Blog no 54, the final chapter! How the hell I sum up this last year, I have no idea, but here goes…………but firstly the trip stats! So, that's it, after 11 months & 2 weeks, 3 rucksacks, 1 pair of skates, 3 pairs of flip flops, 14 countries, 28 flights, 105ish buses, 11 boats, 10 long distance trains, 11,000 photos, 200+ people I've met, 5 tour groups, 3 journals, 54 blogs, a budget that was blown to bits only 5 months in, and, 1 massive tattoo, l'...

Arrive to NYC after the most bumpy flight which left me reaching for the sick bag. Not good. I got the shuttle to hostel and spent the afternoon pulling together my itinerary for the next 6 days which took a few hours, then I went for a little wander along broadway to get some food. Then I met up with Sam for a few beers at the mean fiddler, a return to the final contiki pub and the night which did indeed turn into a pretty drinken night, I blame our very attent...

So having waved goodbye to Chicago, I was back in the shuttle on my way to flight number 33 (i think) of my trip, this time to Boston, where I had absolutely no idea what I would be seeing here. Our lovely shuttle driver gave us a mini tour on the way to the hostel and pointed out a number of things we should have a look at whilst here, it was very helpful. I arrive at the hostel and have got a bottom bunk this time, result! So having not really done anything t...

So having been delivered safely to the airport in Lima by our tour guide Fernando, and this I was very grateful of, I will be honest i did not relish the thought of having to get a cab on my own at 3:30am in one of the more unsafe cities in South America, so thank you very much Fernando, my feeling of uneasiness was picked up on, which was why i was delivered all the way to the check in. Very nice thought and I was very very grateful. So the first flight was to...

We arrived into Cusco and had 2 nights to sort ourselves out for the impending 4 days of hiking and 3 nights of camping. The full day in Cusco (23rd Nov was spent) a bit hungover, we had a bit of an unexpected big night out in the irish bar and then some dodgy club, a great night but we were certainly feeling it a bit. We hauled ourselves out of the hotel and made our way to the main square in search of the free walking tour people. We do love a free walking ...