Pre-Incan Ruins

Today we went to Chan Chan which is a ruin here in Peru...it was fabulous. I took a million pictures (which you have to wait until I am home to show you since my camera is not digital) ...the Chimú people in general had very simple pots but were highly suerior architects. they made their bricks out of mud, clay and water and built the exterior of the city walls insanely high. they also made a new city for each ruler...i think there were 9 in total, only one open to the public. it was amazing to see because they had beautiful designs made of mud all over the walls which amazingly enough held up. they said that the walls used to be painted, but that over time it wore off.
To check out pictures of the site, go to: http://www.antropologia.com.ar/peru/chanchan.htm

after that we went to the temples of the sun and the moon. these weren't too far away from the predecesors of the Chimú, the Moches. These temples only started getting excavated in 1991, and are immense. it is amazing to see that the original paint work still stands on the walls! to check out the temple of the sun look at: http://www.antropologia.com.ar/peru/elsol.htm. the temple of the sun hasn´t been uncovered yet. the temple of the moon however was fantastic. we could look down and see layers and layers of structures. when ever they wanted to make it bigger, they simply bricked up the spaces in the corridors and built on top. so when they uncovered it, the walls were still beautifully painted. actually, because they only started in 1991, there is still a lot left to uncover. i will have to return in 10 years time! the pictures for that can be seen at: http://www.antropologia.com.ar/peru/laluna.htm

it was a very spiritual experience being in/on the temple of the moon... regardless of the time that has passed, you could feel the energy and when walking up from the north side, you can only imagine how intimidating the whole structure must have been.

One of the amazing things about Peru is the variation in micro-climates...there are about 60 in the country, and the other day when we were driving through we saw diff types of sandy scapes...speckled with green patches. it was lovely!

right now we are at another beach town with really powerful waves. i think tonight i am going to wander down to the beach and watch the moonlight on the waves...tough life huh?

have to get some food...sorry if there are any spelling errors, im trying to rush so that i can get changed for dinner!

lots of love,

addy :)

PS - for anyone who didn't read the comments, candice put her pics from us in ecuador up here:
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AYtWzFo4cM2Lmw so if you want to see the eco lodge or the pics from it at least, that or Quito, or the Otovalo market or la Mitad del Mundo... they are all there! it just might take some time!!

pps - thanks to everyone who has written me and informed me on their lives! i love you all!!