Chicle in Chiclayo

We´ve made it to Peru! We had to take a bus north to Loja from Vilcamamba instead of south, as we had originally intended, due somewhat to miscommunication with the hostal staff and somewhat to the bad weather that closed parts of the Panamerican highway, which runs down the coast of Peru. Along with a new friend, a dentist named Leyna from Germany, we skipped from Loja, across the Peruvian border at 4 AM, to Piura, then stowed our stuff in Chiclayo and explored the big, noisy city. Turns out they have an awesome open air mall http://flickr.com/photos/utzivan/2943760853/, complete with an ACTUAL air conditioned Starbucks. We had to indulge, as most places advertised as having AC only means they have a fan. It was the best doppio espresso over ice I´ve ever had, and gave me the fuel to finish the first sudoku I´ve picked up outside of the US. A ´nivel dificil´too, so I was quite shocked to have completed it without realizing I´d made a mistake in the last square. yay! Sudoku really does boost confidence. I´ve been speaking perfect Spanish ever since ; ) We sat and watched people walk by all day, then had chinese from the food court to complete our shopping mall experience.
The unemployment rate in Peru is outrageously high, to the point where the government doesn´t actually know just how high. Hence the title of this post, Chicle in Chiclayo, as there are lots of vendors along the streets, much like in Ecuador, selling anything and everything they can, including lots of Chicle. The city is nice enough, and close to the tombs of an Incan ruler named Sipan who was, oddly, buried upside down and in the fetal position. There are lots of unfinished construction sites, filled with garbage piles, and more cat calls, whistles, and honks than I expected. Figured I was pretty used to the male attention but apparently they are very well mannered it Ecuador compared to Chiclayo, Peru. It´s the blonde hair, I guess, as Katie and Hallye can still pass for South Americans, while I stand no chance.
Tomorrow it´s off to the beach, which looks on a map to be within walking distance of the city, but no dice. There is no water in sight, just haze, and so a moto-taxi is in order. who´s excited? i love the moto-taxi´s, despite they´re being a very bumpy and noisy means of transportation. I´ll upload a pic soon, but they basically consist of a motorcycle with a tent-covered bench attatched. Often the drivers look to be about 15 years old and wear headphones, jamming to their own tune. You´ve got to have a lot of faith, down here.
There is also a market filled with shamans, witch doctors and all they´re herbs, spices, suggestions and magic potions. More on that after we experience it.
Here are some more cool photos taken in Chiclayo.
http://flickr.com/photos/castelmar/156087142/
http://flickr.com/photos/juha79/2971821685/