I have to be very quick

Hello all from fair Trujillo, the tumbling and crumbling colonial city surrounded by many archaeology sites of national importance. I have had a wonderful few days here enjoying and getting covered, it is very dusty, in the heritage of the Moche valley.

What picture can I paint for you of this area well let me see, it took 9 hours to reach by bus, the landscape changing across the whole journey, deserts abutting the sea, cultivated valleys of maize, mountains that looked as though entirely constructed of small pebbles, people lining the dusty road nothing more than dirt tracks, sitting waiting and watching under the dappled shade provided by the scant trees or the punctured corregated iron resting upon mud bricks still produced in the traditional way. Trujillo is hailed as competeing for the title of second city in Peru, all this must be based on is the facades of the buildings that surround the Plaza in the centre. The streets that flank the plaza of shiny marble and old men proped on one arm dozing in the sun are tumbling away. Layers of paint curl in the sun, door ways bricked up, wood worm devours the thick and ornately carved doors. The old colonial buildings which still stand house not the rich as they were intended for but instead themselves been colonised by groups of people of varying trades. I sat in a once grand courtyard sipping a cold beer, the collums towering over head, the cracked roof tiles scattered on the tiled floor. In the corner a man eyed me suscpiciously as he moved his foot rhymically on his ancient sewing machine peddle. the courtyard also housed a small bar, a betting shop and a photocopying machine all squished together and seperated by hardboard.

The weather is hotter here and the dust swirls. There is constant noise and activity the street vendors moving shouting peddling their heavy loads along the pot holed streets.

I really must go as I have to eat, all I do here is eat the fruit on the market stalls is wonderful and there is one you can eat like a lolly pop and suck out the contents.

I hope everyone is well I miss you all

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