Reunited

Resigned to the fact that my bag and I would not be reunited any time soon, I set my site to enjoying Huanchaco. The day following the trip to Chan Chan, we went to Huaca Sol y Luna, a site where two temples (sun and moon) were built as the foundation by the Moche for a mountain city of roughly 30,000 people around 1000 AD. It was a fabulous site, as the people lived there for 500 years, and every 100 years they would build a new layer on top of each temple to close a dynasty and welcome a new one. The surf was good, and there was a vegitarian place a few kilometers away with a great menu. At a local bar where I became friends with the owner, some of his friends rolled into town and are part of an authentic peruvian band. They played music and, moved by the beat, I got up and played this box percussion instrument you sit on and play. It was short lived as I needed to catch an overnight bus, but a cool time nonetheless beating on the box while some locals jammed out.

The hostal became slightly inhospitable, as there was a miscommunication during reservations and they forgot to tell us the whole place was under renovation and uninhabitable. The most startling encounter I had was when I was running up the outdoor, wrap around stairs with my surf board when I heard a yell to stop. A man came running up to tell me that, due to construction, they had removed a few steps from the free hanging staircase. I looked down and sure enough, two steps above me was wide open space as I stared at the ground below.

Other than that, the trip was great, but I am now resigned to accept the fact that I can no longer go into Bolivia as civil unrest has spurred government reaction and there are killings happening all over the country. With a huge hole in my path to Buenos Aires, I am slightly confused, but FINALLY after 6 days I have been reunited with my bag, so it will be nice to have fresh clothes. In a few hours I will fly to Cuzco, where tomorrow begins the hike of Macchu Picchu!