I’ll try to write a few posts to give you an idea of what life is like in Piura.
I arrived March 4th at the worst time of the year. It was a bad time because the day before there had been protests with people killed, but I’m referring to the weather. If you think you’d enjoy being in a sauna 24/7, then come visit between December and May. If you think you’d prefer comfortable to hot days with cool and cooler evenings, then come any time the rest of the year.
December to May is rainy season and summer here in Piura. The heaviest of the rains I experienced were like a light rainfall, but I arrived at the end of the rainy part, so I haven’t experienced what a good rainfall is like here. But I did experience the worst of the heat! For the most part, the sky is blue and the intensity of the sun is relentless. The temperatures were high 30s to mid 40s all day and only varied a few degrees at night. I couldn’t do anything without sweating. I bought a fan to use in the day and an air conditioner to use at night so I could sleep. One day I experienced suffocating heat — a couple of times I felt like I couldn’t breathe.
Then, in a matter of just a few weeks, everything changed. Piura transitioned into winter. Now the days are comfortably hot to hot (as opposed to very, very hot) and the mornings are cool with evenings that are cool and even cold. Two months ago I couldn’t imagine I’d wear anything with sleeves, but now in the evenings I need a sweater or jacket over long-sleeves. That’s due to the temperature dropping and a strong, cool wind. In summer there was wind as well, but it was hot air, so it didn’t do a lot to help cool you off.
The sky continues to be blue. A cloudy day is almost unheard of. And the nights are spectacular. Even in the city, you can see the stars in the sky. I can go up on my roof to see them, but I also enjoy them when I’m crossing the bridge at night. And when I’ve been out at sunset, I’ve seen some brilliant sunsets.
Enjoying Piura much more these days,
Brenda
