flickering screen

Above is my excuse for if this blog is incohernet or in anyway deficient, the screen is awful and making me feel quite trippy!

How is everyone? Well I hope and enjoying everything that you are up to.

I have had another long day with a 5.30 am start down at the beach. Manuel my teacher was unimpressed when I showed him my surfing injuries, I thought that they may give me some cache or beach cred but he laughed, showed me huge white scars on both his legs and told me that he had also on one occasion broken his nose. These he quipped were what showed he was a real surfer as he pushed me into the sea. Wow this is just the kind of friendly encouragement that you need to hear.

I am going out for drinks tonight which I am beginning to think may be a bad decision as my company may be less than thrilling for the other party as I discuss in detail the dvd that Manuel made me watch all afternoon. A dvd which he kept pausing and rewinding to show me again and again how to stand up properly on the board. I tried to sound very enthusiastic about watching a film in Spaninsh about the different types of waves on the Peruvian coast but I think even with my incredible and undeniable talent he was less than convinced and sent me home to "practice practice" which I am yet to begin.

His flat shared with several other surfers was how I would imagine stepping back into the seventies would be. All the walls covered in posters of surfers, of waves or of Bob Marley. A certain scent hanging in the air and surf boards propped up against the walls.

I left this surreal shrine to regge and the sea and wondered the streets of Miraflores. Yesterday I ventured into the centre for the first time. I had heard horror stories of the violence and the dirt. So I went with mixed feelings but felt that I should give it a chance. It was absolutely beautiful just the type of decaying grandeur that I most enjoy, colonial buildings covered in layers of flaking paint, old men sitting in dark lower rooms with barred mending shoes or dozzing in the afternoon. The two main sqaures a scene of activity the roads shared by huge old American cars, the Lima VW beetles, horses and tanks protecting the president. I visited the catacombs and the monastry which was beautiful, before heading back to Miraflores to watch the sunset from lovers park.

I had originally intended to visit Bolivia from Friday of this week, having looked at the distances that I would have to cover and the limited time I have I have opted instead to head up the coast of Peru to Trijiou. Manuel informs me that this area has some of the longest waves in world. I dont think I am ready for such waves so may stick to dry land whilst there. There is a huge amount of pre-inca and inca archaeology in this area (you may all let out a yawn or a sigh at this point) so I will be having a great time knee deep in history.

Righteo I must be off supper calls me!

Love to all xxxxxxxxxxxxx