Here in Lima, in darkest Peru and home of Paddington Bear. Closest sighting was a tramp with a PB book. Will keep looking. Arrived on Saturday, having heard nothing but negative reports about the place. Good in a way because it has been a real surprise. Plenty of dodgy characters around wanting to separate you from your posessions and security guards with guns on the doorway of all hotels and even the smallest of shops remind you that there are a few crims out there, but so far it has been an absolute treat. Apparantly it was a different place a decade ago when bombings were rife and there was even, for a period, a 6pm curfew in the city. It is of course still a huge city in a poor country in South America, but seems no more dangerous to us than any of the others visited. Our tour ended when we arrived here, so farewell meal and onto a bar / club afterwards. Sad to say our final goodbyes. We had been with this great bunch of guys 24 / 7 for almost 7 weeks and count them as friends. A few tears shed by Lisa, but maybe that was just the prospect of her having to put up with me with no escape from then on. When we had finished grieving for our departed friends we got to know the City centre with a massive 4 hour walking tour by a Peruvian chap, Rudi. Top bloke, as gay as they come, but kept us entertained with English phrases (all of which too crude to print) said in a camp Peruvian accent. A well practised party piece, but good fun. Saw the main sites and plenty of dead bodies (again). We have seen bones, burial grounds and mummified bodies throughout Peru. I can understand why the dead were buried the way they were, but not the reasons for displaying it hundreds of years later for all to see. Still, Lisa has found something she enjoys seeing even less than buildings, so it is not all bad. Moved out of the city centre hotel and to the city's swish district of Miraflores. On the coast so able to go for a paddle in the Pacific to complete the journey from the Atlantic. As there are people with money, the prime sites are occupied by KFC, BK, McD etc. Nobody in them though - Peruvians must prefer their own cuisine - who could blame them. Resisted all urges to go in (tricky to do with a hangover), but not so a backstreet Middle Eastern restaurant selling Kebabs to rival those sold by Abdul in Manchester. Our move to Miraflores brought us back to hostel accommodation. Our hostel here is this top little place with a pool (empty) and a great patio and bbq area (being rebuilt). Nice not to have to eat in restaurants every night though (as we have for the past 7 weeks) and sort something out for yourself. Alright, have your wife prepare something for you while having a few beers watching old episodes of The Office dubbed into Spanish. One step at a time! Have been able to catch up with some English TV gossip as a tramp sold Lisa a recent copy of Heat magazine. She felt he had more to offer than his mate, a Cheech (or is it Chong?) loookalike selling dope. This X Factor show looks like utter nonsense I have to say. Final day in Lima tomorrow. Two days without visiting something old or big is too much for me, so will get to a couple of sights before flying to Santiago in the evening. The turqoise waters of the Pacific are getting closer! Some photos on the site already, more to follow. S