I had mixed feelings about going to Machu Picchu. Part of me was really looking forward to seeing one of the most famous archeological sites on earth. But I was also quite fearful it would be a bit disappointing. Travelling from Ollantaytambu to Aguas Calientes by train was a real delight. The train itself was very luxurious - something we didn't pay any extra for, which is always a bonus - but the scenery was spectacular. Sheer rock walls on either side leading ...

Returning to Cusco for me was always going to be emotional. A decade earlier I had arrived in Cusco with 'the wife', my best mate/ flat mate for a Christmas I had relished and since cherished. Alcoholic, cultural, salsa-tastic, pisco sours, quinoa, unnecessary hats. Cusco symbolised freedom of mind, money and time. I had great expectations. We arrived by rickety bus to the wonderful Juan waiting to take us to our hostel. Juan ran it with his wife and exuberant d...

We decided a few weeks back when we had spent days on a bus and were grumpy that we would use lake Titicaca as quality time out. Perhaps a bizarre concept when on a years adventure, but packing and re packing, loading and off loading various and numerous carriages, planning, organising, finding and orientating can be tiring business. The seal on the deal was my visible strop at having to find a place to buy water. We chose a decent if not quirky guesthouse that ...