A slow start, but packed up & checked out by 12ish. (We had to hang around until then to make sure my guts were stable enough for the trip!). Taxis to town for a very quick lunch & we bid the boys a fond farewell. (We might see them again in Cusco. If not, it'll be in the Half Moon when we get back.) I was a little nervous & apprehensive about our trip today, but decided to just go for it. (Rach on the other hand, seemed confident that we'd be fine). Our minibus took us through both borders & we got our passports stamped with no issues, which I was v.relieved about. The only thing we saw that revealed there'd been any trouble there was the fact that half the road on about 4 occasions was closed off by piles of stones & rubble. But luckily for us the other side was clear, so we sailed on through to Puno in Peru chatting along the way to our lovely lady Doctors on our minibus. At Puno we boarded a larger bus to take us to Arequipa. The old women in this country/S.America, still amaze me with the amount of packages, etc. that they carry around & on & off of buses. I helped one older lady with just one of her bags & it was like a huge sack of potatoes, which left my arm aching after only about 70metres. I can't even imagine what they'd be able to carry if they came down to where we are above sea level. Anyhow, on we ploughed with only one stop where armed police boarded the bus & all the old ladies suddenly scattered their packages everywhere, for reasons unknown to us. (Probably to clear the aisles?!). 6 hours later we arrived in Arequipa, to be met by the loveliest 71 year old taxi driver, who sorted us out with change & then drove us to 'Mi Casa' for us to check into our private double room with an ensuite & cable TV. Heaven!!