Have just got back from the Amazon and it was absolutely brilliant!!!!!! Left Puno on Friday morning I think. The miniature market was hilarious and so tacky. It was filled with stools of scary looking objects with tiny dollar bills, babies, armadillos! and other creatures stuck to it. Then a lady blesses it by pouring gross smelling liquid on it and wrapping it in a fake 100 dollar bill! I got a pack with everything in it so fingers crossed! On one stool there was a guru who cured peoples ailments by hitting them with a live armidillo!!!!!!!! The Canadian couple on our tour want a baby but were so freaked out by the scary baby dolls they are not so sure now!

On Saturday morning we got a 7 hour bus to Cuzco and the scenery was beautiful as it changed to mountains. Arrived in Cuzco in the afternoon and had a look around the city. Cuzco is absolutely stunning and the Inca archicecture is incredible with so much history. Had dinner overlooking the square and then went to a couple of bars, one of them was filled with locals and there was a wicked live band.

The following morning we got a flight to the Amazon!!!!! It was so incredible watching the river appear through the clouds from the plane window and so surreal! We got a motorised canoe to our jungle lodge which took about an hour and the ride was so much fun. We ate rice wrapped in a leaf and had various other jungle treats. Saw a cayman (similar to a crocodile) on our way to the lodge and loads of pretty birds. Our lodge was beautiful and our room had no walls or windows but it was so cool!!!!! Had a hike through the jungle to the canopy tower which was so high up and the views over the river were incredible. Watched the sunset and the colours were amazing. Learnt all about the wildlife and other creatures and I ate a termite! Dinner was delicious and we sampled various jungle cocktails before getting an early night.

On Monday morning we got up at 4am! and went to see the giant otters. They were so cute and were not that common to see so it was great that we didn't get up for nothing!! Saw another black cayman which was huge and as we were taking photos from the boat it started thrashing around like crazy and one of the guys screamed like a girl!! we then went pirana fishing which was so much fun and they are pretty scary looking fish! Saw loads of colourful birds and despite searching for anaconda we didn't see one! After another hike we went to the bird watching hut to look for makaws and toucans but although we could hear then we couldn't see any which was a shame but we had a laugh messing around with the binoculars instead. It was so strange as there are some trees in the jungle that smell of garlic and as it is so strong that is all you can smell! After a yummy lunch and several naps in the hammock we went to see the Shaman who is like a guru and makes various potions out of plants. It was so interesting learning about what various plants can cure and there is a love potion which sounds hilarious but only lasts 3 months! There was also one called Para Para which means get up get up and it for men with problems gettng it up! Sampled a few of them which were pretty tasty and we had our faces painted to protect us from the evil spirits! After dinner we went on a night hike and it was great fun. We found so many insects including stick insects having sex, deadly spiders but still no anaconda! Poked various holes in search for tarantulas and found a huge one at the lodge!

Yesterday we got up at 6am and said goodbye to the Amazon. Was a bit disppointed with our guide as she had no enthusiasm whatsoever despite being in the Amazon!! Had an incredible time in the jungle but felt it was lacking something and thought I would see more incredible things and stunning scenery. Think my expectations were a bit high and I really did have an incredible experience and saw so much amazing scenery and wildlife - will find the elusive anaconda and jaguar next time! On the flight home discovered that my spells from the market in Puno obviously worked as got chatted up by a creepy Peruvian man called Walter who kept showing me photos of himself and saying how lonely he was! Arrived back in Cuzco and were reunited with Roberto our guide. Had a delicious lunch and this was followed by delicious cake and magic milk! Felt very sick afterwards and went shopping in the handicraft market which was brilliant. Had a briefing for the Inca trail and met our guide Percy then had a much needed early night.

Today we were meant to be going to the Sacred Valley but there was a huge farmers strike today and yesterday and they blocked all the roads from the city, and airports and railways so we had to stay in Cuzco. Bit disappointed that we couldn't go to the Sacred Valley but so relieved it wont impact on the Inca Trail. Roberto had arranged a city tour for us around Cuzco so we could see various Inca ruins and it was fascinating and really interesting. We visited several sights including Tambomarchay, Qenqo and Saqsayhuaman (sexy woman) and learnt so much about the Incas and it got me really excited about the trail! Whilst we were at the sights we heard that the farmers were attacking vehicles attempting to leave the city and we saw a van that was apparently 5 minutes behind ours that was filled with tourists that had several windows smashed. Thankfully we didn't have any problems as we stayed in the city but it was pretty exciting! Bought all of our supplies for the trail and have just finished packing loads of warm clothes and tons of chocolate!!!! Have to leave at 6am tomorrow and then the fun begins - can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! xxx