We left the earthquake zone of Ica sharpish and put some distance between us and the impending Big One! Over 1,000 kilometres of distance actually - had a couple of stopovers along the way:
29th November - San Bartolo - we kipped at the Good Waves Luxury Guest House - probably be lovely when it's finished! We were their first ever guests - they seemed surprised at David's insistent banging on doors and windows and opened up in their hard hats and high viz jackets!!
30th November - Chasquitambo - iOverlander advised us to drive 40km inland to avoid a 150km section of coastline where several Pan-Am Travellers have recently been robbed at gunpoint!! Stayed at the Hospedaje Tambo del Chaski - which as Truck Stops go was really nice - good grub and low cost rooms! Truckers do get up v early though - and like to run their Diesels for half an hour whilst eating brekka!!
1st December - still motoring - mostly desert out the window + hundreds of huge white tents - each the size of 20 marquees linked end to end - no idea what these are for! If anyone knows, please let us know and solve the mystery!! Headed for Huanchaco - a small town on the Pacific coast where the rolling 3 metre surf has brought bleached blonde tourism + a raft of stylish hotels and fashionable restaurants! We like the look of Hotel El Sombrero and negotiate a two night deal on a 5th floor Double with balcony + sea view + a bath! A bath!! Bliss!!!
Great view from our balcony - day and night - with local Fishermen's Caballitos (Little Horses) cigar shaped totora reed boats - propped against the prom wall night-time, but come 6:30am wrestled into the sea by an army of local fishermen to battle the rolling surf and fish the bay!
Strangely the whole of the seafront has been dug up by the Local Council to lay a new wide-bore drainage pipe! Just mud and grit where there ought to be people out promenading!
Bleached blonde brigade make great viewing - whether strutting along the beach, toned & tanned torsos on peacock display - surfboard tucked underarm - or out catching every seventh wave!!
We're happy to watch from our balcony - glass of chilled SB/ Trujillo Cerveza in hand! Happy enough in fact to stay for two nights!!
