We were staying in a little town in the middle of the Andes called Chachapoyas where we were able to visit some incredible ruins, that are as large a scale as Machu Pichu. They are interesting and different though because they have not received the special attention or tourist influx as Machu Pichu. Located at the top of a mountain, the pre inca site was chosen because it was a virtual rock quarry.
Apparantly so many stones were used, it is similar quantity to the pyramids of egypt. The houses were circular and the bones of the dead were placed inside the city walls. it is an eerie place - especially with the jungle mist rolling over the stones, and no other people around. These ruins are more difficult to get to (nearly 13 hours by bus from the coast).
About a week ago we decided to deviate from our origional plan to continue up the coast of Peru and park it at a beach town for the last few days of our trip. So, half way between Lima and the border of Equador, we turned inlad, crossed the andes, and have decended to the edge of the Amazon Rainforest... where we are currently waiting out a tropical rain storm in an internet cafe.
We purchased our Malaria meds, got our flight back to Lima for two days before departure to the states, and are so tired off our rockers after a night bus, ruins, two taxi rides (where we got ripped off! F´n bastards!), one incredible combi ride (an actual rooster was a passenger with us, and people kept shouting Gringos! so i think we were an unusual occurance...), and one moto taxi later, we arrive to Tarapoto, one of the last cities before the road ends and we have to take a boat further into the jungle.
We have vegged out completely today as there was an english movie channel and munchies to be consumed.
I am too exhausted to have much reflection or thoughts. All I can think about at the moment is when the Chifa (Peruvian chinese food restaraunt) will open so we can consume mass quantities of rice and beer and then watch another movie on the itty bitty tv.
I think after three days on a boat, i should be sufficiently rested in preparation for our jungle trek.
|  | 
|
