I'm in pisco now. A major contrast to Lima. Pisco is a small town which was devastated by an earth quake in 2007 and it is still pretty much in ruins. The people are poor and the streets are not safe to walk about on. We are staying in a really nice hostel. Met the group now - 11 of us, 6 Auissies and 5 from UK including myself.

Lima was great but we only really saw the modern side. We had a 4hour drive from Lima to Pisco this afternoon which went really quick because there was so much to look at. One minute it was nice buildings of Miraflores in Lima and then we were driving through slums then the desert and then lush grasses. It was bizzare. Really sobering experience to see the slums and pisco.

The hostel I am in now is really nice. We have just eaten and I have had my first Pisco sour! -a brandy local drink made with egg yokes - nice but very sour!

Tomorrow I am going on a trip to the Ballastas islanads. Hope to see dolphins and sea lions and birds. We are going there ar 8.30am and at 10.30am we head out to Huacchina and we are going sand boarding - can't wait.

The group I am with is great - already they have noticed that I come out with weird things...just like home!

Well I'm off to bed as got to be up at 6.30am for breakfast and then to the island. Te hotel tomorrow is supposed to have a swimming pool so that will be cool.

Trying to get pics up on Facebook but the internet is slow!

I'll update you when I can!

Adam