We woke up and enjoyed delicious papaya, watermelon juice and coffee at Hotel Libertador prior to a full day of sightseeing. Our first destination was to view the Huaca del Sol and the Huaca de la Luna.
We stopped at a local artisan’s home were we learned about traditional pottery techniques and were expected to purchase something. Sunshine enjoyed talking to the artist’s daughter who loved posing for the camera.
We continued on to the Museo Huacas de Moche. No photos were allowed inside the museum. There were only a few visitors until a school group arrived. The students tried to talk with us until their teacher gathered them for their tour.
Afterwards we returned to the Huacas de la Luna (Temple of the Moon) and learned about the adobe brick structures built by the Moche people. The religious complexes, or huacas, were built in layers formed by rebuilding over the old temple walls.
We made a quick stop at the Huaca Dragon, also known as Huaca Arco Iris (Rainbow) on our way to lunch.
We ate lunch in the beach town of Huanchaco. Sitting on the balcony of El Sombero seeing the view and hearing the waves made lunch memorable. The city of famous for Caballitos de totora (reed kayaks). This type of kayak has been used by fishermen in Peru for the past 3000 years.
After eating, we walked along the beach and observed one fisherman riding a caballito de totora was at sea and numerous surfers.
We spent several hours walking around Chan Chan, a pre-Columbian city. It was the headquarters of the Chimú civilization before it fell to the Incas. Unlike the previous cities we have visited, there were only a handful of tourists (maybe eight other people).
After dinner we happened upon a couple just married walking out of the Cathedral Basilica of St Mary. The picturesque moment was magically. Many people stopped to observe and photograph the newlyweds.
Trujillo was very quiet on Sunday. The churches were filled but there were few people on streets. We wandered into the Museo de Arte Café. Although closed, we were served coffee and tamales in this charming café owned by artist Gerardo Chavez.
Police were visible on the streets as we strolled back to the Plaza de Armas. We entered an open courtyard to discover a politician holding a Q&A.
One of the staff noticed us and opened a huge wooden door allowing us to wander through the rooms of the art gallery.
We ate dinner at El Celler de Cler—sitting on the balcony we enjoyed a delicious meal of pasta and steak. There was a couple celebrating their first wedding anniversary—the husband had arranged the table to be set up with special flowers and balloons before they arrived. He gave her a necklace and roses during the meal.
