Fun times in Mancora

The last few days have been so fun. Wednesday was the last day we had the car so myself and Becky and our South African mate Andy decided to make the most of it and drive to a nearby coastal town where Ernest Hemmingway was inspired to write "Men and the Sea" (Im not sure if I have the title exactly right- all the partying has turned my brain to mush). It was really picturesque and we were the only gringos there, which doesn´t happen that often anymore cause we are always on the trail. We went to the pier and bought fish (Ive no idea what kind) off the local fisherman. 8 massive fish for 18 soles which I think is less than 5 euros. We then went back to our site and cooked them on the BBQ with butter, garlic, chillies, onions and lime juice. Absolutely delicious. We followed that with chocolate bananas and then lay in the hamocks. Cooking on the fire made me think about the venturers I miss so much.

Becky was shocked to learn that I dont drive. Its definitely getting harder to explain as I get older (There was no car for me to learn on, I lived abroad, everything in Dublin is close......), so she taught me. The car was automatic so its not the same but nonetheless I was driving. Girls, can you actually belive it?!!!!!We started on a dirt track, and after I had comfotably driven through a town, we decided I was ready for the PanAmerican Highway. How cool. We changed back soon after for fear of getting stopped by one of the police. Imagine explaining that I didn´t have a liscence when a few days earlier one of the lads got stopped who had a liscence and the dodgy copper just wanted a bribe so he made up some story about not accepting it. Thankfully, we were able to talk our way out of that one.

Defo one of the best days of the trip so far.

Yesterday, wasn´t as productive but equally enjoyable. Just lazing around on the beach deciding where we would go for lunch dinner etc. Our whole group talks about food non stop, especially chocolate cake and apple crumble. They managed to find the best apple crumble in the whole town, whch was confirmed by the lonely planet when we read it a few days later. Hilarious how they were able to sniff that out. We were supposed to go to a nice fish restaurant last night. We went for a pre dinner drink but got there for passion fruit pisco (brandy) happy hour , so it was game over after that.

Even though Im a paranoid android about getting burnt, I still mamged to get scalded yesterday. Red patches all over me. Sooooo attractive. The fecking lads dont even put sun screen on but if I even look at the sun, I go red. I must have put about 20 layers of aloe vera on last night. We went to the beach again today and I had to wear a top and long shorts. I cant expose myself again for a least a few more days so for the moment even swimming is ruled out unless I go at night!

Ive noticed Ive started dressing like a 15 year old boy. Its all skater runners and hoodies. The state of me but Im loving it.

Chiclayo

We got a reccommendation from the Ozzie barman in Lima to go and visit some friends of his who owned a guinea pig farm. It was a bit random but fun to se them all running around their pens and even funnier when we went to a restaurant afterwards and ordered them to eat- guinea pig is a speciality here. There wasnt really anything special about it apart from the novelty. It comes out deep fried- the whole thing, head, feet, internal organs and all. The skin is really leathery and still hairy and unsuprisingly, there isn´t much meat on it.

We reached our destination Mancora late last night. After, MUCH debate we finally agreed on a hostel and then after MUCH more debate we finally agreed to move hostels this morning. Group dynamics can be tricky. The new place is great. We are staying in a beach hut. This town is the business. Its a real beachy, surfy town where we are going to balm out for a few days and Im finally going to get to wear shorts. After that Ive no plan. I really need to read up on the Lonely Planet to figure out my next move.

Trujillo

We actually made it to the ruins which was very impressive- the fact that we got there and the ruins themselves! We had planned to go for dinner to a nice seafood restaurant. Had a few drinks in the room- we are still all sharing a few beds pushed together, and then amazingly noone waws hungry so we went out without dinner. We are visiting a friend of ours who left us 2 weeks ago to go volunteering. Its lucky for him we arrived on a weekend. Went to a concert and I managed to blag our way into the VIP section, which was rubbish, so we left and went to a club. One of the guys Paudy was so drunk he tried to pay for a round of drinks with a condom. After this an several more incidences, he got throw out, so I took him home. Amazingly they let him in again last went when they all went back. I stayed in. Very sensible. Im going to try and get everyone up now (2.15pm) cause we are supposed to be leaving today. We tried to go surfing yesterday cause its supposed to be one of the ebst spots int he world. None of the girls got in cause it was too cold and only one ofthe boys made it in, because the rest feared they would drown. Luckily were going to hit a few more spots on the way up the coast so maybe another day.

Road trip

Were on the road and its a good laugh but Im sick again. Immune system not able for it I suppose so Ive been off the booze for the last few nights. Its return of the evil throat infection Im afraid but Ive caught it early and know the drugs I need this time, and here you dont need a prescription for anything, so Ive been able to sort myself out. Having researched it a bit I think I might have actually had a bad dose of strep throat in Chile which was undiagnosed and I understand I can look forward to having several relapses. Great. Not sure if I mentioned it before but Im defo off the fags for good again.

Our first night of the trip, we stayed in a hotel. A Peruvian porter helped us bring our bags to the room. Turns out, he didn´t work there and he nicked one of the lads day bags on his way out. Clever scam. Not one of us picked up on it. Its a pain in the ass. Weve spent the last two days at the police station and trying to meet consulates etc. Hes got a South African and British passport. The soonest he can get either is 2 weeks and thats back in Lima, where we have come from. He wanted to be in Ecuador in a week which isn´t going to happen. Poor pet.

Everyone is broke after partying in Cusco and Lima so were saving money by sharing hotel rooms. We fit 8 people, also known as the octopod, in a double and two singles pushed together last night. Boy, girl, boy, girl of course. Fun times.

Were supposed to be doing something cultural today- Sun and Moon ruins but they close at 4pm and its now 1.30 and most people are still in bed so Im not overly optimistic. I am confident however that we´ll make it out tonight. Funny that.

Leaving Lima soon

Becky got the all clear from the dentist, eye specialist etc after a whole day of running around Lima going to various clinics with me as chief translator. The dentists dont have their own x-ray machines here. You have to go somewhere else for that. Anyway Big relief. Her face is almost healed but shes still exhausted from the accident and the quake.

We haven´t missed the road trip though. The whole group is still all here. Partying hard has meant that noone was able to get up during the day to rent a van. Just so you get an idea, they were supposed to be through Ecuador and in Colombia weeks ago! The scout leader in me wants to take over but this trip is about me being more ´go with the flow´and less of a control freak. But at 6pm today when everyone was flaked out watching a movie, I couldn´t resist slipping off to a local call centre to ring a load of agencies. Weve had a little AGM and I think as a result of my endevaours, me might actually leave tomorrow (or maybe the day after, because even though I thought we were having a quiet night, everybody is skulling wine at the hostel bar). I need to watch myself cause although Id love the unofficial group leader role, I feel that would be taking a step back in my progress!

Wicked nights out

Weve partied for two days solid since my mates have got back here. I cheated by sneaking in 4 hours of sleep today. Were on it again tonight cause it could be our last night together in a while. There is talk of renting a car tomorrow but Im staying here to see another specialist with Becky. My voice is almost totally gone from all the abuse. Im going to need to take a break from the alcohol for a while in order for it to recover, Im just not sure when Im going to be able to fit that in.

All is good.

My friends arrived in the hostel last night, thank god, so all is good again. I burst into tears cause although I was sure they were fine, I didn´t know for definite and I ws just supressing all the emotions. It took me about 4 seconds to recognise my friend Becky cause her face was so swollen from the sandboarding accident. The boys tell me it was way worse before so I can only imagine. Their stories from the quake were hilarious- all saying our fathers as they huddled together. Luckily no injuries. Weve met other travellers since who had to climb over dead bodies to get out of crumbling buildings- horrendous stories which make me relaise how flipant I was being wanting to be more in the thick of it just for a good story.