El Angolo Piura

Mondays aren't so bad when they are followed by Sundays at the beach! The team had a rejuvenating day yesterday. First, we had dinner Saturday night at a local restaurant- they had a back area with thatched walls and we had the whole place to ourselves. The food was delicious and the company was great. After dinner we walked through town to the disco, stopping on the way for ice cream. We went to the disco at about 10pm and we were the only people ...

Today we were heading for Peru, but not before seeking out a bookstore in Vilcabambe that we had heard about from the English bookstore in Quito. First we indulged in our breakfast that was included at our hostal, it was the standard eggs, bread, jam and coffee. I went back to the room to pack the bags and let Christie and the children venture off to find the booskstore. As soon as I packed I followed. We were told that it was about 1500metres from the main plaza, and so it was. By ...

... baggage on the bikes as we're only allowed 20 kgs each. It's a 14 hour journey on a bus with seats that go into a semi bed position. I just hope they have a loo on board.<br><br>We stopped off at a little hostal across the road from The Aruba, not only was it grotty but they wanted S/40 for it. Here we have a delightful little room, fan, TV and a parking bay for the bikes (shared bathrooms that are very clean and 2 doors away) for S/25. dave's convinced they ...

... else that sold food. Peru seems to be sadly lacking in supermarkets, small or large, and full of tiny little tiendas, local shops with not very much in them. The ones we've come across so far are either tiny, and have just a few bits and pieces, or, they are quite large but unlike a supermarket you have to do all the negotiation from a front counter, sometimes through a wrought iron grill, good security you see. you can't see everything they have, so you have to ask ...

Well saying goodbye to Equador and hello to Peru! Deceided to take the first crossing inland. The one near the coast is supposed to be a mighty faff with having to get off a bus, which then doesn't stop, taxi across no mans land and then onto the next bus when it comes along. Whereas our crossing was much simplier. A bit of comical value, when Chief rocks up to the guard at the crossing. In response to 'what is your profession' the guard almost fell off his chair with ...

... and we cleared through the immigration and customs procedures all in about a half an hour.<br><br>We drove through a terrain that got flatter and flatter and dryer and dryer and we stopped in a small village to have lunch. We had our first Peruvian meal there which was very simple but without any beverages. Water is scarce here. The locals were absolutely fascinated by our motorcycles and again with the stovetop expresso ...

<br>We chose the border crossing from Loja to Piura because it is less busy than the Tumbes crossing and less controversial than the Zumba alternative, considering the disputes within Peru. This was our easiest crossing yet! The bus dropped us off on the Ecuadorian side where we stamped out before picking us up on the Peruvian side of the bridge after we had stamped in. We were first in line, and it was quick ...

... see what a new country might have in store for us. Our first stop on the journey north was Huacachina, a tiny "oasis" near the coast where we spent just one night in a "hostel" that turned out to be a restaurant with a room of dorm beds off the dining room. The town was just a funny little sandy horseshoe with a man-made lake in the middle, filled with rowdy tourists. However, the massive dunes ...

... to eat, then returned later to the hostel. There is a rooftop patio, with a table and chairs, where we drank wine until 1:30AM. Later the next day, I caught the bus to Truillo, and Paul and I parted company when Paul jumped on the bus east.

... a 2h de route côté péruvien, et nous voilà à Loja. Comme ça c'est vite dit, surtout que le chauffeur était visiblement dingue, mais ça vous donne une idée. Tout change en passant de l'Ecuador au Pérou: les Andes ultra-vertes deviennent un désert côtier, la population relax et souriante (à part à Quito!) devient nettement moins agréable, la route est bordée de dépotoirs sauvages à ciel ouvert, tout pue, on a vraiment l'impression ...