hiya everyone,

well this will probably be my last update as we fly home in a week, on the 30th nov. since i last updated me have been in peru for about 2 weeks. we flew into lima and spent 3 days sightseeing and a bit of shopping. lima was actually quite nice, alot better than i thought. we saw the plaza del almos, not sure how you spell it, and the san francisco church and also the changing of the guard at the presidential palace. that was really cool, they had a brass band and everything and they all marched in different directions and created different patterns on the courtyard.

after spending 3 days in lima we flew to cusco, after one night we started our 26mile inca trek to macchu picchu. it was wkd but the altitude really affected both of us. we spent most of our time at 12000 ft. the views were awsome and as soon as we saw the ruins it was worth it, they are so big. we arrived pretty early so the clouds were still hanging over the hills, so it felt very eerie. we then returned to cusco but only spent one more night as it was quite expensive there, so we caught a bus, well coach to puno. we spent a day looking around the centre and trying the local food, mike tried alpaca. we then did a boat trip on lake titikaka, where we visited the uros floating island. this is so weird they float in about 3 metres of water and the island only lasts about 10 yers before it breaks up. we also visited taquile, where we started with a 2km walk to the centre of the island and then met the group for lunch. on the trip we met a really nice danish couple called jan and sarah, we chatted for ages then met up later for tea. we then went to a rock bar for some free cubra libres (however you spell it).

after 3 nights in puno we travelled to arequipa, which is where we are now. the weather is so hot here, heard you all have rain back home, we are both red and burnt. just been chilling here really, looking around and not alot really. we leave tomorrow for a place called ica which is an oasis in the desert, which should be cool. hopefully gonna go sand boarding and dune buggy riding. so gonna spend a few days there then back to lima to fly home.

speak to you and see you all soon.

love claire xxxx

p.s. a big thank you to my mom and dad for bailing us out with the money situation, and also to pete for offering (is it that nice us being away)?
p.p.s good luck adam in your last exam, we know you can do it. xxx