Went to Stuart's work with him the other night. Hung out at the bar, and when he had some free time he came over to show me some card tricks. I think the bar tender got a bit jealous or something and after that spent the rest of the night making quarters appear in soda cans, olives disapear beneath glasses and juggling between making me free drinks. Not a bad set up. Next day went to the Panama Canal, and then flagged down a bus to go out to a rainforest re...

I arrived in Panama City last night, met up with Hoop for Pres, or Stuart if you are unfamiliar with this term, at the airport, and drove back to his apartment in the center of the nightlife district of Panama City. Huge balcony, maids quarters, view of palm trees, the ocean and clubs. Drove out to a smaller island to have a view of the canal and the city from a small bar on the water. Today walked along the water, explored the older French District, went to...

Last day in Peru. Woke up this morning to go to the center of Lima. Wandered around watching the changing of the guards in front of the government building, explored local markets, etc., and then ended up walking into a really bad area which I only found out wasn't safe when my taxi driver lectured me about how there were "rats" and robbers all over, the whole ride back to Barranco where I'm staying. Am staying at Barranco's Backpacker's Inn with a view of ...

Back in Lima now. Tried to get on AIM so I could maybe talk to some of you, but damn AIM Express doesn't appear to be working. After a night out in Cusco, going to Irish pub, bar with local bands and then club Mythology with the girl from Sweden and our guide (who I have discovered is a little creepy when drunk unfortunately), left for the Amazon early the next morning. After a bumpy flight and a bus ride down a dirt road we arrived at the Tambopata Riv...

I survived my 4 day hike through the Andes to Machu Picchu along the ancient Inca Trail. Got better the day we started thankfully as it turns out I got food poisoning and altitude sickness at the same time so got hit doubly hard. But I made it, and that's all that matters. First day got up at 5am to take a bus to km 82 where we started the hike. There were 7 of us, our local guide, 12 porters and 2 cooks. Although it was rustic and the hike was hard, we wer...