Just as we were walking into town, we came across one of the first processions of the day for San Pedro, the Saint of Fisherman and Huanchaco. The national guard was coming down the street caring the large caballero (the traditional boat made out of the Totora reed) from the Church on the hill to the sea. They stopped every block as the band played and a firework was shot off.
We followed the boat to the waterfront where after a long delay, it was placed at the edge of the beach. Then everyone dispersed.
Later in the day, after coming back from eating, we ran into another procession. This time it was San Pedro himself, carried in a boat full of flowers from the Church to the caballero at the edge of the ocean. This procession had many many followers and was MUCH slower and much more somber. Before reaching the ocean, San Pedro met up with the Association of Artensial Fisherman (Huanchaco Chapter) who greeted him and lead him to his awaiting boat.
The procession also included the band, Miss Huanchaco and Miss Fisherman, a make shift choir and a hand ful of Nuns. The slow somber march to the ocean took nearly an hour (it is only about 5 blocks away from the point we met up with the Procession). Once on the beach, a traditional dance took place and everyone clapped. The Priest, a Nun, Miss Fisherman, and a few others boarded the large boat alongside San Pedro. With baited breaths we watched as the National Guard slowly heaved the heavy boat into the ocean.
