Once settled in and introductions over with, Dave and Emily headed off to there chosen volunteer project which is called the ´French Hospital´. This is a local hospital run by Cuban doctors. The project is to build an extension to the existing hospital with new clinics and facilities to help deal with the over demand for medical services within the area (in case you are wondering.....the ´French´ connection is because the funding for the project is from a F...

After an amazing rollercoaster experience of Cusco/Machu Picchu where we achieved a long held dream of completing the Inca Trail and the added bonus of our engagement, we headed off to Pisco for our 3 week volunteering. We were heading to a charity called ´Pisco Sin Fronteras´ (Pisco without boundaries) which was set up in the aftermath of a 7.9 earthquake in 2007 which devistated the town, destroying 80% of the homes in Pisco and killing 519 people killed (wi...

Dave has been secretly carrying and engagement ring ever since they left the uk in August. Worrying himself silly carrying all across Central America. Not only worried and losing it or it being stolen but trying his hardest to keep it hidden from Emily. So off Emily went with Dave to undertake the 4 day Inca Trail totally unknown that Dave was carrying the ring all across the mountains with the plan of revealing it at Machu Picchu. When they arrived at the site...

So at 5.30am after 42km walking through the Peruvian Andes mountains we arrived at the famous Machu Picchu. Our first glance was from afar with the first rays of sun shining on the city, and magical clouds floating across. Machu Picchu is believed to have been constructed around 1450 by the Inca empire and abandoned around 1550. It was unknown to the wider world until the explorer Hiram Bingham accidently found them in 1911 whilst searching for another city. Aft...

So at 5.30am on Wednesday 9th November we were picked up by our bus to head off to the challange of the famous Inca Trail. Our worst fears were realised when we found out we were in a group containing New Zealand´s fittest family (an ex-national netball player - the mum, a triathlon athlete - the son, an equally fit dad and 2 sporty physiotherapists - daughter and husband)! Located in the Andes mountains, this is a 42km path made by the Inca empire in the 15th-...