Bald Peruvian Dogs, phone booths and a surfing lesson

Yet another interesting form of transportation that I am now familiar with is the overnight sleeper bus.  These are a common mode of transport if you want to go a few hundred miles away for a few days.  You get on the bus at about 9 or 10 at night and it drives all night and you get off in the morning.  I was on an intermediately priced bus that had intermediate comforts.   It was hard to tell one city from the next and the driver made no announcements.  In other words, I wasn't able to sleep much because I had to keep asking others where we were so as not to miss my destination.  So, at 3AM I arrived in Mancora, a popular surfing spot not only with Peruvians but with the international crowd as well.  There is a big international pro surfing contest here every year.  Interestingly, this place is North of Chiclayo and warmer.  Recall, I´m south of the equator.

The sea was really warm and the waves are perfect for surfing.  Very nice asymmetrical left hand break with small to intermediate swells, perfect for a beginner.  I took an hour long surf lesson and was able to stand up on my second wave.  I continued to ride more waves, but I tired out soon since my back became very sore from paddling.  Since I´m out of my element in the heat and in the ocean my body and it´s abilities are undergoing a phase of reconditioning.  No splitboarding, bike riding or bouldering for YOU!

Below is a view of the beach at Mancora.  The buildings in the distance are mild mannered restaurants by day and brilliantly illuminated bumping discoteques by night.  The intensity of the sun here is like nothing I´ve ever felt.  I was totally drained after a few hours on the beach and in the water.

 Below is a photo of one of the nicer resorts in Mancora.  There are various levels of comfort available in this small town.  There is a serious international presence in this place that makes Chiclayo seem like an isolated, locals only sort of small town.  English speaking vendors, lots of offers for drugs, topless sunbathers, currency in Euros and Dollars as well as Soles (peruvian currency) among other things.

There are lots of dogs running around everywhere I go.  Below is a common sight.  No, this guy didn´t recieve a body wax job from a Brazilian spa, he is just a Perivian dog.  They have a tuft of hair on their head and on their tail but that´s all.  The first time I saw one of them I thought it was a sign of illness and neglect, but that is not the case.  For whatever reason, they were bread to have these characteristics.

Superheroes don´t despair there are still phone booths out there in the world for changing in, albeit with a little less privacy. Most everyone has a cell phone, never the less, I see these frequently on the street.  Many of them have international calling capabilities and instructions on how to use them.

 More photos of Mancora below.  Of course there is a street market along the Malecon.  This one had the best beads and jewelry that I have yet seen.  Really cheap amber and turquise that was definitely the real McCoy.  There are lots of vendors selling cheap junk, but there are also some bona fide artisans doing excellent work.

This week is Semana Santa and many people are off work.  We have two days off of school.  I have had many teaching experiences recently which I will relate soon.  I´ll get some photos of my family and of some of the teachers I work with and tell of few anecdotes about teaching physics and biology.  One thing I´ve learned is that it is completely normal here to have your biology lesson interrupted by the Friar who comes in and takes your class to the chapel in honor of holy week.

Ciao!