Stopped here en route from Arica to Arequipa. Because of two hour time difference between Peru and Chile, we arrived half an hour before we set off! A bit of time to kill. Very hot - 36 degrees C.

Travelled across the desert to get to Arica and saw flamingoes on the lagoon in Bolivia, and snow-capped mountains. Really love it here in Chile. Really sunny and in a great hostel. We borrowed beach towels and a body board and spent most of our time at the beach, where there is a flock of huge pelicans which look like pterodactyls.

Travelled by bus from Puno in Peru to La Paz in Bolivia. Was an interesting journey - at one point we had to get off the bus and get a small, scary boat across a stretch of Lake Titicaca while the bus went on a raft. Was awful watching the bus sway from side to side, with our bags attached to the roof. But we made it to our hostel (with free beer and pancakes so Craig was happy). La Paz was great - especially liked the Witches´ Market, with creepy animal ske...

Have spent today on a day trip around Lake Titicaca. Was lovely and sunny so spent a lot of the time sunbathing on the roof of the boat. Visited a few of the floating islands made of reeds and met the people that lived there. Then walked around tranquil island. There was a blackout in Puno when we got back so ate our dinner in the dark.

We took a train back yesterday from Machu Picchu. We were delayed for hours as there was a landslide on the track. Was fine though as PeruRail gave us a nice box of food each and some insane entertainment: a fashion show of llama wool clothes and a masked dancer (sort of like a character from a horror movie with a hat with bells on) came up and down the aisles. Today we went horse riding in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Yes we are surprised too at how energet...