School work this semester has picked up a lot. I actually have a ton of reading and studying to do during the week... Im not sure what my teachers or thinking or why they are trying to mess up my vacation... I had enough of schoolwork by Wednesday of last week and decided that it was better for my mental health to skip classes on Thursday and go on vacation for the weekend. So on Wednesday night at 11 I boarded a double decker bus and set off on an exciting 9 hour ride to Peru! The bus was surprisingly comfortable... it even had reclining chairs. I realized it was a truly classy way of transportation when we were awoken at 1 in the morning and given complimentary snacks... a glass of coke and a bag of potato chips with your own personal serving size packet of mayonaise.

Going across the border between Ecuador and Peru was rather tedious. The bus stops in Ecuador before the border is crossed and you have to get your passport stamped and fill out some paperwork... Then we got back on the bus and traveled another 5 minutes or so before we had to get off again and wait in line to show our passports again. And then had to wait around while they went through all the bags that were stored under the bus. This all was happening at about 4 in the morning. I was less than amused. But I got my passport stamped to say that I have been to Peru!

We finally made it to Mancora Peru around 7 in the morning. Immediately after getting off the bus we were bombarded by city tour guides trying to talk us in to staying at their hostels. We were all still half asleep and vulnerable and ended up being talked in to staying at a little hostel a little out of the way that was probably the worst place I had ever stayed. It was only 20 soles, which is a little less than 8 bucks... but the room lacked adequate flooring and the bathroom was missing multiple tiles as well as a shower curtain. There was also no air conditioning, no fan, and the outside reception area was being used as a construction site and carpentry shop... which was far from amusing in the mornings.

We stayed there for a night or two and then switched hostels to on a friend recomended. The second hostel was a complete 180. It was only $9 a night and was hands down the nicest place I have stayed in South America. It was complete with a pool, themed parties, day time games and activities, volleyball net, beach access, free internet and computers, and private bathrooms! I thought I had gone to heaven!
Anyway, we passed the time in Mancora on the beach everyday, all day. The waves were perfect for swimming and the weather was sunny and beautiful! We met some cool locals as well as a bunch of people from France and Argentina!

There were a lot of backpackers that were traveling freely around South America for a few months at a time. And the food was amazing! We met a local lady that was selling the most delicious basil and tomato calzone-bread on the beach and had really fresh seafood every night. Not to mention everything was very cheap! Dinner usually didnt run more than 2 or 3 American dollars. The guy in the bright yellow dress walked around everyday dressed as a lady selling gum to people on the beach. Its a popular tactic around here to grab attention, not to mention a lot of people will buy the gum just for the entertainment value.
Theres not too much else to say about Mancora besides it was a great vacation from vacation and I didnt want to come home! The bus on the way back was definitely not the same level of quality... it lacked air conditioning and was full of screaming kids. We also were stopped at least 4 or 5 times and asked to  show documentation and passports by Ecuadorian police which was a little irksome after a while.
But Im now back home and safe from my Peruvian adventure. Although I am exhausted and have a huge pile of homework to catch up on... I am not looking forward to Monday...

This is a view of a Peruvian town from the bus window on the way back home.



We met some local beach performers that let us sit down and try to play music with them.