We are not actually at Machu Pichu yet but there are no more pictures to put up! We are recovering from altitude sickness from La Paz, no one warns you how bad it is going to be! Our fault for travelling straight there on the bus to the dizzying hights of 4,500 metres high! It certainly felt like it too, extremely cold we had to buy new hats and jumpers, the beds were warm but the showers not so much! Our first night we stumbled across a hip hop show in the centre of the city, which was a little like a school talent show, some really good, others really poor. Enjoyable to watch although the Bolivian locals weren't really getting into it, they all seemed really shy. Because of the altitude we didn't get up to much except christmas shopping and sleeping and no boose!!! Infact until the other night we haven't really drunk for two weeks! From La Paz we caught the bus to Copacobana on the south of Lake Titikaka, what an amazing place, somewhere I have always wanted to go and couldn't believe how beautiful it was. Bright sunshine glitters off the lake which drops off the horizon, so strange to be so high and feel like you are next to the sea. On the first day we sat by the lake eating fresh lake Trout in lime juice! Our hotel was pritty sweet as everything is so cheap here. A double room with views of the lake, warm showers and breaky was 5 pounds for both of us! (No surprises for why xmas shopping has been done here.) The next day we took the slowest boat in the world to the Isla da Sol where we took an amazing 3hr walk up and down the hills overlooking sacred rock sights, clear aqua blue waters, and views of the lake. One of the most beautiful places I have ever been. On the way back through the town we bumped into the two girls we has shared the crazy train incedent with, and had a good night out on the beers and pisco sours, felt it the next day on the bus to Peru, Puno when the bus broke down for 2 hours! Amazingly they managed to fix it. Puno is a strange town, not very pritty with no views of the lake but today we caught a boat to the floating islands which the residents make out of pete like earth and reeds pilled on top. All the dwellings are made from reeds, but now the main source of function and income is tourists. Each house has its own stall, I was coaxed into buying a cusion cover with an inca god on the front which the lady had made herself, she showed me around her one room house with a bed and cusion embroding materials, another lady and a baby, snug to say the least. She even gave me a necklace as a prezzy, such open friendly people with enormous smiles and welcome greatings. Later we are going on to Cuzco where we have 5 nights before the Inca Trail, really looking forward to the 4 day treck, but need some rest first! Lots of love Ellen and Dave