So, I've finished my stint in Bolivia and now have five settled days here in Cusco - a luxury after moving about constantly for nearly two months. I only had ten days in Bolivia but loved every single one of them! Last time I wrote we were going to Potosi...

The first thing that struck me about Potosi was the alititude. It was crazy, climbing up a flight of stairs was enough to make you feel like you had run a marathon. In fact, turning over in bed was enough to make you feel like you had run a marathon. I had a horrible altitude induced headache over the two days that we were here but it didn´t stop me visiting the Potosi silver mines (the main attraction of the town). Before visiting the mines we had to get kitted up with overalls, hard hat and boots and then go to the miner's market to buy presents for the miners that we would be visiting.The miners can work down the mines from as young as the age of 12 and depending on which mine they work in can expect to live maybe only 20 years after that. Their working hours are awful and our little bag of presents for them had some useful things in it to keep them going. The bag of presents included two important things, 1/ coca leaves (for the miners to chew on whilst they work to stop them getting hungry throughout the day) and 2/ dynamite! When we were all ready we followed our guides into the mines and immediately I felt claustrophobic. It was fascinating to see inside the mine and talk to the miners but I couldn´t do the whole tour because the conditions down there were so oppresive.

Potosi was followed by an excursion out to the southern part of Bolivia, a well known tourist run to see the salt flats. Over three days we traveled by jeep across these vast, as far as the eye can see, plains of pure salt. The scenary was just amazing, with the sun shining on the white salt everything just seemed to glisten and glimmer. The area is also packed with lagoons and lots of geothermal activity so we got to visit some hot pools too. It was really great to get away from cities and towns and take a few days out to explore something completely different.

After the salt flats we took a train, bus and taxi to the HUUUGE city of La Paz. I wasn't really relishing the thought of spending time in such a large city but as it turned out La Paz was really great. We didn't have long here though so I decided to take an arranged city tour this time. Our guide was brilliant and she walked with us to all the major sights of La Paz. I really enjoyed the witches markets where there were lots of gruesome things on show for sale, I bought my very own statue of "Pachamama" or Mother Earth to help keep away all the evil spirits away when I get home!

After La Paz we crossed the border into Peru and made our way to our first stop, the town of Puno. Puno was only a rest stop really as we were going to be heading out on a boat the next day to Lake Titicaca and staying on an island in the lake with a Peruvian family. The families on the island lived in basic accomadation and had only been taking tourists into their homes for the past year as extra income. It was such a great experience to spend time with these families. Our adopted family was gorgeous, 3 little girls, Mum, Dad and Uncle. They cooked for us and tried to chat to us just like we were family too. They also wanted to introduce us to a bit of Peruvian culture so we all got dressed up in the traditional clothes and marched down to the local town hall to dance! Even though I looked like a complete idiot in the clothes (4 layers of skirts and hat!) the dancing was fantastic and exhausting.

That brings you all up to date with everything and as I said we've got some relaxing here in Cusco before we move on again. On Monday we are taking on the Inca trail, four days of hiking to eventually reach Machu Picchu. I am so anxious about the hike and hope I survive! If I do I'll be sure to let you know how it all went in my next blog!