So much to fill in once again!

I finished at the orphanage just before atempting to see Machu Picchu and really enjoyed my time there. Day to day we didnt have to do much except play football or in the park. Or if we bought beads, etc. we could make bracelets with them. The boys were always more into the activities than the girls were, even the day I took my nail varnish for them to put on!

We also took them all into town to watch one of the easter parades, though this one was actually for the Lord of the Earthquake.... fun mix of catholicism and spiritual belief. It was a bit of a nightmare since there were 24 kids, 6 volunteers and thousands in the crowd, but we only lost Edgar once!

The stories as to how the kids ended up in the orphanage are unbelievable when you look at how lovely they seem. And when you consider how young they all are. One was a bank robber, one was running from the police, one was thrown into a river in a sack and left to die.... you get the idea.

It was sad to move on but I think I would have got too attached if I had stayed... maybe one more week!

Had a few really great nights out with the other volunteers which was great - would recommend Cusco for a night out!!

*****Machu Picchu******

Casey and Portias Wedding

I met casey and portia in argentina and they were part of the group I travelled with until I got to Cusco. Me and Jarred were going to be in Cusco at the time of their wedding so were invited to come, which was really lovely of them.

On the morning of the wedding me and Jarred got a taxi to the hotel just out of town and it was beautiful! The weather was great and the hotel was perfect. There was fruit orchard out the back where the ceremony took place and a courtyard in the middle of the house set up with a marque, tables and dance area.

10am the wedding started, a shaymen ceremony which was beautiful and interesting too. An hour and a half of blessing, praying and putting together a parcel of 54 items which would be burned to give good luck and longevity to the marriage. We had to send them our prayers at one point and dance around them at another!

After the ceremony the drinking commenced! Pisco sours (peruvian drink) and champagne. Photos and then a traditional peruvian lunch. Speeches were also great and it was fun hearing about casey and portia before we knew them!

The rest of the day passed in a blur of drink, dance, photos, fireworks, easter egg hunt and pizza! And then me and Jarred hit a night on the town, since we had to go past the clubs to get to the hostel anyway...!

The next night I took a night bus to Arequipa, a town in the south of Peru. Travelling with one of the other volunteers now, a guy called Will, from Stockport. We were picked up from the bus station and taken to a tour agency and found ourselves on a tour to the Colca Canyon within hours of arriving in Arequipa - as much as I did not want to be on another tour quite so soon after the last one!

The tour was great though. The tour guide was brilliant and I was safe the whole time! My expectations of a tour have gone down somewhat!

We drove to a place called Chivay, via some towns. Climbed such altitude that the beginning looked like Sinai and the top had snow! Saw tonnes of llamas, alpacas, etc and in the afternoon went to hot springs in the town! A few beers in the hot springs and then we were taken to the most contrived folk show, dining experience. One of the down sides to taking a tour I guess.

The next morning we got up at 5am to go to the Cruz del la Condor in the hope that we would get lucky and see a Condor or two cruise past using the hot termal wind currents and lucky we were! Very close up sighting of condors, followed by a short stroll along the top of the canyon and then a bus trip back to Arequipa.

Spent today wondering around Arequipa, which is beautiful. Gorgeous square and churches all made of sillar - volcanic material. Plus there is a monastery which is like an entire town it is so large! I had a quiet moment in the church earlier contemplating the last couple of weeks and moving onwards to NZ and a man decided to try to make friends. My spanish still isnt good enough for indepth conversations so I made my excuses and continued sightseeing - still one last reminder about how friendly south americans are!

Fly to New Zealand tomorrow so this is the end of the South America leg. Met some amazing travelling companions and really love this bit of the world. But so incredibly excited to get to NZ, see Alex and see what the next stage has for me. Just got time for one more night out tonight!

xxxxx