped on a bus headed for Chiclayo. The bus trip to Chiclayo would turn out to be one of the more memorable bus rides of the trip. The weather was absolutely gorgeous and the scenery throughout the ride was equally jaw dropping, it made the six hour ride go by in a flash. First we passed we had to climb in elevation to reach the pass that dips down into Cajamarca as well as westward towards the coast.<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJV5BnogNz2bFqwddGJMky5XZOA7Luo0f7nBfw8wNepLZd7xbyRnDyNOL07pA6hyphenhyphen5p56djux8aibJV-wgnqLx5Qfjrv-ZWjE9E-ludJGA1AqGcFt5b19DufPfm8F0lGs_rvGB-uOc5cCze/s1600-h/DSC00270.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJV5BnogNz2bFqwddGJMky5XZOA7Luo0f7nBfw8wNepLZd7xbyRnDyNOL07pA6hyphenhyphen5p56djux8aibJV-wgnqLx5Qfjrv-ZWjE9E-ludJGA1AqGcFt5b19DufPfm8F0lGs_rvGB-uOc5cCze/s400/DSC00270.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189303111956765986" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc-e6jxSym-T9SzLYOnWYVd0umFtrjPF8SuVQ8l1Ys2MedItOKPaeWm3KoQfUbcgOx6qcVfCUi3JSwv2uRGwDVD1Oj5nUbwGXXstBC-rooVDYSY-bW0Kii-ZJtERCXmlYjsFfnjLts7ScV/s1600-h/DSC00278.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc-e6jxSym-T9SzLYOnWYVd0umFtrjPF8SuVQ8l1Ys2MedItOKPaeWm3KoQfUbcgOx6qcVfCUi3JSwv2uRGwDVD1Oj5nUbwGXXstBC-rooVDYSY-bW0Kii-ZJtERCXmlYjsFfnjLts7ScV/s400/DSC00278.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189303172086308146" border="0" /></a><br />There are some roads in Peru that will really give you a good scare, one of them is the road from Huaraz to Huari and as I would find out later from Ayacucho to Andahuaylas. The road to Chiclayo was paved and even though it was still very steep and windy I felt relaxed and paid little attention to the absurd heights. About two hours in we had already dropped in elevation dramatically and were snaking our way through a picture perfect valley with majestic peaks all around us.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEyODLXuLkPBI-ti3gSDazVPdZtIRtQ2-p3w4bnHQ1EXejV0BVMglymCLSW5G8qDRt0kC7r2sTTr_AXFJbWB1JSSXVpjjXWp3yjfxMl-TJB4fnBwSuTmt_SV6BcMP9m1qtyxL-V-6vqdQA/s1600-h/DSC00285.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEyODLXuLkPBI-ti3gSDazVPdZtIRtQ2-p3w4bnHQ1EXejV0BVMglymCLSW5G8qDRt0kC7r2sTTr_AXFJbWB1JSSXVpjjXWp3yjfxMl-TJB4fnBwSuTmt_SV6BcMP9m1qtyxL-V-6vqdQA/s400/DSC00285.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189311658941685058" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0fpdVcPE6ij0LoKZCK2wqL_wMK1nDzcfCs_kZfMx9fK-bYWFR_12oS0wPeP9TOsabhEFWJOJHIKYM4kUn2kpsZe6gbQzASolYhI3OFKKI_iJ1gVgyu0OY1-34Ye5mVVkNHMmeVACk_3O/s1600-h/DSC00307.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0fpdVcPE6ij0LoKZCK2wqL_wMK1nDzcfCs_kZfMx9fK-bYWFR_12oS0wPeP9TOsabhEFWJOJHIKYM4kUn2kpsZe6gbQzASolYhI3OFKKI_iJ1gVgyu0OY1-34Ye5mVVkNHMmeVACk_3O/s400/DSC00307.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189311727661161810" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO7UvJVhdMmhpPxT5ESZp4hczwv_K9uElRRTdRKNNLUPHTUuTERywnP3fqIkbSvJkhxyg4wHT2QIZDzNG63nKljGt1-cT302BofLSz2TgYThecvw-CL0vuUSssBekllu4Sxzx-u9AheaPa/s1600-h/DSC00315.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO7UvJVhdMmhpPxT5ESZp4hczwv_K9uElRRTdRKNNLUPHTUuTERywnP3fqIkbSvJkhxyg4wHT2QIZDzNG63nKljGt1-cT302BofLSz2TgYThecvw-CL0vuUSssBekllu4Sxzx-u9AheaPa/s400/DSC00315.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189311804970573154" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguPIimHmTst_ubrjUopXUs26wLU4-qtuph3zNgx-uWHTocGdf6Jy_BfZtW-QkIrzjHH0GG6EJMCi78nVg4pm_OwGkHmcQLiFTEACvhnwbC2tXtGCwk4k8vrRdEaP-I1Z1SD5BMfxe_cLFV/s1600-h/DSC00328.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguPIimHmTst_ubrjUopXUs26wLU4-qtuph3zNgx-uWHTocGdf6Jy_BfZtW-QkIrzjHH0GG6EJMCi78nVg4pm_OwGkHmcQLiFTEACvhnwbC2tXtGCwk4k8vrRdEaP-I1Z1SD5BMfxe_cLFV/s400/DSC00328.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189311860805148018" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz31XJm2vuaD0JqAQ6FxsERR67tcimcloAddwOKfkq4Ot4BRGG5pM8fZBMJ0VChFGvFIF5dfXho98FQ-Xf5jGawIjucHht4hs4CzrMSDkmPRpBydJ-7PiwXAGw87CTfM2N1xIspSOAKn8s/s1600-h/DSC00330.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz31XJm2vuaD0JqAQ6FxsERR67tcimcloAddwOKfkq4Ot4BRGG5pM8fZBMJ0VChFGvFIF5dfXho98FQ-Xf5jGawIjucHht4hs4CzrMSDkmPRpBydJ-7PiwXAGw87CTfM2N1xIspSOAKn8s/s400/DSC00330.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189311916639722882" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Here's a short clip of me goofing off on the bus ride. I do not recommend sticking your head out the bus windows. On one occasion I was filming outside the window for the Karikuy video when I heard a distant noise coming from my left, intuitively I put my head back in the window just as bridge supports passed less then a foot away from the windows. I bet that would've hurt pretty bad if not taken my whole head off!<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw8yVyAc871fYs56I3mx1wR93mEol8yvXnvGsR17GnPeWMrXaew3lQUQbCvBEKOSY9rZm1PBThzPvzKG6PuHQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;">I took the following video to demonstrate just how dramatically the micro climates in Peru change. The video shows the desert and as I pan to the left you can see the green farmlands and mountains climbing up into the Andes. Peru has 28 different climate types and 84 of the 104 ecological niches that have so far been identified, a fact that classifies Peru as the most ecologically diverse country in the world.<br /></div><br /><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw4-YhLWMMItcpJ2u8kFMzADNipjGI3eum2cK9PctiqFbI16aI1D1oR75WTH93RGdacqWafYGfqcZqpEkrcIA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;">We reached Chiclayo at one in the afternoon. At the bus terminal we bought our tickets for the bus to Lima which would be leaving at six in the evening. We left our backpacks at the bus stations luggage storage and headed out for some lunch. I had some papa a la huancaina, one of my favorite Peruvian dishes while my cousin had caldo de gallina or chicken soup as we would call it. We were more then happy to come across our favorite beer Cristal as it had eluded us since Casma, provecho!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3g9wjZg0IqB0vxNINSLWb7VKvk6T1e6x2M9w7nHY2XG1thEN8IVk6baCZdXRcZ5TKzRMhwzY23l39hiZscqJU0VZJXJ9rpStGY60AGrmGJ3I3lvkmAMIDNBoqoKNgiiRPpYPhJAgjaJds/s1600-h/DSC00352.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3g9wjZg0IqB0vxNINSLWb7VKvk6T1e6x2M9w7nHY2XG1thEN8IVk6baCZdXRcZ5TKzRMhwzY23l39hiZscqJU0VZJXJ9rpStGY60AGrmGJ3I3lvkmAMIDNBoqoKNgiiRPpYPhJAgjaJds/s400/DSC00352.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189558185769508242" border="0" /></a><br />After the light lunch we headed out for the museum that houses the Lord of Sipan, Peru's version of Tutankhamen. It is said that the treasure found at the tomb of the Lord of Sipan rivals that of the tomb of King Tut, that's why Sipan is often referred to as the Tutankhamen of the Americas.As we walked towards the museum we could tell that there was something amiss, the road leading up to the site was quiet and there was no one around. We soon found out that the museum is closed on Mondays for cleaning. Disappointed we took a couple snapshots of the exterior and then headed for Chiclayo's Plaza de Armas. I took note of that fact for future reference but at the same time kicked myself for not having looked into it beforehand; experience points gained.<br /></div></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFt_x-6HKMdrGsXaXcCE3sZFVPCSDqDA3Di0nlzAavsMqhLMWT4lelyZndrYlAqj-p9wjMA1b0q4k7te9O10P2nkVeJvnNwAHUZ3emP5UMmA3O4gM3JaWC-97ps5ixX5eRyA5p_khHDwzL/s1600-h/DSC00355.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFt_x-6HKMdrGsXaXcCE3sZFVPCSDqDA3Di0nlzAavsMqhLMWT4lelyZndrYlAqj-p9wjMA1b0q4k7te9O10P2nkVeJvnNwAHUZ3emP5UMmA3O4gM3JaWC-97ps5ixX5eRyA5p_khHDwzL/s400/DSC00355.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189562747024776610" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Webon, I think they're closed...<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Although we didn't spend too much time in Chiclayo I was very drawn to it. It has a certain charm about it and the atmosphere is very laid back, perhaps that's why Chiclayo's nickname is La Cuidad de la Amistad; The City of Friendship.<br /><br />When we reached the Plaza de Armas I was surprised at its size, covered by tall palms the plaza has to be the smallest I'd seen so far out of any town or city in Peru. I even think that Supe being a very small town had a much larger plaza then Chiclayo's. The Plaza de Armas did however have some impressive buildings surrounding it including a beautiful cathedral.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNFJx33rnFBqPwbRHatvT-WIhyphenhyphenBqNrH157sNCF7UWt_egYiK0z_4PYI4ZRKSBYYISrLAujp2-fvbpDIKBVclgMHZxUnJwodealtMoGnvTl0F6Q5pMyLX7Av_lABtzvrCvgVkcF9xGdeqtC/s1600-h/DSC00356.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNFJx33rnFBqPwbRHatvT-WIhyphenhyphenBqNrH157sNCF7UWt_egYiK0z_4PYI4ZRKSBYYISrLAujp2-fvbpDIKBVclgMHZxUnJwodealtMoGnvTl0F6Q5pMyLX7Av_lABtzvrCvgVkcF9xGdeqtC/s400/DSC00356.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189572440765963746" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9APUK1Ox7Z71YRW9NMClZAmNI4lhDEJrzB5wCcwl8vRetBGPmOauFceAkrpOwGy75cxdjihnD-U8HjXkGVGyRjCiGiEFp1CUgKCv-EdZq6M8QSptQmApRz_VHbkEp-cq7G6BP96elUvyp/s1600-h/DSC00357.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9APUK1Ox7Z71YRW9NMClZAmNI4lhDEJrzB5wCcwl8vRetBGPmOauFceAkrpOwGy75cxdjihnD-U8HjXkGVGyRjCiGiEFp1CUgKCv-EdZq6M8QSptQmApRz_VHbkEp-cq7G6BP96elUvyp/s400/DSC00357.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189572350571650514" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vK1v9Hthh2jxrFJXtdPydB1pl1AYScRfYtKBhiT5Wg5IwQ7m-ea1AyAuZ959a6qC-Vjb7HGkLea8AbtDrgVDS6_oTNsNZHDAZAlJ0JSsPtWa-7lS6uNvUMhKYKQUs8t63cerrieIRa_e/s1600-h/DSC00358.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vK1v9Hthh2jxrFJXtdPydB1pl1AYScRfYtKBhiT5Wg5IwQ7m-ea1AyAuZ959a6qC-Vjb7HGkLea8AbtDrgVDS6_oTNsNZHDAZAlJ0JSsPtWa-7lS6uNvUMhKYKQUs8t63cerrieIRa_e/s400/DSC00358.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189572281852173762" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">We hung around the Plaza de Armas until it was time to head back to the bus depot to catch our ten hour ride back to Lima, we didn't mind the long ride as it was at night and we'd sleep through most of it. We were glad to be going back home for some rest and a much needed plate of Ceviche.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBfMHrjkGoL_wtxl9qAFMp9CJQF9URLawjFbLdA4MQ_ScgB9G-AjlPgDfstUIoPOEneTNtkNqUmOOUohbq23dd7tvF6dScZuZOBh-xIwyvGj5cZ9dSFo6N5wP6-bOLjxS9qh7MVtWkE82/s1600-h/DSC00359.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBfMHrjkGoL_wtxl9qAFMp9CJQF9URLawjFbLdA4MQ_ScgB9G-AjlPgDfstUIoPOEneTNtkNqUmOOUohbq23dd7tvF6dScZuZOBh-xIwyvGj5cZ9dSFo6N5wP6-bOLjxS9qh7MVtWkE82/s400/DSC00359.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189572204542762418" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></div></div>Juliohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06947714874128523896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947527426844673666.post-1087536243553061972008-04-11T12:25:00.000-07:002008-12-09T13:15:18.368-08:00Tariy, Day 7: Cajamarca<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Sunday March 16th</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The loud bells of the cathedral next to our hotel made for an excellent alarm clock as we woke up to a cloudy morning <span class="transl_class" title="Click to correct" id="1">in</span> Cajamarca. <span class="transl_class" title="Click to correct" id="3">From</span> our balcony we watched as the <span class="transl_class" title="Click to correct" id="4">towns</span>people gathered around their cathedral for the Palm Sunday <span class="transl_class" title="Click to correct" id="5">procession</span>.<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_gExTBxHroJKi1hnydnTH0g9h4fnl2-Rj-w-hBGVisBgrgszmn40S5FQR1udBw660NEZKf3CaKbaMiJztR3bUDe9OY16fUnfUpO595olRR649IbHBZnrEFwYb0758p7qqFxbuGGQlGFS/s1600-h/DSC00205.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_gExTBxHroJKi1hnydnTH0g9h4fnl2-Rj-w-hBGVisBgrgszmn40S5FQR1udBw660NEZKf3CaKbaMiJztR3bUDe9OY16fUnfUpO595olRR649IbHBZnrEFwYb0758p7qqFxbuGGQlGFS/s400/DSC00205.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188089063158607106" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Our plans for the day was to catch an early bus for the town of Chachapoyas where we could head out the following day to the ruins of Kuelap. First we wanted to visit the famous ransom room of Atahualpa. The ransom room is located less then a block from the Plaza de Armas, if your looking for it ask a local for "El Cuarto del Rescate". Be aware that you have to buy tickets to get in and for some reason the ticket counter is located about two blocks around the corner. This ticket includes entrance to an art museum (Museo de Etnografia) and a convent (El Complejo de Belen), both within walking distance.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGYsVPiDyrBZvUuD_vIkEMfuq2jZAjLVJFJPNz_vdwRJX9VVJqsjXVsQD_bm6omVV-P7_62NqjrBLElbSPSV7OkStZQIp18yKwR000iJBhKE6WjovvqRJemE7e5ydpVrtKbQMFzJdFdBH/s1600-h/DSC00186.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGYsVPiDyrBZvUuD_vIkEMfuq2jZAjLVJFJPNz_vdwRJX9VVJqsjXVsQD_bm6omVV-P7_62NqjrBLElbSPSV7OkStZQIp18yKwR000iJBhKE6WjovvqRJemE7e5ydpVrtKbQMFzJdFdBH/s400/DSC00186.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188112328996449570" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >Museo de Etnografia<br /><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1T5aLY1LKd7I4ydm0pR8sAKiQE6eVu9vPKkxLmAiZauLQuYJsweXHVCPF8NdaqerJHWLTkPzaaOU_aOOPulZ3S2jfGzHhpJNwjMFdSdsjvzYrHkFw8unP8jjS_DMkN4yrwwNOwJRB654L/s1600-h/DSC00184.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1T5aLY1LKd7I4ydm0pR8sAKiQE6eVu9vPKkxLmAiZauLQuYJsweXHVCPF8NdaqerJHWLTkPzaaOU_aOOPulZ3S2jfGzHhpJNwjMFdSdsjvzYrHkFw8unP8jjS_DMkN4yrwwNOwJRB654L/s400/DSC00184.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188112251687038226" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >El Complejo de Belen, built entirely from volcanic ash<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;">We finally made our way to the Ransom room. In 1532 the Spanish arrived from Tumbes on the coast. With 160 men Pizarro rode into Cajamarca to meet the Inca Emperor who he had been hearing about since meeting fishermen from Tumbes a year earlier. Atahualpa fresh off his military victory against his brother Huascar was on his way to Cusco and had stopped at Cajamarca with about 60,000 of his men. In one of the most incredible turn of events in history Pizarro was able to ambush and capture the Incan Emperor. Atahualpa had decided to kill Pizarro and his men for their actions on their way to Cajamarca, actions which included poor treatment of the peasants and even murder. However, Atahualpa underestimated the Spanish and paid the ultimate price, the ransom room was where he was held captive until his execution in 1533.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg8-Tn1m_wZeOpDz1sdvPdlvuf3eZ8ilT4z2He0RAl7NARd931sAfg3-VqIbJWX72vsj5rhwathsXl3Hk6eLsJ62QXjbiN0OS2SzUc0hOOgZCO6pCqXxMuxzYBoZFc8-b4wG8tJGHg3Qp_/s1600-h/DSC00214+%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg8-Tn1m_wZeOpDz1sdvPdlvuf3eZ8ilT4z2He0RAl7NARd931sAfg3-VqIbJWX72vsj5rhwathsXl3Hk6eLsJ62QXjbiN0OS2SzUc0hOOgZCO6pCqXxMuxzYBoZFc8-b4wG8tJGHg3Qp_/s400/DSC00214+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188121726384893234" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIi2y67i-M2GhVxJ1HfxQAdWoiz0nUurXdjLiDrzW6MK1RlyDGfMg5XxC_YEjW_Ju9ozLXVfE7UL5FyJddrZpznAkZZOKwT66jAARonTTCqxIZmABFH72AcsN_YgTrr3W94gt-FOoRHKrl/s1600-h/DSC00215.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIi2y67i-M2GhVxJ1HfxQAdWoiz0nUurXdjLiDrzW6MK1RlyDGfMg5XxC_YEjW_Ju9ozLXVfE7UL5FyJddrZpznAkZZOKwT66jAARonTTCqxIZmABFH72AcsN_YgTrr3W94gt-FOoRHKrl/s400/DSC00215.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188121795104369986" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The ransom room is the only Inca building left standing in Cajamarca. It is a very somber place, with large drawings depicting Atahualpa and the fall of the Inca Empire.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGPp06pbsQNMoBVs8XKM7RMeu5AR7D2r1yYov6I7EwSCH3IWcZCNjj8BcWC46K1leQ_1GFsbdvR1EIOQXhyphenhyphenx7AlBIBoeXXHKtO3DWeh6AP4aT7Ebaf6gZ3EHt_CHPTQZyWyhyXsZPlBVVh/s1600-h/DSC00193.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGPp06pbsQNMoBVs8XKM7RMeu5AR7D2r1yYov6I7EwSCH3IWcZCNjj8BcWC46K1leQ_1GFsbdvR1EIOQXhyphenhyphenx7AlBIBoeXXHKtO3DWeh6AP4aT7Ebaf6gZ3EHt_CHPTQZyWyhyXsZPlBVVh/s400/DSC00193.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188125617625263442" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGnYcIE-XlIw3uCNuTyHFmZcbWLHncO3QohdvBIGXkMAy5WHAkC7m_rC68S6OwPMve7XcNvO6efm2FRtFbSINAPAt0sABLbyyHDv6esVKIvEEXP7Ngl2lq5jNYgQJPC6yCI30bB541iBzI/s1600-h/DSC00194.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGnYcIE-XlIw3uCNuTyHFmZcbWLHncO3QohdvBIGXkMAy5WHAkC7m_rC68S6OwPMve7XcNvO6efm2FRtFbSINAPAt0sABLbyyHDv6esVKIvEEXP7Ngl2lq5jNYgQJPC6yCI30bB541iBzI/s400/DSC00194.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188125793718922594" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">From the Ransom room we headed to the plaza to find out bus schedules for Chachapoyas. As we spoke to several agencies we soon found out that we would have to take a six hour bus ride to Chiclayo and then another twelve hour bus ride to Chachapoyas. That was if the weather cooperated which it hardly seemed to want to do, so it would be about a 4 day trip there and back, time we just didn't have. We decided to take a tour around Cajamarca and leave for Chiclayo the next morning, there we would check out the Lord of Sipan and take a overnight bus back to Lima in time for my birthday bash.<br /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />This was by far the biggest disappointment of the trip, I know I'll go to Kuelap eventually with Karikuy but it would have been nice to inspect the site and also check out Chachapoyas and the hotels there.<br /><br />Another learning experience behind us we walked up to the hill called Santa Apolina. At the top is said to be The Throne of the Inca, a large rock that resembles a throne and was used by Atahualpa to review his troops. The view from the top reveals Cajamarca in stunning fashion, on all sides the city is surrounded by the Andes mountains.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh58fwHWHwtQf5wm6VSKoeBCb5NMatnFbtz4b8FOLWeUhG8I07yL08qxGH1Bu9TueJ1uiVmTlXSur_Z0ypAK6uNVSS_kWmgmhXdcL35LFBRWY-jUM6dnTPitaU_ECTt82w7c0vG8o6KAJtA/s1600-h/DSC00198.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh58fwHWHwtQf5wm6VSKoeBCb5NMatnFbtz4b8FOLWeUhG8I07yL08qxGH1Bu9TueJ1uiVmTlXSur_Z0ypAK6uNVSS_kWmgmhXdcL35LFBRWY-jUM6dnTPitaU_ECTt82w7c0vG8o6KAJtA/s400/DSC00198.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188137295641341298" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >A breathtaking journey to the top of Cerro Santa Apolina<br /></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwfUwaHi4MjeaABTTdBPSYhN6MX-Ir77Wdh-slcljVDtrtpLNz_-bCkl0jsEgOVr9cbOzW8seGNGBZM1zCHnA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;">After the climb we returned to the plaza for a small lunch before we left for our tour of the area. I was in the mood for some cold cuts and a cold glass of maracuya.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZAyRIyPs5C2OxVVMD0tshvO3_Yulx9ISedf0m0y6w1GsBlcBt6XQ9I73p2WT9D_tAh1gYJo2J1EuXJsEA-y9hceYEFyGMH_ckUTLgaVi3oIOaK8V1C6YXDoGm4jUuQcOBsvRpS9Udu1TP/s1600-h/DSC00209.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZAyRIyPs5C2OxVVMD0tshvO3_Yulx9ISedf0m0y6w1GsBlcBt6XQ9I73p2WT9D_tAh1gYJo2J1EuXJsEA-y9hceYEFyGMH_ckUTLgaVi3oIOaK8V1C6YXDoGm4jUuQcOBsvRpS9Udu1TP/s400/DSC00209.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188140637125897602" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">An hour later we were heading to the plantation known as Colpa. Decades ago the Cows of Colpa were famous for the amount of milk they produced. Inside Peru the sweet known as Manjar Blanco is very popular and Colpa makes the best.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH4gJd7JOLZ612nDOIvW-ZV5dHXN57csMjk65zUcuSM5fXVyXnqV2-d7PlVp8oAxs6lK4yf-p-11fE3MpcemkzjcUgUe4HBGJLTrlrhLmvfmNHA8fTjxW_WeGNKYZs08J-5MGpW6INjmLb/s1600-h/DSC00228.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH4gJd7JOLZ612nDOIvW-ZV5dHXN57csMjk65zUcuSM5fXVyXnqV2-d7PlVp8oAxs6lK4yf-p-11fE3MpcemkzjcUgUe4HBGJLTrlrhLmvfmNHA8fTjxW_WeGNKYZs08J-5MGpW6INjmLb/s400/DSC00228.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188146718799588754" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy2UURl7Xo397YTtwwg6Lj9TLpxUJfhwJXqrzqat_s50aFbTG5cOD7FNVsoVyP1oy9t-Lg8cg6Sla5bQHJ6FKlbqR9Sd2d9DHLBP42QKzmjzttFb6KGiwBLlmzy3rjJp0CstbfU7xzunoZ/s1600-h/DSC00232.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy2UURl7Xo397YTtwwg6Lj9TLpxUJfhwJXqrzqat_s50aFbTG5cOD7FNVsoVyP1oy9t-Lg8cg6Sla5bQHJ6FKlbqR9Sd2d9DHLBP42QKzmjzttFb6KGiwBLlmzy3rjJp0CstbfU7xzunoZ/s400/DSC00232.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188146787519065506" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Colpa is also famous for its cattle that recognize when they are being called to eat by a wrangler. On top of that they walk into a pen that has several stalls with all the cows names on top, there they obediently seek out their names and begin to feed. We were treated to a demonstration, here is a short clip, you can hear the wrangler calling out names in the background:<br /></div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwRFf2Sml9JVcVjXtLFoaPe228o1b5cbiCj7NrcdHizxKkNUwGtKcgXwZ6IwHRaN6Mch-7p-LY8Pz-KrQlTOA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">From Colpa we headed to some waterfalls located across the valley in Llacanora. It was an easy hike although our group found it hard to keep up with my cousin and I as we explored the area like two five year olds let loose in a zoo. It must have been our love of exploration and the fact that we were going to miss out on Kuelap that we would daringly climb boulders that had fallen into the streams as the river rushed beneath our feet. We could feel the waterfall in the distance as its roar became thunderous with our arrival. We reached the first waterfall 20 minutes into the hike, at 10 meters high we took a couple shots of the falls just as our group started to arrive.<br /></div><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzr1SRQSQmy--ohsm-DJgIGUmaOD0iYaHafpNu1hjAGV4W5L0FXDX4jrqsCoT6D6_M0mqXfcTTFVkl1qk07bg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Ten minutes down from the first waterfall we discovered the second, this one being 20 meters high, we were able to get real close and take some footage.<br /></div><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzAR73cCM-yLTQ4ASQhb0lqeeTEu1wJI7-SI0nUsSNfd6a-5GrVFTGIi49bP3zkn6sQphrHm0A2S8spIrX9' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">We drove back to Cajamarca as the sun started to set over the cloud hugged Andes. That night we would have a medium sized dinner and hang out in the Plaza de Armas, we were tired and drinking was not on our minds. Tomorrow we would have an early six hour bus ride to Chiclayo. I already missed the waterfalls of Llanacora, I love to hike and explore, I was not looking forward to sitting on a bus for six hours. I would soon have to realize that the bus rides would only get longer and that due to the little time I had left in Peru the pace of our travels would accelerate, as well as our pulses.<br /></div></div></div>Juliohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06947714874128523896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947527426844673666.post-81865920690270155332008-04-09T15:13:00.000-07:002008-12-09T13:15:21.079-08:00Tariy, Days 5 & 6: Cesar Vallejo, Chan Chan and Chaufa<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Friday March 14th</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Trujillo is the third most populous city in Peru, of course at the time my cousin and I were not aware of this. The bus ride into the city seemed to take forever as we approached the bus depot near the heart of the provincial capital. Fortunately there is never a shortage of entertainment for Peruvians and we were relieved of the long bus ride by entertainers who would hop on board for a small tip. One of the more memorable entertainers was a comedian who would go around the bus ripping on everyone, he seemed to focus on love and relationships, his delivery was spot on!<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik3j_1h2zVSTGyAQUZzCTsRh4Orgm7k9IyH3E695eBQKUgFtIHmaBtXcv_xXkPaFhsfBsJDmiBAN-P3QAE48Mo09cwJ7a71UXD9h9O0R8bDxIIvVU-w1yjpzjxadhnm3NMqEJ-mT2KX6Wc/s1600-h/DSC00099.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik3j_1h2zVSTGyAQUZzCTsRh4Orgm7k9IyH3E695eBQKUgFtIHmaBtXcv_xXkPaFhsfBsJDmiBAN-P3QAE48Mo09cwJ7a71UXD9h9O0R8bDxIIvVU-w1yjpzjxadhnm3NMqEJ-mT2KX6Wc/s400/DSC00099.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187382742901877794" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">After hopping off the bus we walked a couple of blocks with our backpacks at which at this point felt as if they were getting heavier as the trip went on. Dripping with sweat we we entered the Plaza de Armas. We were quickly impressed by the fountain sculpture at the center of the square which represents work, art and liberty.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4OTLp_iZEt3U2q4TKODaHTSz_edCHqp-Ogvn3Dk9CgQ4WiUoWVm5MYY4HFWfCZqFVoMWDHu53fru3NtfOJxfKrV2tK4ZXqy3OROZH9lLHfIGJHkUn_eU4LZvK9fANI-aN_fFYmtTYZVH7/s1600-h/DSC00101.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4OTLp_iZEt3U2q4TKODaHTSz_edCHqp-Ogvn3Dk9CgQ4WiUoWVm5MYY4HFWfCZqFVoMWDHu53fru3NtfOJxfKrV2tK4ZXqy3OROZH9lLHfIGJHkUn_eU4LZvK9fANI-aN_fFYmtTYZVH7/s400/DSC00101.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187389262662233138" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Trujillos colonial charm can be seen throughout the city, and its brightly colored buildings create eye candy for the passing visitor. We walked four blocks down Avenida Pizzaro to Plazuela el Recreo where we found a hostel with the same name on the eastern corner of the plaza. I immediately set to work on bargaining prices and introducing Karikuy to the hostel owner. After exchanging contact information we were led up to our room which was a double with a balcony overlooking the plazuela.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSlSRKEh7OvOHHcssItIXA498ocIHmDPmSZVRaQMf6jToDunX-lAzw1DcPcgDXrpRfrZkeaVBIhyphenhyphenScKZv-1PFSaoWAzd0aCOXSwB7GrGynXudJz4l62Tt1pXHn7f4ZskqsKvcdtjJ9Bsv/s1600-h/DSC00104.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSlSRKEh7OvOHHcssItIXA498ocIHmDPmSZVRaQMf6jToDunX-lAzw1DcPcgDXrpRfrZkeaVBIhyphenhyphenScKZv-1PFSaoWAzd0aCOXSwB7GrGynXudJz4l62Tt1pXHn7f4ZskqsKvcdtjJ9Bsv/s400/DSC00104.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187397289956109378" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The room included a TV and private bathroom with hot showers which I quickly took advantage of. I gotta say no matter how long I stay in Peru for I still can't get used to cold showers, as strange as it is though I do feel great and more refreshed after one. I guess its the shock of cold water hitting your skin that I can't get used too, even in scorching hot weather...oh well. We freshened up a bit, I added some more sun tan lotion to my cherry red nose and then headed out for an evening snack as well as some internet time.<br /><br />When we returned to our hostel we were surprised to see that a crowd had gathered outside in the plazuela and a stage erected. We asked around and found out that there would be a poetry reading and concert in honor of the birthday of Cesar Vallejo, one of the great poets to come out of Peru and also considered one of the great poetic innovators of the 20th century. We watched the concert from our balconies while we prepared to head out to the night clubs and I took the opportunity to shoot the following:<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx_3zs4a-n6Q4Jo0j31xp7Tie3ee-SX1ctSEyB4sGWfrm7Bq2-rbn2qS6jTE-sIexOT6rvb21Xq7tizmxrhmQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Luna Rota was the name of the club we headed to that night, perhaps we arrived a little early but we got a sense that the people of Trujillo were a bit conservative in that a really good live salsa band was playing and no one was dancing. We arrived at about 10:30pm and the party didn't really start until midnight, and this is on a Friday night! no sir not in Lima, no way. Regardless we danced and toasted the night to our time in Trujillo, the rest of the nights details remain in this city, a city known for it's revolutionary spirit.<br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday March 15th</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">In the morning we woke up a bit groggy and hungover, I took a much cooler shower then I'm normally used to in order to get the blood flowing. Stopping at a little diner we grabbed a quick breakfast that to most would look like dinner, Lomo Saltado on a bun.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwCyyb9q69t6rjdXo0tDuDZv0TSEdeR0disOYCqpEhmod6mUfv_it4Vgoa0ntUumSNSFT6QwZO6TeDIfisA0CvP-O4uFLIib58Jvt5q3oa6_UbMHBg4PNFTXxT75rzHinADJ3El_eeslnr/s1600-h/DSC00208.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwCyyb9q69t6rjdXo0tDuDZv0TSEdeR0disOYCqpEhmod6mUfv_it4Vgoa0ntUumSNSFT6QwZO6TeDIfisA0CvP-O4uFLIib58Jvt5q3oa6_UbMHBg4PNFTXxT75rzHinADJ3El_eeslnr/s400/DSC00208.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187746930358774866" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">We then headed out to the ruins of Chan Chan. The ruins are about a 15 minute taxi ride from Trujillo's center. We were dropped off at an entrance where there were other taxis waiting to drive you even closer to the ruins. This being our first time at the site we decided to just walk, it took us about 25 minutes to get to the ruins and it was a nice walk since cities on the coast enjoy very comfortable temperatures in the morning.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmCBb8wiQoJqMC81ZnOSfBAZvT4LWgSlvXPgFkx34NWfIsrpjACA_CQycV5FEsGEIdmqDSBNbze6qoitUxUZq8KfW4q5TbuwUSp28So-wz0_870geE6uImRoc3-ruTHmWvS9KUkNlf4fCG/s1600-h/DSC00115.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmCBb8wiQoJqMC81ZnOSfBAZvT4LWgSlvXPgFkx34NWfIsrpjACA_CQycV5FEsGEIdmqDSBNbze6qoitUxUZq8KfW4q5TbuwUSp28So-wz0_870geE6uImRoc3-ruTHmWvS9KUkNlf4fCG/s400/DSC00115.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187749803691895906" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">My cousin also had a radio built into his cellphone allowing us to hear the latest news and music. It was here that I found out about the scandal regarding NY Governor Spitzer, the early morning show was ripping on his so bad I almost wet myself but hey thats politics..<br /><br />Getting back to Chan Chan, the city is the largest adobe city in the world. The layout of the complex is huge and only a small portion of it is accessible to tourists. There were several scaffolds and signs of reconstructions being made to the complex, it seems that the changing climate and the effects of La Niña are really taking a toll on this ancient city. Here are a bunch of photos of the site:<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbS3MDKVyfkmQw0bA3MoCnBrHaHT-om7SHgjKoo9NU5Aq3HhrgMAk0JbJTjGGtthdjkTjzvNqzYCEESj53acRRbLX0HwDh_8vcuSfovsITpP6uURAHE4o1xPqBohZRdivNf13Rt1_M-wwL/s1600-h/DSC00120.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbS3MDKVyfkmQw0bA3MoCnBrHaHT-om7SHgjKoo9NU5Aq3HhrgMAk0JbJTjGGtthdjkTjzvNqzYCEESj53acRRbLX0HwDh_8vcuSfovsITpP6uURAHE4o1xPqBohZRdivNf13Rt1_M-wwL/s400/DSC00120.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187754034234682482" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxgPiSzaWOkWLoZJ3P6Ogwp6euhMxajTK4OIeiFUi0Vpd7agvLBpi2-QWGYc1912EWMVeHMgRxsJeqwzQvdu9Yz3UoEmKQhXjHWJp1DgvKKjEMyl2tevMyMbwQEGbMMvFu6zBxpQKE2qx/s1600-h/DSC00128.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxgPiSzaWOkWLoZJ3P6Ogwp6euhMxajTK4OIeiFUi0Vpd7agvLBpi2-QWGYc1912EWMVeHMgRxsJeqwzQvdu9Yz3UoEmKQhXjHWJp1DgvKKjEMyl2tevMyMbwQEGbMMvFu6zBxpQKE2qx/s400/DSC00128.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187754390716968098" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7TAJa_KEBPl2OLKEqhg0B0IVeN_WqfkZPcBqCu90fp5yQAqjYDDEzT_a_7FIkDPMWv-Dd6fAknx6zT_c8oQTVVOjCRppVIcTXAuStOliociFYRs74sWdW88VDShNsKqHQUvJI4DkBIrnY/s1600-h/DSC00123.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7TAJa_KEBPl2OLKEqhg0B0IVeN_WqfkZPcBqCu90fp5yQAqjYDDEzT_a_7FIkDPMWv-Dd6fAknx6zT_c8oQTVVOjCRppVIcTXAuStOliociFYRs74sWdW88VDShNsKqHQUvJI4DkBIrnY/s400/DSC00123.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187754141608864898" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCSl1GkqmKdeQ6lBNqtznKG840UbT6PECHLz_0j5MQd8ngedLt6RX0tUlJKTbDOFXWRcQNMu2a0j2oQZwtuRKS9JXLjAE0sOib1WfakUFPRY81riGyS8jitkRKRLy-a0kvzA24DW8L7FJL/s1600-h/DSC00132.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCSl1GkqmKdeQ6lBNqtznKG840UbT6PECHLz_0j5MQd8ngedLt6RX0tUlJKTbDOFXWRcQNMu2a0j2oQZwtuRKS9JXLjAE0sOib1WfakUFPRY81riGyS8jitkRKRLy-a0kvzA24DW8L7FJL/s400/DSC00132.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187754442256575666" border="0" /></a></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;">So is Chan Chan worth visting? Yes of course but having a guide with you is key. There are many facts about this complex that would elude the traveler who decides to walk through the site by himself. For example there are rooms with pillars that project your voice through acoustic wedges, there are also halls with optical illusions to make them seem bigger on the other end.<br /><br />We spent the whole morning at Chan Chan returning to Trujillo in the early afternoon. The next city on our trek was Cajamarca, about a six hour bus ride through the Andes. Unfortunately the weather was not on our side as we climbed into the Andes and as the sun started to dim so did our hopes of a panoramic drive into the legendary Peruvian city.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj8Bao9QuR2tk0VcXMK0azNeBx_yu1ZI6z1tSlT8nFGniQH8I5wdI-FGfUgfm08WFPE-ZcTzebFGU0jRzuyRUOlVm-lvG0UgBg23o21QubKY9WGK9rKhbQQt5jrUUCpf4D1it15yUqxVyv/s1600-h/DSC00150.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj8Bao9QuR2tk0VcXMK0azNeBx_yu1ZI6z1tSlT8nFGniQH8I5wdI-FGfUgfm08WFPE-ZcTzebFGU0jRzuyRUOlVm-lvG0UgBg23o21QubKY9WGK9rKhbQQt5jrUUCpf4D1it15yUqxVyv/s400/DSC00150.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187771252758572226" border="0" /></a>We arrived in Cajamarca at about nine at night, once again we set off to the main plaza commonly referred to as the Plaza de Armas in South American cities. We had made friends with a lovely German backpacker who was led us to a hotel off the Plaza de Armas, once there I introduced myself and Karikuy to the owner so we could exchange information. He quickly escorted us to a room with a balcony overlooking the Plaza. This room had three beds and was rather large, it might just take the prize as the best room we've stayed in during our whole trip.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTID61_CX-znUvJKEIPXoC0oOz0hoAsNnOvji4l-aDeKfcxnXX5wEe0Wgb5w3xo9vdDNW44ucOpB0Tfew-2GSLqwlBkRMb4r8VV7AOg4g7Br6fGxf4ew63Q7N9yKRVS7K6lEP-bah3XC8/s1600-h/DSC00175.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTID61_CX-znUvJKEIPXoC0oOz0hoAsNnOvji4l-aDeKfcxnXX5wEe0Wgb5w3xo9vdDNW44ucOpB0Tfew-2GSLqwlBkRMb4r8VV7AOg4g7Br6fGxf4ew63Q7N9yKRVS7K6lEP-bah3XC8/s400/DSC00175.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187777394561805522" border="0" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We got dressed and cleaned up a bit, it being a Saturday night it was obvious that we would check out the local nightlife, however at this point we were starving. Theres something about high altitude towns that make me very hungry, perhaps it's all the calories I'm burning, after all your heart pumps faster as your body tries to consume more oxygen from the thin atmosphere. We really gorged ourselves, after having some Chaufa for dinner we headed to a restaurant for some Pisco Sours and an omelet.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-5JaYjyszcGG01zTijjc-MeAW972QxoEybvVVUfmBqdvixcwyiilx2a32CjJRwXJQ3pYL03KtSlkWP7xJ4xlilfN6yBDehDWIOhyG6mYaj3M6sM4qbzlHKeAdZ0-NmySxL7KWCJEW1Xw/s1600-h/DSC00241.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-5JaYjyszcGG01zTijjc-MeAW972QxoEybvVVUfmBqdvixcwyiilx2a32CjJRwXJQ3pYL03KtSlkWP7xJ4xlilfN6yBDehDWIOhyG6mYaj3M6sM4qbzlHKeAdZ0-NmySxL7KWCJEW1Xw/s400/DSC00241.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187786461237767394" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4RjC2O31m_7W35HN1NYtkdCs-dx6ePNhyphenhyphenWbzeLdNEs0tHR3JvHCTKo2ohhr0V1P7CoTYKqwcgbyQnb2scR_6kQ0_bGnhrXuwoQnlYSfTIWlgsLyTVWoKJxZi2i8HdehqTvgn9CV45XHf/s1600-h/DSC00245.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4RjC2O31m_7W35HN1NYtkdCs-dx6ePNhyphenhyphenWbzeLdNEs0tHR3JvHCTKo2ohhr0V1P7CoTYKqwcgbyQnb2scR_6kQ0_bGnhrXuwoQnlYSfTIWlgsLyTVWoKJxZi2i8HdehqTvgn9CV45XHf/s400/DSC00245.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187786525662276850" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">You might be thinking how it could be possible to even think about dancing after a meal like that, well they don't call Peru the gastronomical capital of the world for nothing. It seems as if each meal complements the next and with the food being so delicious it's hard to really feel full. And so rejuvenated and ready to explore the city we headed out for another intense night of dancing, drinking and meeting new people. The next day would be a little disappointing but in the end would work out to be a lot of fun.<br /></div></div></div>Juliohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06947714874128523896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947527426844673666.post-80933831513764423822008-04-08T15:07:00.000-07:002008-12-09T13:15:21.264-08:00Tariy 2008 Continued and Amikuy 2008<div style="text-align: justify;">My Journal of Tariy 2008 continues Thursday, I will be posting a much more detailed and media laced account then I was able to churn out in Peru due to time restraints. Starting Thursday I will be posting about 2 days worth of content each weekday, I expect that the account of the whole trip to be done within the next 2 weeks. So feel free to subscribe to this blog to get an in depth look at my country of Peru, its traditions, food, and people.<br /><br />Karikuy is accepting reservations for Amikuy 2008, Amikuy is from May 23rd to May 31st and we will be visiting Lima, Cuzco, Machu Picchu, Nazca, Huacachina and more. You can read all about the trip at <a href="http://www.karikuy.org/">www.karikuy.org</a>, just click on the hummingbird icon to read the itinerary and reserve your spot on this exciting trip.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.karikuy.org/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX81dCp5A-x1H-eYydYRYH-vtRkvoey8lrRlUORfqSxRIN80rwgpzgvE4p35S5tcczJCCFRvlV7Vpaa4FE8QosCJffMc3XTlIr_UBl79Ys83Fr6WUPi21caygZJjbAB07viaVnDCskeIH5/s400/SummerBreakPostersm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187016929093705922" border="0" /></a>Juliohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06947714874128523896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947527426844673666.post-66650529589744827692008-03-28T17:58:00.000-07:002008-03-28T18:05:32.356-07:00Tariy Update<div align="justify">I´ve had very little time recently to get to an internet cafe and put up entries. To make things worse when I do get to one it´s usually a slow connection in a little town in the Andes. So being that I will be home this Thursday, I have decided that I will continue with the blog when I get back. I will have a new post each day for you all and will feature more videos and photos.<br /><br />So tune back next week when I will continue where I left off. As of right now I am waiting for a bus to Puno, right off the shore of Lake Titicaca, I´ll make sure to take plenty of videos and photos for you.</div>Juliohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06947714874128523896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947527426844673666.post-17253721121260336972008-03-19T12:00:00.000-07:002008-12-09T13:15:39.613-08:00Tariy, Days 4 & 5: The Turtle and Trujillo<div align="justify">Hi everyone! I´m currently in Lima in a super hot internet bodega across the street from my house. Today is day 9 of my travels and it´s my birthday!! I hear there is a surprise party planned for me, not much of a surprise anymore I guess, but regardless it should be a ton of fun. I will continue where I left off last, in Casma visiting the ancient ruins of Sechin.<br /><br /></div><div><strong>Thursday March 13th (cont´d)</strong></div><br /><div align="justify">Although Sechin is small compared to most archaeological sites in Peru it still holds a wealth of artifacts to look at. The small museum next to the ruins exhibits a mummy with its mouth gaping wide open and it also contains many drawings and works of art taken from the ruins.</div><br /><div align="justify"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179532209846050770" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmSaheW6za8NHqMBtD3M2hB7NsN3NmtCKSI-kEnJAYVZbfsne320RuPikTqOrfktvjU3xSa9HrEaLupBDlH9xEA13VdkJ1e9KenqO40e2RkHpTt5NfpPyBJjugCFpDq-Ak6nEfh30EB-W/s400/DSC00056.JPG" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179532652227682274" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid61Mw8hVdpzQTJPUe10UBjqgBwGZhOrDnYeA_eP4A275oPAJmIgEWI09C-YtIUTAwFl6J_dudK1hZIDpXicv4rGJJRGc4Y2bRBpx2FUXfP5JTeHylkoNsk8U7ubrhBV_DpyrAMhKdJAoa/s400/DSC00058.JPG" border="0" /><br />Here are a couple of pictures so you get a better idea of what the exterior of the compound looks like.<br /><br /></div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179534619322703858" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRKDsL5G2LrDpbojNP5d-M3Hg62FYQMEKGC-5wKDkKSE3KsotoqV3JVpUBgmTLjjDvnbMBMmTWDxx_dsB-WD_MD2HvovRYFXqw5jD_e2iru-cCV7kj3CulFjY8sOdPrRVnD_kPEB8FoKtZ/s400/DSC00061.JPG" border="0" /></p><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179534889905643522" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBNnT6R8pV4PaelPtDmrL3-f02cKhVZ7b6E7AF7qdkUi1LXRxslyfxOb5r-EPdqezmKk-Mn3RJI9p-ovVtLARhzij5gGe2Fhn6GuqLmimG5meF676REZjpcM5fy_wsphtjiF20pBUFEa8l/s400/DSC00065.JPG" border="0" /></div><br />Maycol and I have become pretty effective at flagging down vehicles by now. I have to say that our best technique, although I don´t really recommend it, is to just lie in the middle of the road and wait for a car to stop.<br /><br /><p align="justify"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179538974419542050" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZtpwZYxBy4495sBpDdXhBW05-26-FpCY6qDlLv8Js_jGM392_h4TNPlxTwOjeERXb5T-4auO3AAJtYqq8XVjVpCM0VynzQG3ObSv1BhszhVM2Esm0z-rSDI4yGxnv8qm6MJ2eQ94XsrH/s400/DSC00069.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="justify">From Sechin we headed out to a beach about half an hour away from Casma on the western coast of Peru called La Playa de la Tortugas or Turtle Beach in English. The beach was pretty empty being that it was a weekday and also the evening. We walked around and admired the beautiful setting, the beach being wedged between two large mountains. The beach itself is small and looks like a turtle hence its name. We strolled the peaceful beach and sat down to drink some Brahman at a small restaurant while we waited for some transportation to bring us back to Casma.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179537806188437522" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYa531RQPQsdlUhVPWl3wOlUKRMotDlPEqvEi_QyDV_UZIF96oojtXN-yesshqMJwrW5j7yEyA5Q1YigHh4FGpoevf-BugtHCX5Ec-dQsMvlepGQpvuOcZjBpmZWioTR1nXTIS739tz7R/s400/DSC00079.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="justify"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179539756103589938" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1uqOM6Fyg78f8_OSp8Bmk_dmwShG_Euv0ijAUZrHb9UowLSlKtH-dlh-AV3mmQotREwTQHbyzbbvASH7zsko79XFTVWMKTedCJ9oyMfrNB5Q35IvjoJJOlv9ut8oHcS12k3O8ngQ2Vup6/s400/DSC00083.JPG" border="0" />That night was our last in Casma and we celebrated it by going out with my cousins to a discoteca. We toasted the night away with 12 jars of beer and danced the night away. I was surprised how many people were out considering it was a weekday. But if Peru is known for one thing it is its love of partying.</p><p align="justify">In the morning we caught a small collectivo to Chimbote, a town about two hours away from Casma and a transportation hub. From there we took a larger bus to the city of Trujillo, arriving in the afternoon.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179543522789908546" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXM8VoHjUsNnxze5Cqi-4G9roB-XlsI_PHvCXMNeJCkAokPQMUkZPrUbcQTUQkYtA_CwZ6LAMFOo2-TKfPWiAMXPFbLPJ6SR7FJXz6TDxj2_XgjWw5T5tmXPLeEc3u-jaOXlMw2lssnouK/s400/DSC00102.JPG" border="0" /><br />I´ll leave it at here for now, I´m leaving for Huacachina, Pisco and Ica tomorrow. I´ll try to post some birthday pictures and continue from Trujillo over the weekend, Chau!<p></p><p></p>Juliohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06947714874128523896noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947527426844673666.post-18853082268626401812008-03-17T14:17:00.000-07:002008-12-09T13:15:40.141-08:00Tariy, Days 3 & 4: The Heat of Casma<strong>Wednesday March 12th</strong><br /><br /><div align="justify">Woke up to another scorcher of a day. Heading over to the shared washroom in the small courtyard of our hostal I realized that my face was burning. I shouldn´t have been surprised looking into the mirror and finding my face the color of a Coca Cola bottle. When I come to Peru I usually don´t use sunblock and just let myself tan into my normal brown, those times hadn´t brought me to Caral though which worked it´s magic on me. </div><div align="justify"><br />Maycol and I spent about 3 hours waiting for a ride in the Plaza de Armas of Supe where we would then head to Casma. Sitting around in the sun without any sunblock was smart on my part, not that I cared much, when it got uncomftorable we´d head over to a little shop and buy some Inka Cola and some Ice Cream, then we´d head back out in the plaza and hang out under a tree and chat up the locals.<br /></div><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178833290437741650" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1M-Qbx4YFltWvjFnUGA6odWaCPysbqU-4mVqw8J5RrwmaIz4rPxD_dmjX2f733MVIRwNqtAng_ZJuabPPVEJDZRUbj_rL9yu6gT-E7tZKeTICkb7CvsFARuW5aotlnR8KEAPJGF3Y7xbh/s400/DSC00045.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="justify"><br />Slowly but surely our skill of flagging down cars by showing some skin worked. We headed off towards Casma that afternoon passing the lively town of Barranca where we should have stayed the night. The town has a great beach where you can camp out, call it an opportunity missed and experience gained.<br /><br />We reached Casma in the late afternoon and it remains the hottest town we´ve visited. Even though it´s dry out I´m sure it was a good 95 degrees farenheit. We stayed at my cousin Olgas house that night which is under constrution and had the whole place to ourselves even though there was no electricity.<br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178839041398951026" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMVXpo0OApDrQ4SUfeyJdkwnA4L-9NYadUI6P7535od_LgrnGQdDiHvD6-vmfdvD0IJtm4CPAOA195DcHaRTrhmvkZbyz1l3rlHZ5hXHgVoZC7Dh9wsQmuJ4HIHlCWDaECQZ93-E2VVGJM/s400/DSC00088.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;"><strong>Bathroom by candlelight, how romantic...</strong></span></p><p align="left"><strong>Thursday March 13th</strong></p><p align="justify">The next day we headed out for the ruins of Sechin. New discoveries in the last few months have put Sechin on the map for Archeologists. A new temple at the complex has been carbon dated to be 5,500 years old, thats older then the pyramids of Giza, and although Sechin is not a complex city like Caral it is no less significant. On the way to the ruins which is only about 10 minutes from Casma we passed some huge sand dunes which made me very excited about the thought of the massive dunes we will be sandboarding next week in Huacachina.<br /><br /></p><p align="center"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxHdMaQd1n0ZKaicDUFMIlpQQOJCnvYZcPKIsTyKaM66SvXPlxOu_udK3bSfTJJCH6xgVd1Fg2m9WaF8AVE_w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><div align="justify">Sechin is another one of the many archeological sites throughout Peru that gets very little attention due to the cyclopean Machu Picchu where all the tourists flock. We once again had these ruins to ourselves and had a look around. Unfortunatley the temple that had made the news a couple weeks ago remains closed to the public and is actually being reburied in order to preserve it. They do this to avoid the fate of another work of ancient Peruvian art that was found near Sechin, the heads below are replicas the originals were destroyed by earthquakes and rain.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><br /><p align="justify"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178848924118699138" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixaoWHdNCNX5IqkCpUFb5dtQY0y0vloFKCzUrpVUuECp5FUTp1cPTCUYofn9K12_KiwK5bEvVHixpoxZ6b609Dad9Y1YTTCaZJtGSB0aqHmpowvWFn0u0t1UN3elsryE-VtQiouH22mE67/s400/DSC00052.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="justify"><br />The main complex itself is huge and its outer walls are covered in art dating back to 3,000 BC.</p><p align="justify"><br /></p><p align="center"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwY--EDI44k3qUy0XWnAYS7FXJ_lFzCbwVp6b-24YZ2zlP92PFRea5gn88vK4hyLkb0UTv1AcPrPfjHkO9_bA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p align="justify"><br />My time is almost up here at a small internet cafe in Chiclayo, I catch my bus back to Lima in about 2 hours, it´s a 14 hour bus ride in, so I´m going to get some Arroz Chaufa and head out. I leave you with this video of the climb up yet another mountain to get a better view of Casma. I´ll try to finish up days 3 and 4 before Friday, oh and Happy belated St. Patricks Day!! </p><p align="justify"><br /></p><p align="center"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzjOMIMTQWhtc9BcuuQFlkfuMUkbTkno1dx8oZfnGpn-JYoPp5FwuXXeS3Mu7zOdBQRDLZRzDRM-wMnWsIw1g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p>Juliohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06947714874128523896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947527426844673666.post-36984095449907484452008-03-16T11:44:00.000-07:002008-04-11T19:25:45.408-07:00Tariy, Day 2: Caral<div align="justify"><strong>Tuesday March 11th (cont´d)</strong></div><div align="justify"><strong></strong></div><div align="justify">So to begin where I left off, heading up the trail to the ruins of Caral my cousin Maycol and I came across a pair of mean dogs, we threw some rocks at them and that settled things pretty quickly. Yes I know that some of you may take offense to our actions but some advice for anyone traveling in the country is that a rock is your best friend against dogs who are far from tamed and are territorial. The "smell my hand" trick just does not cut it when it comes to such circumstances. If you travel in large groups then it´s a non issue but if your going at it alone, take my advice.</div><br /><div align="justify">After slaying the beasts (c´mon lighten up!) we continued on the trail that eventually led us to a small river with a very dainty bridge. Looking downstream I couldn't help but scratch my head as I could see more sturdy looking bridge in the distance. We took the dainty bridge over, because you know.... that´s just a heck of a lot more fun.</div><p align="center"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzI9X-Am8b_WnYnOZIhCz86mkHkjS1Y0olFhDHq8Xc6QzuGXme6x2Eo7RDfDdCHz0DKX67xRrwAcEWi6UUTBg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p align="justify">It took us another fifteen minutes from the bridge to reach the archaeological site of Caral. As a student of history and archeology it was a sight to behold. There in front of me lay 6 ancient pyramids dating back to 3000 BC. These megaliths have yet to be completely unearthed, and according to one of the archaeologists it will take another 15 years before the site is fully excavated. After we had a look around the place we hiked up the side of a mountain for a better look.<br /><br /></p><p align="center"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyXU_pVo5lhPYn6OGGW4Vso1eOB-YdzQk6b_ZPRGqm_8W10G0YtNnZiCJm5MxXizdutcTCr3oFoEZdt4pcqEw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p align="justify">When backpacking to place to place there is never really any reliable transportation. There are no schedules, no worries and unfortunately very little to do while waiting for that elusive collectivo.</p><p align="center"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy2znM8sR1glFwFzHW5q-sHr4TiPMAV2dzlG7JJtcSRXHvGdC-xnmbuj-zcTWMpF6_-vkj5R6ENc-K5clauMA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p align="justify">We eventually flagged down a super crowded collectivo with about 10 people inside. Being that I was hitchhiking I didn't have a problem with it. Getting to know Caral was great I will definitely make it a stop for future programs. With Karikuy however you won´t have to wait on the side of the road, all transportation is planned out of course.</p><p align="justify">The night was spent in Supe, a nearby town and although it was a pleasant place, it was very quiet. The town was dead by 11 and there was no nightlife, it didn't help that it was Tuesday either. What do you do in such circumstances? Well you break out the radio, drink some beer and talk about life and all of it´s surprises. Including the nasty surprise that I was very badly sunburnt.</p><p align="center"></p>Juliohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06947714874128523896noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947527426844673666.post-3757913064172460902008-03-14T14:36:00.000-07:002008-12-09T13:15:40.396-08:00Tariy, Days 1 & 2: Home from Home<div align="justify">Hey everyone I´m writing to you from Trujillo, I arrived on Monday night to a great reception of family and friends, so far me and my cousin have been having a blast trekking the country, here´s as short a recap I can write for the last five days, theres just too much to tell and well we´re gonna go hit the clubs after I finish typing this up.</div><div align="justify"><br /><strong>Monday March 10th</strong> </div><div align="justify"><br />I was able to get a great fare of 480$ for round trip tickets to Peru using Taca Air. I have no complaints, the stopover in El Salvador was fun and short although I was absolutely surrounded by 3 and 4 year olds on the first leg of the trip, who needs sleep anyways? I had a row to myself on the second leg to Lima and was able to stretch out and got to sleep on a much quieter ride, however it is hard to sleep when your flying over such a beautiful continent as South America.<br /><br /></div><p align="center"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzo3FS7xYajep0Bov9IqYDfdbum8x4flNXhRVSOTd9Vy1fJVYKl_COk-1V4e86Qz4sOkgb2dDhfuEVXDB128A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p align="justify">Customs at Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima took about 20 minutes, why so short? well it´s all about who gets to the line first. The airport is small compared to most and everyone goes through the same customs line. I suggest that when you first arrive you make a mad sprint to customs to avoid long lines that could take over an hour and could be rather uncomftorable due to the heat. Wool hats and winter jackets should be removed on the plane.</p><div align="justify">My rather large but normal Peruvian sized family greeted me at the Airport exit with loud kisses and hugs, it´s hard to describe a Peruvian style welcome at the airport, you just have to go there and see for yourself I suppose.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Wow this is taking forever to write! ok speeding it up a little, I gave out all I had collected in donations and things I had bought to my family and the poor neighborhood I´m originally from.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><p align="center"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzlTxQdMZxMetnjMkNfnVqd0QHqhAOd0JdQdGInyzCbKq6uIPT5WIG4rND-DOwFVKE42enojkI7-2PBxWh8xQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><div align="justify">I saved as much of the smaller toys and candies so I can hand them out for the rest of the trip. The rest of that night consisted of nothing other then amazing food and heavy drinking. I bought about 2 cases (24 bottles) of Cristal for the family and they provided the wine as well as the biggest bucket of Chicha de Jora that I´ve ever seen. Good Times!!</div><br /><p align="left"><strong>Tuesday March 11th</strong></p><p align="justify">The neighbors woke me up to loud reggaeton at about 7 am in the morning, about the time Lima wakes up to go to work during the week. Being hungover never feels so good, especially after 3 hours of sleep and stepping inside a frigid shower. I packed the last of my things that morning and opened the big windows in my living room. I had found some baby pictures of me in the house my parents built and I sat down and thought about my expectations, not just on the trip but about my own projects and what I would be building with Karikuy.</p><p align="justify"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177730673548610626" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8hisKIeqR3qWBNWdBSw6RG9Am3a5vbgsxcKokhrvgvPJUQDthQerV2W0vepkCkyXeieGB9-2SDR43CD0KA2L2rwEaEf5YLWqvjuBbLx5Gqgf4RoeZWWZ9tHC3a9TAMLd5dqtac7_HrQp/s400/DSC00017.JPG" border="0" />Time to hit the road! My uncle Freddy takes my cousin Michael and I to the local bus station to take a Collectivo to Supe, a town near the ruins of Caral. On Route the bus fails to make an inspection before heading on the Pasomayo route of the Pan-american Highway. Pasamayo is a very steep desert coast overlooking the ocean, I left my camera in my bag, however Maycol took some great pics that I will post later. A three hour bus ride in the end took us 6 hours and we arrived in Supe at night unable to get a ride to Caral and set up Camp. Thats what happens when you backpack though, we could of taken a tourist class bus and had comfy seats and a movie, but whats the fun in that? We stayed in a hostal in Supe had some Cristal and chaufa for dinner and explored the small and uneventful town. </p><p align="justify">Early the next day we made our way to Caral, The ride out from Supe was about an hour and the taxi cab dropped us off on the side of the road, we had to hike to get to the ruin in the distance, the scenery was absolutely beautiful, the ancient citizens of Caral, one of the oldest cities on earth dating back to 3000 BC, could not have chosen a better place to build their warless society.</p><p align="center"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyURXIqz7G4yBJWCj2oZz-tzkiKmigJAMa6FQ9jV8MvHM2Yf6PZ-_hx6mp2AT4FrsAR9nam4_d9tLponZYeHg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p align="justify">So my internet time is up and I´m starving and ready to hit the nightlife I´ll finish up my day at Caral later, bye for now!</p><p align="center"></p>Juliohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06947714874128523896noreply@blogger.com0