We´ve done so much since the last update that I don´t know where to start...!
After Machu Picchu we spent a couple of days chilling out in Cusco (had a night in at Erika, our tour guide´s apartment which was fun), then it was on to Puno and Lake Titicaca, the highest Lake of it´s size in the world.

We stayed with a local family on one of the islands which was certainly an experience, until then I don´t think we´d quite appreciated how poor some of the Peruvians are. Our room was Ok, but very basic and the house had no electricity or water (we didn´t even get any to wash with in the morning). The mother cooked dinner for us in the tiny kitchen which was like a shed with a small wood burning stove, there was straw on the floor and it was pitch black so I´ve no idea what we were eating! Tasted OK anyway and we weren´t ill afterwards which was a bonus!

We were then dressed up in local costumes and taken to the village hall where we met some other tourists to do traditional dancing, great fun!

Then it was on to Bolivia - another mammoth bus journey, think we´re getting used to them now though (you don´t seem to have much choice!).

Stayed in La Paz for a couple of days, which was a bit dodgy, first place we´ve felt a little intimidated (and there´s no photos cos we didn´t dare take the camera out of the hotel!!!). Went to the witches market where they sell all sorts of weird lotions and potions, plus Llama foetus´s for laying in the foundations of a new building (it´s good luck and apparently everyone does it!).
We´ve just arrived back there actually, but tomorrow we´re staying with a friend of a friend so hopefully he´ll show us a different side to the city!

Travelled to the Uyuni Salt Flats from La Paz for a 3 day tour in 4x4s which was fab, a definite highlight of the trip. It´s like a desert made of salt, all you can see for miles and miles is white, contrasted by the blue sky, amazing. We also went through the national park, some of the scenery was fantastic, it changed so drastically in just a couple of hours drive. Some of the places we stayed in left a lot to be desired though! Don´t think the Bolivians have quite the same standards of cleanliness as us....!

Spent a couple of days in Potosi and visited the local mine which was interesting, 14,000 people work in the mines and the city was once the richest in the world, though certainly not now! It´s the highest city in the world at 4,100metres, you could feel the altitude. The city wasn´t great but we managed to find a fantastic restaurant, fillet steak and chips for 1 pound 50! The food is so amazingly cheap here and really good.

Yesterday we were in Sucre which was lovely, a real Spanish colonial feel to it. There´s a bit of a dispute about whether Sucre or La Paz is the official capital of Bolivia, I´d definitely vote for Sucre, much much nicer! We went out to celebrate our last night on the tour with everyone, plenty of cocktails had by all!

It´s off on our own from here which we´re quite looking forward to. Although you have the security of being in a group it will be good to have the freedom to do things when and how we like!

xxx