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. 

View more

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.

View more

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

View more

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.

View more

PORT DEARAU, FIJI - Naidiri Village

By Patricia Patrick • December 4, 2025
Today we went to see the coastal Naidiri Village that has recently won the Top Prize in global restoration, for their ocean reef project. The reef restoration was borne out of necessity to solve their dwindling food/ main protein source for the village, of fish. It was started by 2 of the villages rugby players and today is run by the local teenagers (mostly boys) in the village. It was great seeing how empowered and proud they were of their amazing efforts.

LAUTOKA, FIJI

By Patricia Patrick • December 1, 2025
The port agent offered several trips to areas around Lautoka . We chose the trip to Serenity Island Resort which included van and boat transfers and lunch. It was a really nice day enjoying the sun, reef, pool, turtles and amenities!

RIVER TUBING DOWN THE NAVUA, SUVA, FIJI

By Patricia Patrick • December 1, 2025
I organized a group tour for a fun day experience. We had a great day despite the rain that decided to join in. We started with a 45 minute van ride out through the city, into the countryside. Then we got in long boats and went up river to a waterfall, some swam or cheered on the guides to cliff dive. Then back in the boats to visit Sabata Village where 50 family members live as a community existing totally off the land, along the river. Next was a quick boat ride to our BBQ lunch spot. After lunch we got to tube down the river, through light rapids, for just about an hour. We ganged our tubes together with the guide - we had a chain of 14 in my group and the guides totally blew us away singing hymns for a good chunk of the journey. It was truly moving in that place with the rain drizzling and all of us linked together. Loved it!