Peru in a nutshell!!

Its only been a week and we have done so so much, probably more than we have done since november put together! for anyone who knows Beryl (Sez´s mum) guess you wouldnt expect any different, all systems go go go!!

We met Beryl and John (who were both offended by the Mr and Mrs Vaughan on the last entry) at their hotel; it was a very emotional greeting only to be replaced with sheer excitement at the news that we too were staying in their hotel - DOUBLE BED EACH, FRUIT FOR BREAKFAST (all you can eat at that) AND ENGLISH CHANNELS ON THE TV!!! oh and it only gets better! what a difference from Bolivia!

Anyway, we have had such a superb time since being joined by John and Beryl and still have a few days left! Lima was more of a shopping trip and a reunion for us all (Salt has been made a short term honourary Vaughan, so US includes salt). I think after the 3rd shop John finally realised what a holiday with 3 women was really going to be like! (see the picture for evidence)

This Lima travel thing has meant silly early mornings everyday, which has been hard to adapt to! We left Lima for Ica where we saw real mummies (bit gross), vineyards, and stayed in a fantastic Hotel!! Massive swimming pool and Beryl and Sez were only too quick to get their full body massage!! With the evening free, the 3 ladies hired a sand buggie (plus driver) for an hour of pure fun in the desert, where we were taken up and down dunes; so many times we nearly fell out. Then it seemed perfect to stop and watch the sunset, very romantic!

After Ica we left silly early again to Nasca, to see the famous Nasca lines. These are lines that can only be seen form the sky (unfortunately) and were made thousands of years ago! We did some more shopping, at the small airport, with one shop!! and boarded a small cesna plane for 12 people. In the words of John Vaughan "good gracious" both Beryl and salt came off the plane like ghosts weak at the kness! We got thrown around left and right and left again and then we went in a circle - it was like a bad alton towers ride!! The nasca lines themselves were incredible, but if only they could come up with some other way to see them other than a plane fully equipped with plastic bags!

This is getting long!! but we did say we have done so much! We then went to Paracas where we stayed in yet another incredible hotel.....here we got a speed boat (excluding John who was suffering from food poisoning and altitude sickness!) to a national park/island, which was like something out of a David Attenbourogh documentary; we saw sea lions, penguins, pelicans, crabs, star fish, and all sorts of different birds (granted it smelt like s**t) - it was great!

We then all flew like one big happy family to Puno, a little more uncommercialised than the previous places visited in Peru. John managed to peak up a little bit and dragged us on a boat musuem, we reluctantly climbed aboard the ship to be greeted by the best local we have met yet!! The Captain of the ship, Carlos was ace and no one wanted leave by the end; we all sat there like we were in school, mesmorised by his knowledge and history of south america and the passion for his boat!

anyway after that the 3 girls (again John not feeling very well) entered the market, where it was just pure mayhem, selling random things, varying from apples to house doors to skinned sheep heads!! I mean who wants a sheep skull!! ych a fi!

Ok so the next day, whatever day that was, was one of the best days we´ve had yet. At 6.30am we were on a boat heading towards Taquila island, faced with a steep climb which nearly killed us all, we reached the top. we saw Peru as we wanted, unspoiled, untouched by europeans. just traditional peruvians. It was amazing, dressed in their typical clothes (very similar to Bolivians); the men wearing their differen hats which indicates whether they are married, single or single and looking! The kids were also dressed traditionally, so so cute - we wanted to steal a few of them! After an outback peruvian lunch we descented 200m of vertical stone steps - it was bloody hard work on the legs, but we darent complain when we were constantly being met by 60 - 80 year olds carryin up wardrobes and gas cylinders on their backs!! it was insane, it was hard enough coming down let alone climbing up....WITH A FREAKIN WARDROBE ON YOUR BACK!!!!

do you know what, we´re so tired and still have so much to update you with

to be continued......................

PART 2

Following Taquile Island we headed for the floating islands. These were just incredible. All the islands were made out of weeds! So bizare to think that people lived on these islands!

Then we had a 10 hour train ride to Cusco. This was so beautiful (sorry for sounding corny but it really was stunning!). We couldn`t quite get used to this way of travelling...three course meals, cocktails, fashion shows, live music - basically the Peruvian Orient Express! Quite far from our usual methods of travel!

In Cusco we visited all the Inca ruins (Saccsayhuman, Ollantaytambo, Pisac, Chincero) and then finally Machu Picchu. This really was the best thing ever! It`s in the middle of no where, just stuck in between loads of mountains. Doubt photo`s will do it justice either!  The panoramic view was incredible...although mam got to see a little more of this than us as she climbed the two massive mountains surrounding the ruins. The rest of us just didn´t fancy it...!

So the quartet is now back to being a duo....it was really hard to say bye knowing won`t see them now for so long! Thanks for everything mam and dad, we had the best two weeks ever!

Back in Bolivia now, a 29 hour bus ride later (we`re back on that road again) and staying in a hostel with cold trickling showers (ok for one pound a night we can hardly complain!)...but so far away from the life we had in Peru! sob!

going on a three day trek tomorrow to visit Salar de Uyuni (salt plains) so should be good.

Hope your all well xxx