We knew that after climbing Machu Picchu, we still had 5 days left to relax. We wanted to spend these days somewhere where it was sunny and warm. Several destinations crossed our minds; Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Curaçao, Panama, Cancun (Mexico). We searched for flights to these destinations, but all of them costed quite an effort to get to for only 5 days.. We just wanted some sun and chill, so we looked if there was anything nice in Peru. We've been in Lima but that was definitely not a nice place to spend our last days. We started googling and pretty fast we found out that we had to go to the north of Peru. Our destination was just a few minutes south from Mancora.

After 1 day of chilling in Cusco, we took a plane from Lima to Talara, and from here on a 1 hr taxi drive to Mancora. The news was full of floodings in Peru. We didn't notice anything of it and where actually really lucky to be on the airplane now. One day after we left Machu Picchu, a helicopter had to get people off the mountain, due to heavy rainfall. Because of this rainfall it was also extremely quiet in Mancora. Normally this place should be really crowded with young people that like to party, but the rainfall destroyed the roads leading to Mancora. It was only accessible by airplane at the moment. For us this was okay, we wanted to relax anyway.

Via AirBnB we booked an appartment for 60 euro per night. We were really happy when we arrived there. The appartment was perfect for us! We had a kingsize bed, a nice shower and a big balcony terrace which had a great view on the ocean😊

I went jogging for 2 mornings, but other then that we didn't do anything sporty at all. We spent one day at the beach and the day after we went to natural mud baths. Anthony, who lives also at the same property, rented us his 200cc motorbike and after 1 hour driving, we reaches the mud baths. There was only a man from Portugal there, but he left pretty soon, so we had everything for our selves! We paid 1,50 euro entrance and started in the first of the three baths. It felt so weird with our feet on the bottom. We had alot of fun here and made some silly pictures.
In the evening we either cooked at our appartment or went to a restaurant in town. We ate some Pad Thai in a vegan restaurant there, which was really good. During the day you can find cheap food in Mancora. They have daily menu's, which concists of a starter, a main dish and juice. At one place we only paid 3,30 euro for this!

We didn't have a pool at our appartment, but we went to some other properties and asked if we could use their pool for a consumption or something. One asked 25 euro per person per day, but that was to much in our opinion. We walked a bit further and found a nice pool with no people. We only had to spend 17 euro per day here, which was fine! We chilled at the pool while drinking some beers and enjoyed the sun. This sun was the hottest that I've felt the last 6 months, it was extremely hot, but we don't complain☺

After 6 months, catching 25 flights, visiting 8 countries, where I've been eating in a restaurant every single day, my laundry was done for me, where I would always get shaved, because it was so cheap, it's time to return to Switzerland with Nicole. We will arive there on Saturday the 25th of March and we will sleep in our appartment for the first time. Were looking forward to live together and create our own little "home". Next week I have 4 Job interviews and I think I will find a good job that suits me😊

During this trip I learned alot about other countries and their cultures. Things in Asia looked so simple, and people didn't worry about anything. I saw how happy people can be, with so little and it really made me appreciate the things I have even more. I am so lucky to grew up in Holland, and can continue my life in Switzerland now with an amazing quality of life.

The last 6 months were absolutely amazing, I did exaxtly what I've been dreaming off, I've met alot of new people and discovered world's beautiful nature. I'm going to miss the freedom while traveling and forget about the time. I loved the moments where I just didn't knew which day it was, no stress... imagine this in Europe, not possible.

On the other side I'm also looking forward to going back into 'normal' life, with structure. 6 months is a long time and the last months I couldn't find any rhythm and didn't manage to do sports. I feel my condition has decreased and I hate that. I care alot about my health, and I'm very thankful for the fact I could do all these amazing adventures in the last 6 months. I did a 3 day volcano trek in Indonesia, which was so hard, I did several mountain hikes, swam in beautiful waterfalls and walked alot the last months. I couldn't imagine to be in a condition where this was all not possible.

I'm also looking forward to the comfort again that we have at home. No more bargaining about prices of anything, a good bed to sleep on, a toilet to poop on and where you can flush toilet paper down it, yeah!

I want to see as much as possible in this world. Life has alot to offer, make the best out of it!!!!

~Frank

Geschreven door FrankArends