Traveling Applejax

Mike’s sister Deb just posted a comment saying that she’s suffering travel blog withdrawal. Since I don’t want her or anyone else to detox, I’m supplying another fix.

Honestly, Mike and I are still being quite lazy. Most of our time is spent bumming about Huanchaco. I finished my first month of teaching English and am happy to say that I will only be teaching adults next month. Mike’s been working hard on adding to his online photo portfolios, and he’s gone on several photo missions in and around Huanchaco. Since we’re light on news, I’ll just hit you with some of those photos. Enjoy!

A piece of artwork outside a local business.

Surfing is big in Huanchaco. Just take a look at all of these people paddling out into the waves!

Here’s a pic of a surfer a bit closer to the camera…

…and another of a surfer running through the sand.

This is a close-up photo of the reed boats that are so emblematic of Huanchaco.

This photo could very well have been taken decades ago. In fact, the cabalitos de tortora (“little horses of reeds”) have been used for thousands of years in Peru.

Out on a bike ride one afternoon, Mike happened upon a dance competition.

This colorful couple was his favorite…

…in part because the boy was so enthusiastic. He is obviously enjoying himself immensely.

I love the elaborate costumes and the movement captured in this picture.

What a cool skirt!

On Tuesday Mike and I finally got around to seeing the Chan Chan ruins, which are a short 10 minute combi ride from Huanchaco. According to our LP guidebook, “Built around AD 1300 and covering 28 square kilometers, Chan Chan is the largest pre-Colombian city in the Americas, and the largest adobe city in the world.” The Chimu people (not the better-known Peruvian Incas) are responsible for the fantastic desert ruins. Only one of the 9 palaces has been partially restored by archaeologists, so we took a tour of its sprawling grounds.

This and the previous picture feature carvings of “sea otters” which are very common in Chan Chan. The Chimu culture worshipped the sea, the moon, and the rainbow, as evidenced by their artwork. Archaeologists believe that the lines above the sea otters in the previous picture represent waves.

Pelicans are also heavily featured in the artwork.

The diamond shapes in this picture and the one above supposedly represent fishing nets, which would have held great importance to the sea-dependant culture of the Chimu people. The original walls would have been much higher of course, and this portion of the palace was likely used by priests and clerks. This photo helps give a bit of perspective in terms of how large the palace complex is. It is actually only a very small portion of the gigantic grounds that housed a mere 150 people.

This freshwater well lies within the palace walls and was used only by the royal family. There are two other smaller wells within the complex for the kitchen and the servants.

Okay, that’s it for your fix — after all, I have to keep you hooked and coming back for more!