Salaverry (Trujillo), Peru

            Saturday, 16 Dec 2023 – We were scheduled to dock at Salaverry at 7:00 AM.  The Republic of Peru is the third largest country in South America, at 0.5 million square miles and a population of 32.8 million.  Salaverry is a port town located 8.7 miles southeast of Trujillo city in the La Libertad Region, Peru.  Trujillo is the country’s third largest city, and is located just about 350 miles north of Lima. The port, rebuilt in the 1960s by an English company, is able to accommodate large cruise ships.  The town has a population of about 13,900.

When we visited the port in 2016, the Princess cruise ship provided a complementary shuttle for a 45-minute ride to Trujillo, since there was not much to see in Salaverry.  After a 30-minute wait on the pier, we climbed to the upper deck of the bus where we could take photos from the window.  Not bothering to get off the bus, we were back on the ship in time for lunch.  

This time, after enjoying our usual late breakfast, Sally took a nap; afterwards we boarded the complementary shuttle to the city of Salaverry.  Except for the taxi drivers who offered us rides, the area where the shuttle dropped us off looked deserted.  As we walked along the road searching for interesting sights, we found a Catholic church, Iglesia de Salaverry (Church of Salaverry), with a Mass in progress, so we went in and sat down.  The priest was giving his homily in Spanish, none of which we understood.  At communion, we waited for the people in front of us to get up, but they never did.  Only about five older women went up front.  By the time that we realized no one else was going up, it was too late, so we didn’t get to receive communion.  Oh well.  How do you say Amen in Spanish, anyway?  After Mass, we took a few pictures of the church and the surrounding area before reboarding the shuttle back to the ship.

The Marina Show Band was playing in the Horizons, not the 4 Corners Band.   They played a waltz, which the 4 Corners Band never seem to play.  Afterwards, we went to the Terrace Café for our usual dinner.