Loads of ruins!

Bus journey was ok and arrived in Trujillo at about 6 and got a taxi to Casa Clara Hospedaje recommended in the books! We got a temporary double room (ie twin room. Our double rooms are called matrimonial rooms) until another was ready later and went out with Michael (one of the owners) on a tour to Huaca del Luna and Sol two of the most important sites here. He is English and married to a Peruvian and lived out here for years. These pyramids rise out of the desert next to a mountain and are massive. They are made of thousands of bricks and are still being excavated due to all the sand blowing over them for years. There use is not fully known but they reckon were temples and sites for sacrifices amongst possible other things. We had a good wander around looking at the paintings on the relief inside and the different chambers. Is all pretty impressive and also watching them uncover new things every day. Some of it has been eroded due to wind or rain although they only get about 5mm a year of precipitation which is mainly through fog! Michael is very knowledgeable but his 17 years of doing the tour shows a bit!

1-Huaca del Luna Mosaic

Daves mind was not fully on the trip as noticed he had lost a wallet with credit cards and our ISIC cards (genuine from Bangkok of course) in it. Couldnt find them anywhere so had to cancel later which was a pain but fortunately DAves dad out in a couple of weeks so hopefully can bring new ones with him.

2-Huaca del Sol

Our heads full we head back to town and wander around Colonial Trujillo with the multi coloured houses and churches. Town is nice but not a huge amount to see. After looking at the market, we both have a haircut (my first since Vietnam - nearly 7 months). I look slightly less German now but my hair is still short and doesnt seem to want to grow. I continued my vanity by buying some contact lenses as I am sick of wearing glasses. I might start wearing attractive clothes andmake up again if I´m not careful!

Back at the hostel we met up with other people having done Ecuador or about to do Peru so we swopped tips before having a Chinese. For some reason there are loads of Chinese restaurants from Lima upwards. Is great and cheap too!

3-Huaca del Luna Outside Wall

Today up for 9am trip to Chan Chan complex - capital city of the Chimu Empire about 1100AD. But there are lots of theories and conjecture! First headed to Huaco Arco Iris - the rainbow temple - which has been the most restored and theories include it being a storage site with religious relief and paintings around it to prevent robberies. Then onto the museum which was ok. Then to the main complex of Tsuhuai Temple Citadel which was a huge complex. It includes huge courtyards with great sand coloured walls and reliefs along the bottom. An alleged council room, sunken garden/pond, barracks and corridors. You can hear the nearby ocean crashing around.

Our heads full again we head back to the hostel to pack. Our washing (expensive here 5 Soles a kilo) is still wet but we have to pack and go. Have another row about cost of washing etc before we leave on bad terms. Was a shame as hostel is pretty good and good to meet other people but is very disorganised with rooms (we never got our matrimonial one due to a mix up), washing, meals, etc and I felt a bit like the owners heart isnt in it anymore as they have been doing it so long and we all just look like $ to them.

4-Trujillo Church

5-Trujillo Casas

6-Trujillo Cathedral

7-Chan Chan 1

8-Chan Chan 2