So what have we learned these past 13 days?

Peruvian driving style relies heavily on the horn and chutzpah, forcing your car into infinitesimal gaps in the traffic that expand and contract to flow around it - similar to Ho Chi Min, but car not moped based.

Peruvian roads are of very variable quality changing from smooth Tarmac to rutted dirt track and Incan paved surfaces and back within a few metres.

Peruvians love a good sleeping policeman. Much as the French use ludicrously tight roundabouts to control speed into commercial areas of towns and villages, Peruvians use vicious sleeping policemen.

Peruvians work bloody hard to scrape a living, but there is very little begging on the street (only in Lima, and he was an amputee). Existence may be hand to mouth but there is no expectation of state support or any other charity.

Plastic bags and rubbish are commonplace along the roadside and in urban areas - not to an overwhelming level, but a light hint of squalor is alluded to.

Political engagement is driven by painting the side of your house or business premises with your candidates name and party symbol.

Advertising can be on a grand scale by using Nazca line style techniques to blaze out your (short) message from a hillside overlooking your target market segment.

Peru is a huge country which we have barely scratched the surface of, clinging to the gringo trail, but it is richly endowed with natural resources, historical and cultural artefacts of significance and fabulous, astonishing, natural beauty,

Above all, each and every Peruvian we have met, talked to, transacted with, have been unfailingly polite, helpful, smiley and gifted with better English than my Spanish!

¡Hasta leugo Peru, no adios!