Passing through Piura

  Piura, Peru
Friday, August 25, 2006

A 4.45am start and an 8 hour bus ride got us into our first Peruvian city - Piura. We certainly weren't impressed at the 45 minutes it took to cross the Peruvian / Ecuador border over the International Bridge at Macara. They make you get off the bus and walk across into Peru!

Our first impressions of Peru weren't good as we passed though Sullana which looked like a shanty town. Piura looked much the same as we entered the outskirts to we both made a very quick decision to leave the next day. We were pleasantly surprised, however, when we popped into the city centre for a walk and a meal and found a city-wide Marinera dancing competition going on. It was being contested amongst all the children and teenagers of the town, and we had a very keen young lad approach us to explain the history behind it in surprisingly good English.

Nothing much else to report from Piura really, apart from the change in facial hairstyle:



and also to let you know about the legendary soft drink that is Inca Kola:



Steve: Seriously, I think I'm getting addicted. I don't know what they put in the bottles, but it's obviously radioactive judging by the colour. It's your Kola, it's Inca Kola.

DAILY FACTS

- Stayed at: Hostal Moon Night - we only stayed for one night but weren't particularly impressed. When I asked the slightly strange guy behind reception why there wasn't hot water in the bathroom he replied that there used to be, but the authorities made them remove it some years ago due to an "incident". Hmmm... Not recommended.

- Latin American Spanish learnt:Lapicero = Boligrafo = Pen.

- Observation of the day: Peruvians seem to stare at pasty white Westeners far more often and far less subtely than their Ecuadorian counterparts.