verano negro

today i was starting to pack, and i pulled out at bag of my US money. I hadnt thought about it for the past 4 months. Now, on my last day here, it looks so different. and so uninteresting. i guess thats how i feel about leaving. this feels like my home.

but, i know once i get off the plane in CA i will feel at home again and am looking forward to seeing my friends.

this past week, since friday, i went with ica and huacachina. its very deserty, with lots of sand dunes, the tallest sand dune in the world is there. there are tons of wineries. also, the city was devasated by an earthquake a yaer ago, some parts look like a warzone, and its sad that after a year, nothing has been done by the govt.

yesterday and the day before i went to pisco, the ballestas islands and paracas. this area has the second densest population of marine wildlife, outside of the galapogos. it was pretty amazing! then, i visited chincha. it has a very high african population. the people are so nice, and the food is amazing. this may have been one of the most authentically peruvian places i visited. i went to a traditioanl festival, fiesta patronal, in a district about 30 minutes away, mostly by bus in a dirt road. here, some afro peruvian kids danced for a sol. they were amazing. drank some beers, and then headed back to lima. i packed so much into the time. i visited all these places with someone who i know i will miss very much. hmm. growing up is hard.