|
|
Huanchaco is situated by the sea, close to the town of Trujillo. Much as one would expect of a local beach resort, there was fishing off the pier, surfers, sea food, ice cream and sellers of cheap and cheerful souvenirs and trinkets. We hired a combi to get us to Huanchaco, though the driver's assistant was a somewhat neanderthal lad who drooled over our bags when he fell asleep and took an unsettling liking to Nina's feet. The hotel was right on the beach, pleasant enough and thankfully agreed to do laundry for us. |
Chan Chan ruins
Having overdosed somewhat on adobe ruins the previous few days, I wasn't really expecting much out of Chan Chan. However I was pleasantly surprised, and in the end glad that we went instead of going to Trujillo (though to be fair I don't know what Trujillo is like in comparison). The six of us just about fitted into a taxi by making use of the boot for the short drive from Huanchaco. |
|
Chan Chan path
We visited the partially restored Tschudi temple complex of Chan Chan. The site is quite impressive, with large stark squares surrounded by high adobe walls inscribed with eye-catching animal and geometric designs, and elsewhere the remains of walls with criss-cross diamond-shaped lattices. The layout reminded me of a maze, as there seemed to be always something of interest to discover round the following corner or down the next path. |
|
Huanchaco Reed Boats
A distinctive sight in Huanchaco. Fisherman still use them everyday and sell their catch on the beach. The beachfront is lined with seafood restaurants serving delicious (if sometimes over-salted) fresh fish and shellfish dishes. The conchitas (scallops) were to my taste but not the complimentary glass of chili-ed fish juice (the water in which the restaurant keeps the fish with added chili and lime juice). |
|
Reed Boats in the Pacific
Much to the amusement of the locals, Christian and Paul had a go on the reed boats with a paddle made out of a split (lengthwise) cane. According to Mark, this excited much comment from onlookers with the Spanish equivalent of "the skinny one's gonna die out there, though the muscled one looks like he'll survive". |
|
Sunset Beach.
We whiled away some time watching the sun setting on the beach, generally relaxing, reflecting on the holiday so far and talking about nothing in particular. Mark went skinny dipping in the pacific but failed to persuade the rest of us to do the same - the incriminating photos didn't come out though or did they? ;-) |
|
|
