Hello from Ecuador! We have spent the last 8-9 days travelling up through Peru along the coast into Ecuador which is green, lush and usually raining! Just like home except the temperature is about 25 degrees. There is not a huge amount to report, we had 4-5 big drive days to get up here broken up by a stay at Punta Sol on the beach which was really nice and chilled out, we camped on the beach and spent most of the time reading a book in a hammock. Yesterday...

Nazca From Arequipa we moved on to Nazca to see the Nazca lines. Things didn´t quite go according to plan there - several of our group had been ill over the last few weeks and it was occurring more regularly. A couple went to the doctors to be tested for food poisoning and it turned out they had salmonella and gardia (a bacteria we think)! This meant we all had to traipse to the doctors and give several different bodily samples (an experience I don´t want to ...

Arequipa is a beautiful city - we were there for two days and saw some wierd and wonderful sights. First was Juanita, The Ice Maiden. She was a 14 year old girl from the Inca times who was sacrificed to the Gods on the top of a mountain. She remained there until the 90´s when she was discovered fully intact and with no damage at all except for a dent in her skull from the blow that killed her. It was apparently a great honour to be the chosen sacrifice... Next ...

The train up to Machu Picchu was just our group and a load of people with grey hair- I assume everybody else walks there. It was stunning scenery and the journey was very luxurios, they brought us food and drink as if we were on a plane. Once we arrived we immediately set off walking up to see the ruins, our guide did not hang around so it was a lung-busting few minutes to the top! Machu Picchu is one of those places that does not disappoint- it is awesome in rea...

We had a great time in Cusco either side of the Inca trail and Machu Picchu. Our main activity was relaxing, eating (fuelling up, refuelling after!) and shopping. Cusco also has some great sites and boasts 14 churches!!! something about the Spanish trying to banish the Inca religions! I also had my haircut which was an amazing experience. we went into a barbors that had guilt frame mirrors everywhere and every piece of floor had a Sweeney Todd barbors chair just...