Lima, Paramonga and Sechin

Well we arrived in Lima. Lima was the last stop for quite a lot of the group and it was sad to say goodbye. Lima itself was heaving as it was Easter weekend - the streets were packed and you could not get moved. The Peruvians have a tradition of visiting 5 churches over Easter so there are huge queues everywhere.

On the first night we went out as a group to Mira Flores, which is away from the old town on the coast. Well the drinks were flowing thick and fast and it turned into a very drunken night and early morning thanks to my drinking buddies Tracey and Claire. Apparently I moved rooms at about eleven next day but don´t remember when I finally woke up at three in the afternoon I was confused about my new surroundings!

Most of the second day was spent recovering and in the evening we had another goodbye meal when some more of the group left.

On the final day in Lima we met up with some Peruvian friends of my room mate Martin. They showed us around the city (including Mira Flores and Barranco) and let us try some typical Peruvian food including cow heart kebabs which were OK.

We left Lima en route to Huanchaco and stopped off to visit two ruins on the way. The first was Paramonga a well preserved fortress by the side of the road.



The second ruin was the worst of the trip Sechin - I think it would have been a lot better a few years ago but had been badly damaged by an earthquake and by the rains of el nino which had washed much of the walls away.

We then headed off towards the beach resort of Huanchaco.