We arrived at Hostal Huanchaco about 5.30pm and headed straight out for a walk ... The bus ride had been more like 10 hours, rather then the promised 9. Another 20 minutes sorting out taxis in Trujillo and 30 minutes from there to where we were staying.

Huanchaco is by the sea so headed straight out for a walk after arriving as needed to stretch my legs!!! 

It felt so good to breathe in the famili smells and not to get out of breath 

There was a good path to follow which led me past locals selling jewellry, cart style fruit stalls and other surfy looking foreigners.

It seemed like a fairly sleepy place with not so many people around ... Those who were out were friendly, and boys here again being much more forward than those in the south and calling out compliments as I passed ... I actually kinda like the machismo way!!! Who was the damn feminists that stopped men behaving like this back home!

That night we went out for dinner at the Jungle Bar and enjoyed happy hour of $6 sole ($2 AUD) cocktails.

The place was empty when the now 14 of us arrived, but quickly filled up with other foreigners.

We stayed for a few drinks after dinner and went straight home, as didn't seem to be other better bars to move on to.

The next morning I awoke at 7am so headed back down the beach again for a morning walk!  Im so missing all my habits from home so felt so good to get out and exercise, and although I have no sneakers to run on the pavement, I even attempted a jog on the beach instead and to my surprise was managing ok! Not short of breath like in altitude!

At 9am we left for a half day trip to the nearby mud brick historical sites of Chan Chan (approx 900AD) and Huaca de la Luna and the nearby museum that housed an amazing collection of pottery that was collected from the temple ... We hadn't seen anything as well preserved previously as at the other sites, as the best bits had probably been stolen or put on display in Museums in other countries.

After our cultural activities, we went for lunch at a nearby restaurant then laid on the beach for a bit.  

By sunset only myself and another girl remained on the beach so we decided to head up to the bar behind the beach for a drink.

An older drunken French Canadian man at a nearby table asked us to join him ... Initially we declined but after realising he was with 3 young cute english speaking guys we changed our mind and joined them!

The 3 boys were friends and had only just met the man when he asked to join them. They knew each other after meeting in NY ... Two still lived there and were on holiday visiting Gui, who was a Peruvian local and had moved back last year after 15 years in New York.

The old guy was VERY drunk and so wrong he was hilarious! Telling me things like if I spent a night with him, I'd never want another man again ... And while telling me this was making and flexing his forearm nodding at it ... 'Hey I've still got it!' he was saying!

Thankfully he realised he was out of my league ... He was 62 for gods sakes!  And instead concentrated efforts on being a wing man for Gui and trying to match make us...

It was actually a bit like primary school where a boy likes you and his friend tells you and then he gets embarrassed, and your embarrassed and feel awkward as its all very flattering but forward and you're not sure if you want to admit your keen too ... !

But anyway after lots of blushing & giggling (both me & him ... The drunken French Canadian was ruthless!), Gui asked me if I wanted to see him again ... I said yes & after dinner with my group I met him for a drink.

I was a bit nervous as you just never know what could happen, him being a stranger and me  in a strange country and not speaking the language!!!!

There was nothing to worry about though ... He was a lovely interesting guy - personal trainer, ex professional surfer who had lived in NY for 15 years so spoke good english, and now living back home beachside in Peru.

It was really nice to get away from the group abd have a 'date' with someone too! 

We had a few drinks & a good night & gave him my contact details when he asked, but as I'm unlikely to be travelling in Peru again in the near future, I will probably never cross paths with him again! :-(

Next morning 8am taxis to Trujillo and boarded our first bus of the day and we were in shock!

Our tour leader said it was going to be nice but compared to previous buses it was luxury! Big cushy leather reclining seats that I passed out on not long after boarding!

Unfortunately had to change bus lines 7 hours later, and boarded the average old ones we've grown use to ... 

South America is fantastic but have to say I am sooooo over all these god damn long bus journeys!!!