Sand, Surf, and SUN!

What can I say, New Year's Eve at the beach was AWESOME! I got to bake in the sun (if anyone tries to tell you that the sun all around the world is the same... they're wrong! ), swim in the wonderful waves, go out in a fisherman's boat (thanks to Luis's powers of persuasion), visit a practically private beach restaurant, experience the biggest New Year's street party complete with fireworks, eat AMAZING fresh seafood, and then attend the anniversary party of Luis's family's hometown! WHEW! What a week! Just got back yesterday and I'm exhausted and peeling like never before (I look like a snake shedding her skin)! I've posted some of my fav pics and hope you enjoy them... there's also a crazy video to try to give you an idea of my New Year's Eve chaos!


This is my absolute favorite photo of the trip... this woman is in typical Peruvian highland dress with her baby strapped to her back. This was at about 8am in the morning and to my surprise she braved the whole day at the beach... amid all the youngsters!

The personal attention at this beach is wonderful... the nearby restaurants have runners and bring you a table and your food to your umbrella or tent! This splurge was completely on seafoood... types of ceviche, shrimp, corvina, etc. YUM!!! I felt like royalty sitting in my recliner under the tent, staring at the waves, eating my straight-from-the-ocean seafood... without having to lift a finger! (oh, and not to mention all of this cost about the equivilant of $15 tent and all)!

For real??? Yes, this was the setup! The first morning before all the people and craziness arrived!

Who exactly thought it would be a good idea to climb a giant sand dune for this view of the beachside town and ocean? NOT ME! Now, yes it's beautiful, but let's just say that climbing up a vertical mountain of sand is the most frustrating and tiring thing in the world! One step up is two slides down... I ended up at the top crawling using my sandals on my hands! Yikes, but at 7am, it was a pretty amazing experience to be at the top of world looking down!

Luis with the beautiful view of Quila beach and river feeding it and the surrounding fields. This was after an hour in a collective taxi sitting on his lap the entire way over unpaved sand dune roads! However, the views match those of Highway 1 in California... Wow!

A tiny fisherman's town or the "door" to the ocean. It was a gorgeous view from the port where I got to watch fishing boats being loaded and unloaded (yes, I thought of you Ben)! I also got to see giant pelicans and sea wolves or what I think we call sea lions! Tons of them playing in the water right next to me!

An almost completely private beach and little mom and pop restaurant. The elderly couple lives there, cooks for people like me there, and enjoy their private beach! It was a wonderful afternoon playin in the waves and enjoying the peace before the storm of the main beach!

Got up around 5am for a walk on the completely calm and quiet beach... all exept for a few joggers and fishermen. What a gorgeous morning it was!

Back at the main beach of Camana. Luis and I had purchased our local handcrafted necklaces and were ready for another full day of BEACH!

What can I say? I LOVE the beach! Look at all those umbrellas... and this was New Year's Eve day!

Friends from Arequipa... they all arrived for the party! Notice the little salute to Texas with the cowboy hats anyone?!

Upon arrival at the party in Vitor with Luis's family, I was greeted with traditional dances that were absolutely amazing! Due to his family's status, we had the best seats in the house and it was great watching everything! Look at this backdrop to the famous "Marinera" dance!

Luis's two brothers, Carlos and Effrain and their girlfriends, and me at the dancing part of the party in Vitor... enjoying the New Year's party favors sent courtesy of my mom!

Luis "Kike" and his whole family at the town celebration!

Hope you had a great New Year Celebration wherever you are and that God blesses you and yours greatly in 2010! I certainly feel loved, blessed, and fortunate to be here having all of these wonderful experiences! Thanks to all of you for keeping up with me and for all of your thoughts and prayers!

KK



(Video of New Year's Eve Midnight chaos!)