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Mar. 26, 2024

During my journeys through South America I have visited 36 towns/cities in Ecuador. In Perú, I visited 48; in Chile, only five; and in Argentina, I visited 16. In Uruguay, I visited five, and in Brazil, three. And in Paraguay I have visited 26. In Colombia I've visited 85. That's 224 towns/cities in South America.

I'm in Barranca, Perú.



Chiclayo, Perú

2024/03/15

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Santa María de los Valles de Chiclayo (or simply Chiclayo) is located in the northwest coast of Perú and was founded in the mid-16th century. Chiclayo has a population of about 880,000. Before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors, this area had been populated by various indigenous groups. The Cathedral of Chiclayo.is located in the main square of the city. It was built in the neoclassical style and dates from 1869. It was designed from drawings of Gustave Eiffel. Across from the main plaza is the Municipal Palace which dates back to 1919. Like so many other towns, the fountains in the various parks are not working. There is a park called Fountain Park, and it has many fountains. I was hoping to see them all spraying water but none were working.

Lambayeque, Perú

2024/03/13

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Lambayeque is located in the northwest coast of Perú and was founded in 1553 with the name of San Pedro de Lambayeque. Lambayeque has a population of about 61,000. Prior to the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors this area had been populated by various indigenous groups. But then Francisco Pizarro arrived and set up a camp which eventually became an important mission which he entrusted to a compatriate, Juan de Barbarán, in 1536. The town slowly grew into an important stopover on the route to Lima. In 1619, there was an earthquake that devistated the town of Trujillo and most of the elite class moved to Lambayete. Then in 1720, the town of Saña was flooded and pretty much the entire population relocated to Lambayete. By the late 1900s, the area was famous for its sugar cane production.

Sullana, Perú

2024/03/11

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Sullana (pronounce the ll like a Y in English), is located in the northwest part of Perú was founded in July 1783. The entire metropolitan area of Sullana has about 200,000 people. Historians say that this valley, the Chira Valley, used to be home to several indigenous groups as well as the Incas, that was until the Spanish conquistadors arrived in the early 1500s.

Jamundí, Colombia

2022/03/04

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Jamundí (pronounce the J like an H in English), is located south of Cali about 24 kilometers (15 miles). Jamundí is four months older than Cali, having been founded in March 1536. The entire metropolitan area of Jamundí has about 170,000 people. Historians say that Jamundí, initially called the Villa of Ampudia, to recognize its founder, Juan de Ampudia, was started as a fort built on the banks of the Jamundí River.

Cali, Colombia

2024-03-02

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Cali, or more correctly Santiago de Cali, is a city of more than two million people. By the land area of the city it is the second biggest city in Colombia, but by the population it is the third biggest. Cali was founded in July of 1536, that makes Cali 488 years old. The first church built here, in 1538, is still standing and in use. Next to and attached to the church is the a house that is now used as an archeological museum. There are photos in the photo album.