Today we went on another adventure. This time it was only about 45 minutes outside of where we were staying in Peru. After the extensive grilling of the tour agencies and exhausting all that the tourist offices had to give, we knew what we actually wanted to see. We had come to the unanimous decision that the tour agencies were giving you more than what you needed, for a price that was too high (in other news water is wet). There are plenty of museums and pyramid sites in the local vicinity but we knew there was only one place to visit; Túcume.
Túcume, as we have now since learned, is actually home to the greatest number of pyramids in one singular area - 26 to be exact. Now, the only remaining issue was of how to get there... We didn't really fancy getting a taxi for 40km. Taxis aren't too expensive but still, got to try and hold on to all remaining pennies. Buses can be sporadic and often very difficult to understand, especially then for the return time, of which was unclear. This left one remaining, previously unknown option; a combis. A combis is basically like a mini-van. It's a cross between a bus and a taxi - perfect. They are also much closer in price to that of a bus, than of a taxi. Where the tour agencies had quoted 50 s/. each for the journey and a tour guide, we had managed to get the journey for 12 s/. in total for both of us!
The pyramids did not disappoint. After being too stingy to hire a rickshaw-type mobile for the 1km road from the town to the entrance site, we found ourselves starting to struggle in the 30°c Peruvian Sun. At this point shelter was required. Queue the delight to find out that the accompanying museum had English translation AND had air conditioning.
After getting our fill of historical knowledge on a subject we knew very little about - the incas and their human sacrifices, we set out back onto the dirt track in search of getting a better feel for the marvelling pyramids. We even managed to find a stray dog on our travels that followed us as we took pictures from the viewpoint.
With a depleted Emma in tow, we agreed to the rickshaw man's demands of 4 s/. for a lift back to the bus stop within the town. During dinner a girl no older than 6 years old came up to us with several packets of sweets in her hand. She was trying to sell these to us! A few minutes later a one-eyed and one-legged man came with a similar tactic but different sweets. Maybe another day we'll feel more generous, maybe if they had a cute pet guinea-pig sitting on their shoulder. That would be enough. I'm hoping that the weather holds up for the next few days in the surfing village of Huanchacho. Emma can show off her interesting technique to the weathered locals.
