Here are links to the first several sections of our northern Peru trip report and corresponding photos:

Being Optimistic in Northern Peru - 2006 -- This is an introductory overview to our northern Peru trip.
http://www.worldisround.com/articles/304049/index.html


The Santa Cruz Trek - Cordillera Blanca - http://www.worldisround.com/articles/304050/index.html

A Day in Lima and the Drive to Huaraz - http://www.worldisround.com/articles/304051/index.html


We are diligently at work organizing and writing the remaining sections and hope to continue making good progress.

Here is a brief overview of the upcoming sections:

- The northern coastal cities of Trujillo and Chiclayo where we explored several archeological sites

- The mountains and cloudforests near Chachapoyas. With stops at Chachapoyas, Kuelap, Leymebamba, Celendin and Cajamarca.

- Lima.

- Our trip planning resource list

I hope you enjoy the read -- furthermore, northern Peru is a phenomenal trip destination. I hope our report will inspire others to explore this seldom travelled to area.

Sharon

WOWWWWW. Sharon, this is incredible. thanks so much.

You're welcome, cmcfong. As you well know, I do love to prepare a thorough, detailed trip report: it allows the vacation to linger longer... chuckle...

Well, sit tight -- there is definitely a LOT more coming. Ray and I have a good bit of the next chunk mostly written, and many of the photographs are already uploaded to WorldIsRound in unpublished articles. Gee whiz, the scenery in Huascarán National Park was so fantastic I think I uploaded something like 60 images for that segment alone. (Ooops... I hope everyone likes photos!)

We sure hope to complete the rest of the bits for the Huaraz area (Huascaran National Park and Chavín de Huantar) along with the northern coast stops posted to the other travel forum in a couple of days. That site is a bit easier than WorldIsRound because we are not posting as many images and I just love the ability to post images right alongside the relevant text; so that forum is taking posting priority.

Sharon

You do a great job with the photos and reports, Sharon. I look forward to reading them all.

Sharon, the reports you and Ray have done are wonderful, but it is the photos which just blow me away. Splendid!

Thank you, once again cmcfong! I really do enjoy doing photography while traveling.


Here is the next section and photos: Huascarán National Park & Yungay

http://www.worldisround.com/articles/305785/index.html

Sharon

Hi Sharon and Ray!

I haven't been around these boards too much lately, but I saw your post and thought I'd say hi.

You've been very busy since our Barcelona encounter, haven't you? I can't believe that was over 2 years ago.

My travels since that time haven't been as adventurous as yours, but my BF and I did go to Costa Rica in March and just got back from camping/hiking in Utah and Arizona. Lots of fun.

Not sure where next, maybe Portugal...

Anyway, just wanted to say hi to you both!

Karen

Hi Karen! It's great of you to check in. Costa Rica and camping in Arizona both sound like good trips to me! And, Portugal is supposedly fabulous (I've never been). Our next trip is Miami for Aunt's 80th birthday party. Then who knows? I think it will either be a to southern Mexico, or Mali (West Africa). We are aiming for the Mali trip; however, it needs to pull together for January 2007. If not 2007, it will be 2008.

Sharon

Sharon:

I did the same thing last year. I went optimistically and made all arrangements there. I avoided the cuzco / Machu Picchu trail and went to the Cordillera Blanca and the rain forest. Had no problems, although I am a flexible traveler and put up with a lot (a rip off cabbie one time) that luxury travelers wouldn't put up with.

I love Peru. I want to see more on my next trip.

missustoad, I agree: Peru is fabulous.

-Sharon

Well, finally time eased up for Ray and I to work on this report a bit more.

I have posted three more articles with lots of photos out to WorldIsRound:

Huaraz and Chavín de Huantar -- http://worldisround.com/articles/309031/index.html

Trujillo: Sechin, Moche and Chimu sites -- http://worldisround.com/articles/309039/index.html

Chiclayo - Sipán Archaeology & Museum -- http://www.worldisround.com/articles/309158/index.html

Enjoy!
Sharon

Visit the new discoveries at El Brujo Archaeological site, formally opened to tourism in May 2006.
www.ballofdirt.com/entries/13663/194767/20.html shows pictures of recent discoveries, including Señora de Cao & paintings around her tomb.
A site museum is planned in 2007.
www.xanga.com/ElBrujoPeru has most links in many languages.
PES/11 entrance, PES/5.50 students, PES/1 children.
www.xanga.com/TrujilloPeru also.
www.huacadelaluna.org.pe won the Queen Sofia priza as the best conservation project in Latinamerica in 2006