Huanchaco, Peru

Lalya, Laura, and Jordan....awesome girls from Cali




Perro caught in fishermans line

The caballitos that the fisherman use

Cooking arroz de leche

Arroz de leche con pasas..so yummy

We got in to Huanchaco this morning after an overnight bus from Huaraz and we walked along the beach. The sun finally peaked out for a few hours. Its a tiny town with lots of character. You can walk from one end to the other in 20 minutes.

We are now staying at Casa Suiza at the North end of the beach...but we walked by Hostal Naylamp today during out tour and took a look. Its at the south end of the beach and is much much more backpacker friendly with a huge courtyard, pet turtles, hammocks for all, and a secure area for those with their own tents for 10 soles (3 USD) and a fire pit. We have our own tent so its a sweet deal. Its also right across the street from the beach.

SO we made reservations and we are picking up and walking there in the morning. Libby says she will teach me how to surf, so when its sunny and warm out were going to rent our wet suits and hit the water. Huanchaco is known for its fisherman going out in caballitos made of straw. They look like a hybrid btw kayaks and elves shoes.

So, today we sat along the wall on the beach, drank a cusquena (the beer of Peru), talked with an older woman who has lived in this town her whole life, and watched fisherman bring in their catch. They were surrounded by locals trying to buy the fresh catch. There were baskets of crab, corvina, all sorts of fish fighting to get back into the water. The fisherman were all older men, barefoot, and full of smiles as they sorted their finds.

A few hours later in the day, those same men were napping under their caballitos in the sand. For dinner, we went by a hole-in-the-wall restaurant recommended by these locals (we ask the locals lots of questions) where they had a few tables, live folklorica music with a man and his acoustic guitar, and a parilla, a huge outside grill. We ordered corvina with pinneapple and it was so delicious. Tenka, our eager server, said it was caught hours ago. It was the best meal I have eaten since I got to Peru (for $8). ´

We have been hanging out with these 3 Americanas, Lalya, Jordan, and Laura from California. We made homemade arroz de leche lastnight. SOOOO good. Rice pudding. I couldnt stop eating it. By the time we had all eaten the whole pot of it, we were sick. Then I woke up craving it again this morning. Tonight, were thinking pancakes or chocolate fondue!!! I love food.

Tomorrow or the next day, Libby and I are heading south to Trujillo (12km) to check out their annual festival downtown. We have heard theres lots of traditional dance and costumes involved. Well see.