I had the chance this week to have a weekend of three days. The holiday was Saturday, but to encourage local tourism, the government encourages companies to pay on Monday or Friday while asking employees to make up hours not worked.

The week was short and I have no time more to write these little notes of travel. I will still try to continue to keep me this weekly, increasing the share of pictures and perhaps the diminishing of words.

A religious festival in Lima

After a good stroll in downtown Lima Saturday, we stumbled upon the procession of the religious festival of "Señor de los Milagros". This festival dates from the 17th century, an earthquake shook Lima in heavy casualties and material damage. The region was hit hard Pachacamilla and only one wall where hung a picture of Christ was still standing. This image has since eluded other earthquakes and many miracles were attributed to him.

For several weeks, many buildings are colored in purple, symbol of the festival. Processions are held and hundreds of thousands of believers attended the procession of the image of Christ. See this huge crowd gather and pray in front of the Cathedral of Lima is a highlight and impressive.

Vamos a la playa, woh woho hoho

Early Sunday outing brought us to the beach of Puerto Viejo. Unfortunately, I did not take my camera to share with you some photos of this place very nice. Located 75km south of Lima, the Pan-American Highway, the beach ends desert coastline in gray sand. At left, two small rocky hills serve as a perch for a multitude of different bird species. On the right, cliffs a hundred feet high dominate the Pacific off. Faced with a wave begins to unwind from the hills and flew over 50m. Today the waves are small, the days of good conditions we should be able to surf for at least 200m, a perfect wave.

It sits at the water under the sun that beats, and very soon we are taking some waves. Sitting on the board until the next round was able to enjoy the birds that are changing very close to us, fishing, fly out. Having expressed my fascination with the place, a friend told me that when you are lucky dolphins surfing with us (!) I hope this one day live here, it must be magical.

Surfing in the morning

Go surfing before going to work, something that many dream and have the chance to do here. My first session was Wednesday morning: the clock stalled on 5:30 am, to bed early, the surf already attached to the roof of the car. However, the start was very very difficult to jump into his suit when he is hardly light, face the cold morning in his apartment has no heat, get water into the greyness of Lima ; as many reasons not to repeat the experience. And yet, after 1:30 in water, it feels good to work: Empty physical energy but fresh mentally. I will return as soon as the forces will be returned.

Some additional pictures of Lima