Last weekend (June 24-26), I competed in the 2011 Peruvian National Short-Course Master’s Swim Meet. I’ve been swimming for my entire life, but never really thought I’d be able to say that I competed in a national competition outside of my home country! [Continue reading...]

Having stayed put in Lima these past 4 weeks, I decided it was about time to see some other parts of the country. Not that Lima isn’t full of things to see (even if I lived here a year I doubt I’d be able to see everything), I just felt like I needed to experience other regions of this beautiful country in order to fully appreciate it and all it has to offer.

My opportunity came two weeks ago when Jacqui mentioned she’d be visiting Trujillo for a swim meet. For those of you who are unaware, Trujillo is home to Chan Chan, one of Peru’s more famous archaeological sites. Having read about it in school, the site was on the top of my Peruvian must-see list, right under Machu Picchu. Having never traveled alone, I had hoped to buddy up with one of the other volunteers to go exploring – this was my chance! Having invited myself along on her trip, Jacqui politely accepted, with one condition. She’d be busy in Trujillo, but planned on visiting Cajamarca afterwards and welcomed some company on that leg of her journey. In other words, I’d get the chance to try traveling on my own and I’d be able to travel with a buddy. I thought “okay, I can do this!” [Continue reading...]

Tariy 2009 – Day 7. I woke up excited knowing that tonight I would be reaching the culmination of my trip by arriving at Máncora. I had spent the night in Trujillo, having spent the previous day exploring its culinary delights. Having spent some time in Trujillo the previous year, I was more then ready to set out and explore the new. I headed out of my claustrophobic, albeit budget hostel room and into the warm autumn breeze of Trujillo. Once again I found myself ducking for shade as the day heated up, I had a couple of errands to do before heading for Chiclayo, Piura and on to Máncora. After I had picked up breakfast (egg roll with juice) as well as my laundry I headed for the Linea [Continue reading...]

Tariy 2009 – Day 6. Yesterdays run in with the police and the ensuing slaughter by their crony mosquitoes had given me a restless night. I awoke for the 20th and last time to begin my day exploring and checking out my operators in Trujillo. I took advantage of my last couple hours at Hostel Colonial to take another excellent shower. I knew I wouldn’t be spending another night at the Hostel, not because it was bad (in fact it was one of the best I’ve stayed in) but because if I was to continue my trip up north I would have to balance my budget…how boring…but that’s half of what backpacking is about, the other half is adventure mixed in with some luck. I said goodbye to my new [Continue reading...]