Yesterday we arrived in Trujillo in the morning and found ourselves a hostel (Chan Chan Inn). After dropping off our stuff, we headed out to find bus tickets for the next night (to Cajamarca). We tried with Cruz del Sur, Flores, and finally found the route with Emtrafesa, whose office was near our hostel. Secure in our plans, we had breakfast (Tamales for me, bistec for Jay) and set off to explore the city. There was a spontaneous tiny play (two actors and an assistant) that started in the Plaza Mayor soon after we arrived. We watched a bit of it, then explored around the plaza before heading off down a side street where we signed up for a tour bus leaving for Chan Chan. Chan Chan is a site of the Chimú, a pre-Incan civilization. We saw remains of their palaces and complexes, plus an interesting museum that explained more about their culture.
At the end of the tour, we went to Huanchaco, a small city by the ocean. We loved it and decided that we'd return the next day. (When given the option between the Huacas de la Luna y del Sol - another ancient site - or lazing about on the beach, we are, as it turns out, Californian).
We awoke to the noise of the street. We'd read (on WikiTravel) that the taxis in Trujillo honk their horns for any reason - because they have space, because they're full, because they're angry at other drivers, to show that they're happy, or to announce that it's Tuesday... I think there may be more taxis than there are people here. It's visible. Oh, and it's very, very audible.
We packed up, left our bags in the office of our hostel (Chan Chan Inn), and set out for Huanchaco. We hopped on a microbus (almost the only bus among all the taxis) - the assistant to the driver stands at the door and leans out, yelling the destination of the bus and ocasionally lifting small children into the bus (as far as we could tell, the parents with the kids also wanted to board and so they were not worried by this). He also collected the bus fare of the passengers as they got off of the bus. It took a bit over half an hour to get to Huanchaco, but when we got there, it was as lovely as we'd remembered. Miles and miles of warm sand along a beautiful ocean, and plenty of space to sit.
I went for a run along the coast while Jay studied his Spanish (while galliantly guarding our things, he adds). When I got back, we relaxed in the sun and enjoyed the sound of the waves. When we'd finished our exhausting day (Zoe style), we got some ice cream (Passionfruit, lemon, and strawberry), and had lunch. (Arroz con mariscos with un batido de plátano for me, and Bistec a lo pobre and jugo de naranja for Jay. Bistec a lo pobre "Poor man's steak", basically, is rubbery, flattened and very cooked beef served with french fries, a fried egg, and some rice. Jay seems enthralled, and I have no explanations for you.) I then succeeded in buying a lovely sarang and we hung out near the coast, watching soccer games and observing the sunset from our perch upon some rocks. Before leaving, we had pisco sours and French fries (Jay's idea again) and then headed back to Trujillo to get our stuff and wait for the bus to Cajamarca.
For now, enjoy some photos. These are all Jay's because my photo format can't upload from here... So, I will take photos of him as well with his camera so it won't be so frighteningly Jessie-centric. Ah, and Jay also chose which ones to upload, so don't mind the dogs in Huanchaco. He felt pity for the little one.
Trujillo:
Huanchaco:
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