Chiclayo. It's fun to say.

The sign in the Linea bus station said they had specific "official" cab drivers they ask that passengers use to avoid being ripped off. So we used one. Little did we know this didn't except us from the usual racket, and our driver asked us if we had reserved a room at our hotel-destination. I lied and said yes, knowing where this was headed. He then proceeded to tell us that the street the hotel was on is full of "prostitutes and homosexuals" and naturally recommended a different hotel (one where he'd get a kickback for delivering us). When we got out of the taxi at our original destination, we confirmed with a security guard nearby that the area would be fine at night. Ben and I laughed- had there been prostitutes and homosexuals, we probably would have felt quite at home.

Chiclayo is clean and nice and the streets are teeming with people. I miss the campesino clothing we saw near Huaraz, but there's just so much more activity here. Last night we wandered through a market the size of 6 city blocks, packed with everything from herbalist witch doctors to women grinding coffee beans by hand. Ben shot photos from the hip, not wanting things to be posed. I think he got some good ones. We had dinner at a Chifa- Chinese restaurant- and it was just like home.

Today we head to Sipan, site of huuuuuuge burial tombs. That's sort of the theme here- churches, ruins, tombs. (Whereas in Morocco it was mosques and markets, and so on...) Tonight we take the overnight back to Lima. For $10 US extra we booked first class, worth it I'd say for 12 hours on a bus, with 180 degree reclining seats and two meals (vegetarian option even!). We'll unwind in Barranco and Milaflores to wrap up the trip.

Oh, and I'm getting kicked a lot. Constantly. Before I wake up, when I'm trying to sleep, when I walk around, when I'm sitting down. Ben's gotten kicked in the head a few times too. I think the fetus likes Peru. It seems to have a special love for Inka Kola, which makes it do a super insane dance.