Well, where to start when I am over a month behind writing my blog??!!

I guess I'll start with where I am and work my way backwards. Trouble when you get more and more behind it becomes a bigger and bigger task and you start to forget things too, not ideal when this is my journal too. I shall do my best to remember but expect I'll end up missing out the little things that at the time I would have thought "must remember this"!

Anyway, not much interesting stuff to report for the last few days as I have been ill- had felt better after my cold last week but it came back, only much worse- I think some kind of infection with temperature, swollen glands, sore thoat, heachache, congestion :-(

I'm now in my third country of the trip- 6 months after starting my trip! Slow travel is the way to travel, ha ha :-)

I arrived in Peru on Wednesday, as my visa expired on Wednesday so I had to leave! I left Banos on Tuesday, travelling to Guayaquil for what would be my 3rd visit. Bus took 8 hours and it got hotter and hotter the further south we got. I was already feeling ill and slept for some of the journey (nothing new there then!), however was really happy to wake up just as we were passing the Chimborazo volcano- what a stroke of luck! Last time I travelled this route I completely missed it as was sleeping, but the road goes past the volcano within 5km of the glacier and as the LP said it "almost looks easy to climb" as the road is at 4000m and the summit is 6310m (of course it would eb anything but easy!) I was glad I got to see it as was a shame I missed it last time.

In Guayaquil I didn't do much, tried to get food but everywhere near my hotel seemed to have big queues so settled for a sandwich- it was Valentine's day but in Ecuador it is a day of love and friendship so it wasn't just couples out, but families or groups of friends too. I like the idea of celebration friendship as well as love- think we should start that in the UK too. Lots of helium heart balloons around, selling for $1 on the street! Luckily I was included in the celebration of this day as the pharmacy gave me a packet of chocolates and wished me 'Feliz Dia'= 'happy day'. My Ecuadorian host family had also wished me 'feliz dia' too in the morning. A bad night's sleep and waking up feeling even worse was not ideal for a long travel day but it had to be done, so I was back at the bus station for 7am. I had picked a bus that would take me to Mancora in Peru and the bus stops at the borders and waits for everyone. The journey was ok but it was really hot on the bus and worse for me as I had a temperature. Plus no window that could be opened, I did try and open it in front of me but the lady in that seat kept shutting it as it would have been blowing on her, luckily as the day got hotter she wanted it open. I wished it had been an air-conditioned bus! The immigration on both sides was fine but the 2 offices were quite far apart, not like in Colombia, it was not a walkable border. Once on the Peruvian side the road pretty much travelled along the coast so there were some nice views. About 1 hour from Mancora there was a stop for checking buses, not sure why here as you're already at least 2 hrs into Peru by then and loads of people had got off in Tumbes. Anyway they must have found something a bit dodgy as we ended up waiting there for an hour L Got to Mancora at about 5 making it a total journey of 9.5 hours. I tried a place I had found in the LP and had emailed re prices but they were full. I went to the place behind and got myself a cabana (cabin) there. It's a quiet, chilled out place and I decided it was worth paying the £14 (possibly the most expensive yet!) because I couldn't have gone around looking for somewhere else the way I was feeling. It's supposed to be a bit of a party town but I just wanted quiet so I hoped it would be that- it has been! I went for food, paid too much for it to be sat on the beach but the sea breeze was very welcome and the sunset was beautiful- what a shame I didn't have my camera. Couldn't finish my dinner and hadn't even had any lunch, a sign I really must be ill because as most of you know I have a big appetite! Another restless night's sleep followed and Thursday was spent lying on my bed with the fan on me- it was ridiculously weak until I changed the plug socket- then it actually did something and I started to feel a little cooler, lol. Friday I managed to go for a short walk but it was so hot- pretty gutted to not be able to make the most of the beautiful weather here- it is clear blue skies and it's hot; Mancora is known for its year round sunshine and is most popular between January and March. I sheltered under my umbrella for shade and got back as quickly as possible. I spent the afternoon lying in my hammock, an improvement on lying on my bed, ha ha and at least in the fresh air. That brings me today- Sat 18th. I have to say, touch wood, I am feeling a bit better so hope that continues. I had to move rooms and no longer have a hammock nor an individual cabin but it has a bit more of a breeze which is nice and a nice little terrace. I could have looked for something cheaper but I don't fancy a party hostel and I asked at a few nearby places yesterday and they were even more expensive- it's high season at the mo but it's also Carnaval weekend and places are busy or full. Mancora is close enough for Ecuadorians to come and enjoy their long weekend.

I am a little disappointed to not have ended up somewhere with carnival events etc but with being ill I couldn't have travelled. My research showed that the most traditional 'Carnaval' in Peru is in Cajamarca which is in the north but probably 2 days of bus travel to get there- I would have liked to have gone, but hopefully I will get to see other traditional festivals on my travels. Wasn't that keen on the idea of having water and paint thrown on me but would have been good to see. Today I think I will try and get to the beach, finally, once the sun has cooled down a bit this afternoon. I think I'll have another day here before moving onto my next stop which is about 8 hours away I think, another coastal town but with nearby ruins. Hopefully by then I will be recovered....In terms of Mancora, can't really comment yet as not really been out and about. So I'll let you know once I've explored a bit more! I know it's a surfing beach and I can hear the waves from my accommodation which is nice. I'm not loving the mosquitos, there are lots and they seem to love me! :-(