December 31, 2024

SALAVERRY & TRUJILLO, PERU

We pulled into the port of Salaverry, Peru around 9 am Sunday, December 29th, despite the reports of awful weather coming out of Peru. We heard there was a tsunami that hit the north of Peru ( just above us)  and severe wind gusts and swells were elsewhere. We must have been in a protective bubble, thankfully, because the seas were calm and the winds not a factor. I spent the day with friends Delia, Lauren and Scott exploring ancient ruins and town of Trujillo. We hired a cab for 5 hours to take us around and wait at each locale. The driver didn't speak English but used a translate app through his car speaker to communicate with us and we could use also to ask questions. Love Technology ! First stop was the ruins of the Moche civilization - La Huaca de la Luna - a large pyramid built for worship & human sacrifice when the flooding rain came. 

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A lot of information is just guesses or theories of archeologist, but the Moche civilization, is believed to exist from 400 to 900 A.D. They built 2 temples pyramids, that scientist named Luna and Sol, with a city in between. Luna had been excavated about 60 % before funds dried up. Sol and City barely touched. Story goes that they did human sacrifices, decapitation of their heads (after they were drugged by plants) in an effort to stop heavy rains. Engineering used to construct shape very involved. Every 100 years another level was built and carved and painted with story decorations. Five layers or 500 years uncovered. Next we went to TRUJILLO CITY SQUARE. We walked around, went to bank for local currency and got some Chinese food CHIFA for lunch.

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Our friend Whitney told us to see the Murals around the College while in town - they were amazing and stretched for blocks!

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Our final stop was to the ruins of the Chan Chan, the capital city of the CHIMOR KINGDOM. It is HUGE!!!!! Below is one Palace! The son's palace still has to be excavated. Supposedly these Chimor people defeated the Moche and then they were defeated by the Inca's.

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MAGNETIC ISLAND - KOALA'S

By Patricia Patrick • February 15, 2026
We got up at 6:45am to get to National Park Forts Walk trail in the hope of seeing koalas . Prior walkers mark trails with tree branches pointing in the direction of their sighting and we were luck enough to see 3 markers in our first hour of hiking. It is so stinking hot and humid the success we had made it bearable. The koala population on the island started with 20 brought over in 1930, to escape fur hunters. Today, the island boast 800 to 1000, and they are so cute and drowsy. They need 20 hours of sleep a day! The early morning is when they are the most active.

MAGNETIC ISLAND, AUSTRALIA

By Patricia Patrick • February 14, 2026
Just off the coast of Townsville, Australia is a special little island (that used to be part of mainland, hundreds of thousands years ago). The island was formed by molten granite that was pushed to the earth's surface with volcanic force.Over time the volcanic overlay weathered away leaving an extraordinary landscape of rounded domes and boulders, many as big as a house and spectcularly perched. Over Seventy Percent of the center of the Island is a National Park. There is lots of wildlife here too - koalas, rock wallabies, snakes & birds.

CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA

By Patricia Patrick • February 14, 2026
This is my third time in CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA and I really enjoy how walkable, clean and charming it is. The waterfront esplanade and lagoon area is a nice walk day or night. We had 2 nights here in the waterfront Shangri La Marina Hotel while waiting for the Ship to arrive and then 2 additional days in Port.