I tried to surf

…and now I really hurt! We are in northern Peru, in a small fishing village called Huanchaco just outside of Truijillo, this really big city. We just arrived yesterday, and we spent the day wandering around and getting used to our surroundings. We also visited Chan Chan, this pre-Incan ruins site that is between Truijillo and Huanchaco. It was insane! They made this entire city–that originally covered 27 sq. km and housed up to 100,000 people–entirely out of sand! And some of the temples are still standing today. Seriously impressive. They worshipped the pelican and fish since they are so close to the ocean, so they carves these animals into the sand. Believe it or not, some of these carving still exist today. It just blew my mind–and everyone else´s, I think–that these people made an entire civilization out of sand. Talk about an elaborate sand castle!

So I spent today with Aaron in the water, trying to learn how to surf. I hurt. Badly. I never realized how weak my little arms are until my shoulders began to ache 30 minutes into the ordeal…and what an ordeal it was! I went out with Aaron, complete with superwarm wetsuit, and splashed my way out into the ocean, excited for what was to come. Of course, I then tried to ride my first wave into shore, didn´t know to turn out of it before I hit the sand, and spent the next 15 minutes tangled up in the board, waves, and sand. I think I fell over in 2″ of water about 80 times, and oh yeah, did I mention that I broke my board? Yup, sure did. Snapped a fin right off during my debacle with the sand. Seriously, aren´t you suppsed to have issues with the water, not the sand? In my benefit, Aaron and Steve both thought that the boards were fairly crappy so it could´ve broken off on anyone, but yes….it had to be me. (At least the guy only charged me $5 to fix it!!!!)

So, the three of us bought tickets to fly to Cartagena, Colombia on Sunday. I know my parents aren´t very excited about the idea, but I am way ecstatic. We will definitely be careful, but we are only staying in the coastal part, in this one town, really, where there has never been any political strife or guerillas or any problems of any kind, so I am psyched. Their friends from NOAA are going to be there also, as well as one who is from Colombia, so that will be fun…it will be like a little NOAA reunion or something!!! Aaron wants to get his open water certification for scuba diving, and Steve and I might get our advanced, so it should be nice….lots of sun!!

(What do you think of the surfing pictures?!!)