January 3 - El Primer Dia en Trujillo (First Day in Trujillo)

Unaccustomed to living in close proximity to other apartments with windows open, there are some distractions through the night - music, voices, the aroma of fried garlic - but I awake with a keen anticipation to explore the town. Setting off with 100 soles, a shopping list and a street map, I discover the Metro Supermarket - a local market is aways a good introduction to a strange town. We have a cook to p`repare our meals Monday-Friday but are on our own for meals on weekends and holidays.

I wander about the town all morning, viewing life in Trujillo. The town has a pulse - young men in the town square hawk tours to the archeaological sites, children run and laugh among the artificial Christmas trees decorated by local busineses and set up in the square.

The largest and most impressive building in the square is the cathedral basilica, a Spanish colonial treasure built in 1666 and decorated with huge murals, ornate alters, and a panoramic Nativity scene, complete with waterfall and twinkling stars.

Internet and telephone shops are everywhere, and I manage to get a half hour of internet in before I´m tossed out of the shop - forgot about siesta!