To begin, I must say I´ve never thought I would actually begin a blog, and it still is difficult for me to believe whether or not I will actually be deticated enough to keep it updated everyday, but I need way to tell you all what I´ve been up to and how I am doing on my trip. A friend of mine has a blog she updates daily which serves as a great way to keep in touch with here friends and family back home and as a way to keep her records of her trip. So, three months in and here it goes!

Today I arrived in Chiclayo, a city far in the north of Peru on the coast which has a bad reputation as being a dangerous place but which beacons travelers by its proximity to a whole array of ruins from ancient civilsations that were some of the most influential, important societies in the history of this contentent. This place is warm and like other places in Northern Peru it does not try to hide it´s European influence; from the beautiful towering cathidral in the Plaza de Armas to the over all mediterainian feel, Chiclayo is a welcomed break for me from South American winter.

I arrived here at 5:30 after a long, twisting bus ride from Cajamarca, a kind city tucked away in the northern highlands of the Andes. I left this morning after having breakfast and watching Germany beat Argentina in the game (which people weren´t too happy about). The bus ride wasn´t too bad. I sat next to an American named Clara and guess where she´s from? She is the first other New Hampshirite I´ve met on my trip! When the bus arrived in the city, the nice owner from my hostel was standing outside the station to pick me up. After that I headed out, explored the city, and sat down for a glass of wine and antichuchos (marinated pieces of cow heart).