Lima: We stayed in part of the city called Miraflores which is modern and vibrant and a great
place to relax, which is exactly what we needed to do after the Inka trail!
Unfortunately I haven't much to say in this blog as we were both so exhausted
we didn't do much but instead just ambled along stopping for occasional drinks
in the fancy peer on the sea and sitting on the pebble beach watching the waves
and surfers! Only a short stroll to the ocean from where we were staying it was
great to get back to sea level; and what was weeks of having dry skin
disappeared overnight almost instantaneously! We also over indulged in a few
takeaways, bottles of wine and ice lollies... in fact everything we thought was
necessary to aid our recovery that little bit faster!
The only sight we did try to see was a ruin and unfortunatley the day we walked to it, it was closed.
We also had a dilemma to consider and work out... Only 20 days remaining with 2.5 countries left to see was cutting it fine. Four long 20-25 hour bus journeys through the remaining
part of Peru, Ecuador and Colombia is a long way to travel in such a short time,
so the research began into how much the difference would cost if we flew. After
abit of totting up we came to the conclusion that by the time we had paid for
the 'nicer' Cama Suite buses through the different countries (which we was
advised to do so as the others were meant to have been terrible), we would only
be losing about £150 for us both to fly. Also considering the stories we had
heard about the many travellers being robbed in Ecuador and the very dodgy
border crossings we was wondering if it was actually worth it. Apart from the
Galapagos islands there was only one town that sounded remotely pleasant in
Ecuador and even then we would have to stray off route to get there! So what
would it be!?! Anyway we decided that flying was the best option and to relax
for our few remaining weeks in Colombia before our Asia adventure. Also
Cartagena is one of the places that every backpacker we had talked to raved
about excessively! I think the fact that being on the Caribbean coast may have
also tipped the scales slightly in it's favour!

So Ecuador has now been put on the list of 'places to return too' for the very
distant future, so we can then partake in the popular Galapagos island cruise,
and adding to the costly Piranha fishing trip in the Amazon basin which we also
missed out on. Unfortunately we cant do everything! Also noting from everyone I
have talked too, it sounds like the Galapagos is truly the best part of
Ecuador.

Anyway we finished up our time in Lima at a hostel by the airport, which quite
literally was in the middle of nowhere. I am not going to write about the top 5
favourite Peru as the Inka trail, Machu Picchu and our time in Cusco would sum
up all points as they were all excellent places to visit.
Anyway to Cartagena now Hayls and Jonathan x