General: Peru > Reviews > Paddington Bear has been there... so did I

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Value for Money
Shopping
Nightlife
Ease of getting around
Family Friendly

Advantages:	Kindness of the people/ various landscape (all gorgeous)/ very cheap
Disadvantages:	must speak spanish if you want to travel a bit/ no organisation at all (don't have the same notion of Time)

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Holidays are finishing slowly... leaving behind some very nice memories that i would like to share with you. So "yes", as you might have guessed (thanks to the title!), I had the occasion to travel for two small weeks on the West coast of South America, and more precisely in Peru.

I don't really know how to write this opinion... I have many things to say... I'll try not to do something too confusing. First of all, i must tell you what made me do this trip! It is my hobby for the Scottisch Country Dance and Highland Dancing... Basically my dancegroup was invited for a Festival to do some demonstrations in Peru. The advantage of being inviting is that you don't have to pay for accomodation and food (it's so great!!!), but the bad point would be that you need to "work" a bit in exchange... and dancing at that height with the lack of oxygene, it is quite difficult!

Now let us talk about Peru...

After about a 15hour long journey... (You must change flight, the easiest is to change once at New-York) I arrived in Lima... the capital city. But where am I?... What happened to the blue sky and the Gold of the Incas (i've been watching to much "the marvellous Cities of Gold" when i was young)? Lima seems sad under a thick layer of grey clouds... Yes, August means Winter in the Southern Hemispher... but no worries! No snow or whatever "wintery" thing you are thinking about, here winter means Grey sky, but quite hot temperature. And still, you'de better use your Sun Protection creamthink, cause even if you can't see it, the sun is very strong. I thought i was safe, according to thickness of the clouds and i went walking on the beach with no more protection than just a pair of sunglasses (it's still quite bright)... What a fool! I've been Had! And when i came back, a magnificent red-skin was waiting for me in my mirror.

I didn't stay a long time in Lima (I can simply say that it is quite a touristic place, and you can find there some very nice restaurants!).
Now, let me tell you about the others places i've been to :

TRUJILLO and the neighborhood :

City also on the coast of the Pacific Ocean and located further north. It is a rather nice place. Numerous shops and some free museums. If you have a problem don't hesitate and go to the "Tourists police" (a police just for us! Scary! Let's stay nice and polite!), the policemen will be delighted to help you and can even offer you their service as personal guide!
Walking in the city center by a beautiful (grey, but beautiful!) Sunday morning, i was attracted by curious noises of drums towards the main place, and i had the surprise to see a rather impressive military parade. I hurried to ask for the reason of this event, apparently this takes place every Sunday morning! So, think about that if one day (Sunday!)you find yourself there.
I did not live exactly in Trujillo, but in a small village neraby : Huanchaco. Like most of the villages, the life there is different compare to the city. The inhabitants are ready to do anything in order to earn some money. For some pennies (usually 1 sol... that's 20p), they will bring you to the city with their car; as there, it you own a car, you are a taxi driver! (after a while, you'll get used to the ceaseless "bipbip" of horns of people trying to give you a lift).
While walking on the beach, dodging sea-orsins and crabs, you will see big structures made with reeds near the ocean : it is in fact boats! It looks more or less like a canoe that has been cut, that fishermen use to put the fishhooks far into the ocean, and to come back, they turn their boats upside down and comes back surfing on it! If you have the occasion, just take a view minutes to look at these fishermen doing their work, their way of fishing is so different than ours.

The places you shoudn't miss are of course Chan-Chan and the temples of the sun and the moon ( Huaca del sol y Huaca de la Luna).
Chan-Chan is a huge city in ruin compound of 8 temples, although you can only visit one of them : the Temple of the Sea. I can only strongly recommend you to go there with a guide if you want to be able to see and understand the many details and the meanings of the fresco you'll found (the temple has been partially renewed, but there are still some original drawings). Concerning Huaca del sol y Huaca de la Luna, only the temple of the moon can be visited, it's ancient ancient temple used for the human sacrifices in honor of a god whose portraits (eyes of an owl, teeth of a tiger and tentacles of octopus; I leave you to imagine how nice and pretty he looked) decorate most of the walls and still are very colorfull.

CHICLAYO :

Still on the Coast, and still futher North, here is another main town to visit. The atmosphere there is a little more crazy. Some great buildings to visit, so don't forget to keep your passport with you, if you want to be able to visit the Gorgeous Town Council. You could also take some binoculars with you in order to get a closure look to all this black birds standing on the roofs... brr, vultures!. Two huge markets are taking place in the city center. You must see (especially the Witch's market where you will find all the talisman, the luck bringers or the aphrodisiacs you've always secretally !) But Be careful, avoid looking like a tourist, pick-pockets are doing their own market there! ( so the poncho with a big " I Love Peru!" might give them a hint!)

CAJAMARCA :

My journey in Peru continues a bit higher in the mountains.
Fist remark, and a big one! In mountains, "bye-bye Winter, hello Summer"; it is rather impressive I should say. The seasons are inverted between coast and the inside of the country. So protected by mountains, we have been enjoying beautiful landscapes under a gorgeous sun... The "change" is amazing.
If you suffer from the lack of oxygen or mountain sickness (you will feel it very quicly if you are asked to jump around other swords dressed in a kilt!), the inhabitants will give you some "Matte de Coca", the "coca-tea", it will help you to feel much better in height, to digest better (and to avoid diarrhea, that tourists like so much) and it's as well a good provider of energy; but this "miracle drink" has got a single "disadvantage", if, for your job or else, you are asked to get a drug test, there's a high risk that you get a postive answer to the Cocaine test...
But if you wish, you can consume the coca in another ways, like the inhabitants, (What do you mean injection? are you crazy?), i mean by chewing for hours the Coca leaves.

MISC. :

Just by travelling a bit in Peru, you fell quickly the difference with our old Europe. Peru is a poor country... and we, tourists, are a good source of income, so, from the time you arrived in the aeroport, be careful, and watch out your pockets!
If you want to try the local dishes, be aware that you might be served Alpaca (a small lama whose wool is use to knit very nice jumpers) and guinea-pig (you might even be "meet" the animal alive first...)
Unluckally, i dind't have time to visit lots of other nice places such as Macchu Picchu, or the lake Titicaca or either going for a walk (scary walk!) in the Amazonian jungle. I can only advise to read the opinions of the Ciao-members who went there.
Well, I'm afraid to read this opinions all other again (I'm a french guy... i hope i wrote an understandable op!).
If you have any questions, just leave me a message (i promise i'll answer... if your question is about Peru, for other kind of question...i'll see! ;) )