Hey there everyone. Today is our last day in Huanchaco, which is sad because it´s been amazing here. I think Monica and I have both really loved it, it´s such a pretty place to be. And everyone´s been really nice, it feels safe, good food...just a great combination all around. Yesterday we went surfing. The day before we met some guy who showed us a good place to eat and was really friendly and said that if we wanted surf lessons we should come to his surf school sometime. So we went yesterday, and Juan Carlos and his friend Diego took us out to surf. I was really bad at it. But I did manage to stand up a few times, which was my goal. I promptly fell down every time, but I stood up, and that´s what counts. There were some pretty big waves, I feel a little sore today. But the instructors were really good and kept track of us. It was a little difficult to concentrate on what I was doing and try to understand the instructions in Spanish, but I guess I did okay. One time I got conked in the head by another guy´s board during a particularly big wave, so I had a good headache for awhile yesterday afternoon. It was worth it. We wore wet suits in the water, which was really nice because the water was freeeeeezing. By the end our feet were kind of numb. But it was the first time we´d been in the water since arriving at the coast, and you can´t go to the beach and not get in the water. Psha.
After the surfing our profs bought some beer and we sat around for awhile chatting. They invited us to Juan Carlos´s birthday party that evening. It was Monica´s birthday too yesterday, so we figured we´d go check out the Peruvian party scene. They told us it started at 8 (which they joked was Peruvian time, so really show up at 9 or 10). Headed there around 9:30 after a great seafood supper and Pisco sour at La Barca restaurant. We got about a block away and realized that there weren´t many people there, so we were going to go home when we ran into a different guy we´d met on the beach. He was with a friend and they invited us to his house to make Pisco Sours and wait for awhile until the b-day party got swinging. Sine there were the two of us (and I had my mace!) we figured it would be okay to hang out with them for awhile. Randomness. The friend who´s apartment we went to was an artist, I really liked his work. I´d seen pieces different places in Huanchaco earlier, they´re really colorful and vibrant. Wished I had more than my backpack with me, I would have bought something. Anyway, so they showed us how to make Pisco Sours (and apparently the Pisco in Peru is very different and superior to the crappy Chilean Pisco). It was a bottle of Pisco, 6-7 squeezed little limes, an egg white, 3 big spoons of sugar, and a tray of ice all in the blender. They were really good. And our beach friend showed us some magic tricks and card tricks for an hour or so till we headed to the party. The party itself was really interesting; it was Juan Carlos and his family, a bunch of his friends, and actually quite a few gringos. Maybe 40 people total. Everyone in the family made a little speech at one point in the evening, and there was chocolate cake. The main focus of the evening was dancing. Oh my goodness, I´ve never danced that much in one go before. And it was good dancing, not just crappy rap stuff. They were salsa-ing it up. I love to salsa, it´s such a fun dance. Some of the guys were really good, and everyone was really patient in explaining the steps. Monica even got up and tried a few dances. The family was very hospitable, and kept offering beer. I wasn´t sure how to handle it, cause I didn´t really want beer but I didn´t want to insult them by refusing, cause I tried that a few times and they seemed hurt and asked why I didn´t want any. So I would just accept a glass then pass it on to whoever I was dancing with. Worked pretty well. There werent many girls who were salsa dancing, so I got passed around quite a bit, it was a good workout. We left at 3 am, and the party was definitely still going strong! It made me wish that we danced more at American parties, cause that was just a lot of fun.
Today we slept in a little, and in a while we´re heading to some Incan ruins near here. We have to go into Trujillo as well to buy our tickets for the night bus tonight to Lima. We´ll spend tomorrow in Lima, then fly early the next morning to Cusco. I´m really excited for our Machu Picchu trek!
New Word of the Day: ola (wave)
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Yummy!
Here´s the larva I ate. These were the steamed version, which wasn´t my favorite. The bear is just there for style.
My piranha.
This is the flesh eating fish I caught and ate. It´s a vicious circle all right.
I just really like this picture.
There was just this one random red lead in this plant, and it looked so cool!
El Pene del Diablo
Here it is (I know you were all curious), the Devil´s Penis root. Enough said.
My Jungle Pants.
This is my super awesome jungle hiking outfit. Rubber boots, striped blue hippy pants, and yellow floral tshirt. I felt kind of at home trudging around in those boots.
The Cocodilo!
This is one of the crocodiles/alligators (we´re not quite sure which one it is, there is some confusion...) we saw from our canoe.
Our Cabin.
Here´s our cabana in the jungle. It was all divided up into little rooms, kind of cute. In a bug infested way.
The jungle.
Here´s the view from our canoe on the ride across the lake to our camp. It was so gorgeous!!
I have an arrow on my head.
This is me being painted by the shaman before our jungle hike. The ¨paint¨ was from the little green fruits in his hand.
Interviewing!
Here´s me doing my thing at Cochapamba. It´s pretty exciting, I know...
Me and my sweet helmet.
I felt so sexy in this bike helmet. Seriously.
In Baños
This is the view from my bikeride in Baños this weekend. Isn´t it just gorgeous? Best bike ride ever.
Hip Dysplasia Check
This is Olguita doing a hip dysplasia check on a little boy.
Cutey Pie!
This is my little amigo at CEMOPLAF. We played with blocks. It was a good time. In this pic he´s being weighed.
Chivas!
Here is some of the girl on the Chivas Bus. The drink Melissa is holding in the front is an alcoholic beverage that tastes like cinnamon. Yummy.
Rickety ladder of death.
This in mi amiga Anu climbing the rickety ladder of death to the top of the Basilica.
Oh. My. Gosh.
These are the deserts we had at Crepes and Waffles. SOOOOOO delicious. Mine was the carmally one right in the front. That´s right, I know you´re jealous.
On the Ecuator
Here I am on the ecuator, the mitad del mundo. Woohoo!
Ahoy maties!
These are the whales we saw from the boat to Isla de la Plata! I have no idea what kind they are! I must do more research and get back to you! But they were so cool!
Yes, I know I have crazy hair...
This is me on the island. It was windy, okay? Geesh, some people. By the way, there´s a legend that the island has buried treasure somewhere. I didn´t find it. Sad day.
Boobies!
These are the famous blue footed boobies. They were pretty funny to watch, they really waddle! So many boobies in such a short time...
More boobies!
This is a different species of boobie. No blue feet. I think it´s called that Nazka Boobie in English, which so isn´t as fun as blue footed boobie. Maybe orange pointed boobie? Just a suggestion.
The Shaman
Here is the shaman doing her thing with the cuy. Sorry I´m in my bra for you all to see, couldn´t be helped. And its a nice bra.
Shaman Take 2
Same idea, just from the back. She was really shaking the cuy all over! And doesn´t she have a really cool bracelet?
The Diagnosis
This is the shaman cutting open the dead cuy to read its body. I was kind of amazed that she just squatted down on the floor, didn´t even use a table. She´s got mad skills. Oh, and since it was a health center, she put everything into little red biohazard bags.
Pouring the Antiseptic
Oh yeah, me in my prime. This was for one of those ladies with a leg ulcer. She was very cute. I know you can´t tell from that part of her foot in the picture, but you´ll have to take my word for it.
Meeting the Minister
This is me and my fellow student Carrie with the Minister of Health at a public health center. How cool is that? We´re practically celebrities.
The Hat!
This is my sweet new indigenous style hat, bought it in the Otavalo market. Also bought the scarf and filled up that bag...it was a good shopping day!
The Market
This doesn't do the market justice, there are so many people and colors!
El Grupo
All the students at a hill overlooking the city
My Artistic Endeavor
Took this from the window while the taxi driver was stuck but still trying. Oh taxi drivers....
View of the City
This place is huge! Seriously. And very long. With pretty mountains.
La Virgen
She´s supposed to protect Quito from the apocalypse. Quite the lady.
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