Last week on Wednesday, I took a tour to visit the Tombs of the Mochica including a priest and the Lord of Sipán, a few museums, Lambayeque, and Tucume- the site of 26 adobe pyramids on about 50 acres of land. It was a great tour. Our group was 16 made up of five Chileans, 1 Spaniard, 2 Limeños, 3 people from Arequipa, and some Ecuadorans plus the guide and the driver.
We first went to Huaca Rajada, the site of 9 layers of Tombs. It was very interesting seeing the work that was done to excavate the tombs and the discoveries they made. The guide did an excellent job of explaining what was in the tombs and why and how it was possible to identify certain things. A tomb with a skeleton and a chalice in the right hand means that the tomb belongs to a priest. The Lords were buried with their prime wife, 1 or 2 concubines, a dog, soldiers, a llama, jewels, and decorative pots. the oldest lord was found with more than 2000 clay pots shaped like men and much ornate jewelry. His riches were mostly of copper, while the more recent lord was buried with gold and silver.
Afterwards we went to the city of Lambayeque, where we ate at a very nice restaurant, and I ordered something without rice, since we eat rice for every other meal. We then saw the cathedral and visited Tumbes Reales museum where we learned more about the Mochica and their history.
We then departed towards Tucume to see the pyramids. Along the way we were slowed up by a procession of people for one of the Virgins, highly regarded in this region. Once at Tucume we visited another museum, saw many large poisonous spiders on some cacti, and then got to hike half-way up one of the pyramids. This was my favorite part of the tour. The view from the pyramid was incredible. Pictures do not do it justice. It was so peaceful and the breeze was welcome. From the pyramid we could see many of the other pyramids as well as sugar cane fields, palm trees, banana trees, and rice fields for miles around.
On the way back, it took us 3 hours for what should have taken less than 45 minutes because of the chaos caused by people not abiding by the rules of the road and creating massive traffic jams in attempts to get around the people who were part of the procession. Oh the joys of traffic here =)
Monday, February 15, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Rain...
Thursday night it rained for the first time...but not very much. I think it was almost a mist because water was not sitting anywhere, everything was just damp and the sidewalked were extremely slick like ice. Everyone was talking about how much it had rained and I was thinking to myself, ¨Wow! This is great, if this is what it´s like when it rains, I can definitely live with this¨...but then I found out otherwise.
On Friday night it began to rain and it rained all day on Saturday and into the night. Now, this was not a heavy, pouring-cats-and-dogs kind of rain; it was a light rain. In Nebraska, it would have been a welcomed rain in the summer, but I hope I don't see rain again here. Since Chiclayo, is in the desert and it rarely rains, the city is not prepared for any rain. The city is flat and almost no earth can be found because buildings and pavement are everywhere. There are no gutters and everyone has flat roofs. To make things worse, homes are open in the center without roofs, and there is dust blowing everyday that it doesn't rain.
Needless to say the city flooded, even though it was probably only 1/2 inch of rain. We spent the day and part of the night sweeping rain into pitchers and a dust pan, pouring them into a tub and siphening the water down onto the already flooded streets off of the roof/top floor of the house, and also out of the main floor where water came because of a lack of a roof. Quite frankly it was disgusting sloshing through the dirty water, running our hands along the grainy cement. I really hope it doesn't rain again. The stench is awful. Who would have thought that so little rain could become such a problem!
On Friday night it began to rain and it rained all day on Saturday and into the night. Now, this was not a heavy, pouring-cats-and-dogs kind of rain; it was a light rain. In Nebraska, it would have been a welcomed rain in the summer, but I hope I don't see rain again here. Since Chiclayo, is in the desert and it rarely rains, the city is not prepared for any rain. The city is flat and almost no earth can be found because buildings and pavement are everywhere. There are no gutters and everyone has flat roofs. To make things worse, homes are open in the center without roofs, and there is dust blowing everyday that it doesn't rain.
Needless to say the city flooded, even though it was probably only 1/2 inch of rain. We spent the day and part of the night sweeping rain into pitchers and a dust pan, pouring them into a tub and siphening the water down onto the already flooded streets off of the roof/top floor of the house, and also out of the main floor where water came because of a lack of a roof. Quite frankly it was disgusting sloshing through the dirty water, running our hands along the grainy cement. I really hope it doesn't rain again. The stench is awful. Who would have thought that so little rain could become such a problem!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
the Sierra
Since my host father works for Spain to help to the rural Peruvian population, he frequently has to take trips into the country. Yesterday, I got to accompany him into the mountains to a village or area called Punchape. We went for a hike while we were there. It was wonderful.
I was so thrilled to be in a calm and quiet place. We were 1800 m above sea level. The drive up there was quite the adventure as the roads are unpaved, very rocky, and windy on the edges of some cliffs.
On our hike, we saw remains of an ancient wall built by the Incan empire. Wild life included vultures, lizards, ants, and a parrot. There were many mango trees, papaya trees, colorful flowers, and cacti.
At the top of the hike was a waterfall and a large pool that it formed. Interestingly the pool of water disappeared underground leaving the people who live in the region without water, although water is nearby.
After our hike, we stopped at a small restaurant which was really someone's home and ate. Then we continued on our journey to the place that a man was working on building a dike by hand. The two engineers that had come along stayed there and will return to the city tomorrow after helping him. In order to get to where the man was working, we had to drive the pickup through a river. It surprised me how we would just plow through 3-4 feet of water with the pick up at times without giving any thought to the groud beneath the water.
We passed people hard at work in fields of corn, rice, sugar cane, grapes, and some other crops that I am unfamiliar with.
The weather was fairly hot, with sun off and on, but clouds not giving any reprieve from the heat. I would like to return to the mountains to hike again sometime.
I was so thrilled to be in a calm and quiet place. We were 1800 m above sea level. The drive up there was quite the adventure as the roads are unpaved, very rocky, and windy on the edges of some cliffs.
On our hike, we saw remains of an ancient wall built by the Incan empire. Wild life included vultures, lizards, ants, and a parrot. There were many mango trees, papaya trees, colorful flowers, and cacti.
At the top of the hike was a waterfall and a large pool that it formed. Interestingly the pool of water disappeared underground leaving the people who live in the region without water, although water is nearby.
After our hike, we stopped at a small restaurant which was really someone's home and ate. Then we continued on our journey to the place that a man was working on building a dike by hand. The two engineers that had come along stayed there and will return to the city tomorrow after helping him. In order to get to where the man was working, we had to drive the pickup through a river. It surprised me how we would just plow through 3-4 feet of water with the pick up at times without giving any thought to the groud beneath the water.
We passed people hard at work in fields of corn, rice, sugar cane, grapes, and some other crops that I am unfamiliar with.
The weather was fairly hot, with sun off and on, but clouds not giving any reprieve from the heat. I would like to return to the mountains to hike again sometime.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Sighting of the Pacific
Yesterday a few members of my host family, myself, and several high school classmates of my host mother got together and went to Roca Beach. It is the first time I have ever seen the Pacific Ocean...from land.
The water was cool and refreshing...except for the saltiness. I didn't realize the full force of the waves until I was in the water.
One thing I learned is that my fair skin doesn't agree with the equator's sun and especially not near water. If I go to the beach again, I think in addition to high SPF sun block, I will be wearing long clothes. I have the worst sunburn of my life and my entire body is in pain! Besides for the sunburn, it was a really enjoyable day.
The water was cool and refreshing...except for the saltiness. I didn't realize the full force of the waves until I was in the water.
One thing I learned is that my fair skin doesn't agree with the equator's sun and especially not near water. If I go to the beach again, I think in addition to high SPF sun block, I will be wearing long clothes. I have the worst sunburn of my life and my entire body is in pain! Besides for the sunburn, it was a really enjoyable day.
Engagement celebration
My host cousin, Ruben, is going to be getting married in March. On Friday evening, I was fortunate enough to be invited to the formal engagement ceremony. In Peru, it is traditional for both the family of the bride and the groom to gather to discuss the prospect of marriage, to make a formal agreement, dine together and dance together.
We went to the home of Ruben's fiance, Karina. Because neither he, nor his fiance have living parents, my host parents acted as his, and an aunt and uncle acted as hers. Everyone formed a circle and my host father address her family and uncle in particular and said that he thought highly of their relationship and of Karina and asked that Ruben be able to have her hand in marriage. Then the uncle addressed this family and said he thought Ruben was a respectable and suitable partner.
Ruben then addressed Karina and gave her an engagement ring. There were kisses all around. Afterwards, we ate rice (of course) and they played Cumbia music and everyone danced until 2 am. I kind of figured it out...but I've decided Latin Dancing is kind of difficult. It was fun.
We went to the home of Ruben's fiance, Karina. Because neither he, nor his fiance have living parents, my host parents acted as his, and an aunt and uncle acted as hers. Everyone formed a circle and my host father address her family and uncle in particular and said that he thought highly of their relationship and of Karina and asked that Ruben be able to have her hand in marriage. Then the uncle addressed this family and said he thought Ruben was a respectable and suitable partner.
Ruben then addressed Karina and gave her an engagement ring. There were kisses all around. Afterwards, we ate rice (of course) and they played Cumbia music and everyone danced until 2 am. I kind of figured it out...but I've decided Latin Dancing is kind of difficult. It was fun.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
a trip to the country
On Saturday, I went with my host father to the country since the Spanish company that he works for is working towards improving the situation of the lives of the Peruvians who live in the country and they had a meeting.
The landscape is extremely interesting. Palm trees, cacti, fields of sugar cane, and other tropical vegetation all grow in the same place. We went up into the foothills of the mountains. The winding roads with many speed bumps to slow the traffic took carried us through water in places where water bubbles from the earth and is constantly wet, while one can see places nearby that water never reaches. On the roads sometimes vehicles would be passing one another making 3-4 vehicles side by side on a 2 lane highway!
When we arrived at the village that we were going to, I was surprised to learn that the villagers recieved electricity 6 months ago. The homes are made of dirt and dust is constantly blowing while handwashed "clean" clothes hang on fences near the homes and people of all ages and sizes carried loads of sugarcane on their backs.
Donkeys were tied to posts in the yards and goats, chickens, and turkeys were constantly on the road. Some children lifted a volleyball net so that we could drive under it...they were playing in the only safe place to play...the middle of hte bumpy dirt road, that they used their bicycles on.
We saw hillsides covered in stones that had heiroglyphs on them and also the canal with its falls that was built by Germany a few years ago. It was an enlightening excursion and I enjoyed the few minutes of quiet outside of this noisy city.
The landscape is extremely interesting. Palm trees, cacti, fields of sugar cane, and other tropical vegetation all grow in the same place. We went up into the foothills of the mountains. The winding roads with many speed bumps to slow the traffic took carried us through water in places where water bubbles from the earth and is constantly wet, while one can see places nearby that water never reaches. On the roads sometimes vehicles would be passing one another making 3-4 vehicles side by side on a 2 lane highway!
When we arrived at the village that we were going to, I was surprised to learn that the villagers recieved electricity 6 months ago. The homes are made of dirt and dust is constantly blowing while handwashed "clean" clothes hang on fences near the homes and people of all ages and sizes carried loads of sugarcane on their backs.
Donkeys were tied to posts in the yards and goats, chickens, and turkeys were constantly on the road. Some children lifted a volleyball net so that we could drive under it...they were playing in the only safe place to play...the middle of hte bumpy dirt road, that they used their bicycles on.
We saw hillsides covered in stones that had heiroglyphs on them and also the canal with its falls that was built by Germany a few years ago. It was an enlightening excursion and I enjoyed the few minutes of quiet outside of this noisy city.
Friday, January 15, 2010
first impressions
After a long trip and several frustrations in airports when I was told I couldn´t board the planes and going the immigration without having a visa before-hand, I finally arrived in Chiclayo where I was met by the Peruvian organization´s coordinator. She took me to my host family´s home. I´m not yet sure how everyone is related, but I think there are about ten people.
The weather is beautiful. We went for a walk yesterday to the town square and already I got a taste of what it is like to wait in long lines for things, to not plan ahead, and to dodge traffic. The traffic is crazy. People do not drive in lanes vehicles come from every direction at once and race the the intersections...but I did not see an accident yet (surprisingly). We took a taxi last night... probably 80% of the vehicles are yellow Ticos. In an attempt to go to the dentist, we went into office after office inquiring about price and speed and stayed at the fourth one.
Although I was expecting a cold shower it was definitely a surprise. I´m sure I´ll get used to it eventually, but it will take a while, as will handwashing laundry.
A breeze blows gently through the entire house all the time. The top of a mango tree can be seen from my bunk in the room that I share with my host cousin. It appears that we will be eating a lot of vegetables and rice.
It seems like everything is a surprise...so until next time...
The weather is beautiful. We went for a walk yesterday to the town square and already I got a taste of what it is like to wait in long lines for things, to not plan ahead, and to dodge traffic. The traffic is crazy. People do not drive in lanes vehicles come from every direction at once and race the the intersections...but I did not see an accident yet (surprisingly). We took a taxi last night... probably 80% of the vehicles are yellow Ticos. In an attempt to go to the dentist, we went into office after office inquiring about price and speed and stayed at the fourth one.
Although I was expecting a cold shower it was definitely a surprise. I´m sure I´ll get used to it eventually, but it will take a while, as will handwashing laundry.
A breeze blows gently through the entire house all the time. The top of a mango tree can be seen from my bunk in the room that I share with my host cousin. It appears that we will be eating a lot of vegetables and rice.
It seems like everything is a surprise...so until next time...
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