Wow we are here and what an escapade.We set off from Arica and walked up to the taxi park,it wasn´t as bad as we thought it was going to be,the driver has to get 5 passengers to make his trip worth while and we were his first two,the taxis that cross the border are all old big American cars ours was a Crown Victoria,maroon, all plush velvet and leather inside,licence plate was A.J. so I thiought it was a good sign.Very soon a young Chilean couple joined us,they were students from Santiago and desperate to speak English,then a man in his middle forties came,the driver collected our passports and got the necessary documents for us,this is the norm.The whole journey takes about one and a half hours and it cost us £3 each.

Anyway we got to the border and the driver took us through the check points,had to get out of the car twice,at the second point the man who had been sitting beside me was arrested,when they came to get his luggage he disappeared,I was busy frisking myself incase he had planted anything on me,I really didn´t know why he had been arrested but I wasn´t taking any chances, nearly got had up for stripping!! After that the journey was uneventful,the young couple helped us to change our money at the money changers(now that´s an experience) and got us into a taxi.

The hotel was in the centre but it got dark earlier and quicker and I didn´t like the feel of the place so we came back in and just sent for a sandwich from room service.Up at 4am. and off to the airport,the plane landed at Arequipa( a place we will be going to on the trek)then into Lima.We managed to locate a safe taxi and got to our hotel by 11am.

What a lovely building and a beautiful area,it is called Millaflores,10 minute walk to the beach but lots of eating places and shops around,we went into the supermarket for water last night,it was like walking into Harrods,mountains of fruit,apples polished,fruits we´ve never seen before,lovely.

At breakfast this morning we shared a table with a lovely American girl who had just finished the trek we are doing but she did it from Rio to Lima with GAP,then the rest of the people who had travelled with her came to breakfast and were full of ideas, for me in particular( I must be looking pretty rough these days)One couple who were a little older than me,came from Denmark couldn´t do the walk,they transferred to the train,the man told me he didn´t have the breath to smoke!!,I said that was a drastic way to give up smoking,they were quite concerned for me,have to say they dampened my spirit a bit but I´m determined to give it my best shot.They also told me the travellers from Canada and New Zealand had brought Diamox with them to combat the altitude problems,I´ll stick to my herbal diuretics and panadolxxxx everything crossed.

Alison´s uncles' releatives have been in touch with her and she is spending the evening with them,they have a friend that speaks English so it should be a good night for her,I´m so pleased for for her as her aunt and uncle were eager that she should meet the family and take loads of photos,now that is something she is good at,her photo taking to date is in the thousands,I hope you are all prepared for her photo sessions,she has already sent a shoe box of c.d´s home that she transferred photos on to.Gosh that is very bad grammar but I´m getting a bit too hungry,cant think too straight,that´s my excuse anyway.

We meet our guide Ronny Torres on Friday at 6.60pm. get a wee run down on the trek then we are going out to dinner,there are seven of us altogether,we should know who is who by tomorrow.We then head off on Saturday,if there are any changes to the route I will let you know.Not sure what the internet availability will be like but I´ll catch up with you in the cities of Pisco and Cusco,then it might be Brazil after that.My phone doesn´t have a signal yet but the guide has one.

I´ve uploaded a pile of photos but for some reason they have come under the one of me in the devil´s wine cellar,La Serena,so if you click on that one you should get the latest.

Got your message Sandy,pleased to hear from you,hope you are still recording my C.S.I. Miami for me thankyou very much.

Hope my postcards are arriving,I hear there is a postal strike at home so they might take longer than usual.

Bye for now,hope to be in touch with you soon,take care,miss you.Love,J xx