Early start at the minerals of Peru museum, which allegedly opened at 9am. Rang doorbell as wannabe curator arrived, complete with limp and wandering eye - very Tintin! The guard let us in and opened up to a couple of other tourists, much against wannabe curator's plans I think as he shadowed us throughout the visit, issuing odd snippets of advice and information (no photographs, textiles this way, and most worryingly, are you looking for the toilet?) Excellent ...

Arrived late at 3am by the time Peruvian customs customs had been observed and the ancient taxi driver with even older car had taken us to the Gran Bolivar on plaza San Martin. Fantastic hotel, reminiscent of The Shining with a model T Ford in the lobby. Unexpected! Breakfast and out on the streets to be met by the festival of the chicken, allegedly. Bands, dancers and road blocking spectacle went on for nearly an hour. Made idiots of ourselves trying to obtain ...

Finally boarded the delayed final leg flight Toronto to Lima. Tired plane and tired passengers. We are on the back row (row 40) amidst the LeDroit band tour of Peru and not a few cuddly toys. Maybe one of them is Aunt Lucy, from Lima's home for retired bears ... or maybe not!

Oh yeah, we're halfway there, Oooh oh, livin' on an etc etc etc ... in Toronto after 9 hours flying with a mere 9 hrs to go ...

the bags are (nearly) packed, we have fallen out, kissed, and made up and now relaxing in front of Celebrity MasterChef ... the longest journey starts with single step. Its the phoney war, killing time before the big day dawns