After saying our emotional goodbyes to the Aulestias, and giving them our presents of a hammock, a hanging basket and a tree tomato tree (yes), we set off on a gruelling 48 hour bus journey in to the heart of the Andes in Peru.

Upon arrival at the picturesque town of Caraz, and after a few visits to The Best Patisserie in the World, we prepared for our four day trek in the mountains, as recommended in the Lonely Plonker Guide Book.

After hiring luxuries such as camping chairs, and not buying dried food, we realised that we would need to hire not one but two donkeys. And of course a donkey driver who, although faithful, did not say much more than the donkeys themselves.

It was a gorgeous walk up a valley that turned from lush green to grey rock surrounded by snowy peaks. It then pased over in to the next valley at a height of 4,750 metres - the highest we had ever been in our lives (not including aeroplanes and rockets, obviously). We passed emerald green and clear blue lakes, and we think we saw a condor!

The only downer was the altitide, which gave us headaches, and the cold nights. Damian looked jealously at Lucy's goose down sleeping bag many a time!

Damian also dropped his camera in the stream, to finally finish it off, and lost his Swiss Army Knife. But then, as they say, do no take anything with you travelling that you do not want to lose. Except, of course, your girlfriend!

We kept a video diary that got more random as the lack of oxygen began to take hold. See these for more recollections!