Got the bus to "Copa". Why, oh why, did no-one mention the bus-goes-on-a-boat part?! Nearly drowned (ok, not really but it felt like it to me….). Copa's a chilled little town on the edge of Lake Titicaca. Remember to take plenty of cash if you go there - neither a bank nor cash point to be found. Hmmm! Had to sell a kidney to pay for the "pink palace" hostel. We walked along the edge of the lake to Yampupata then hired a private boat to take us across to the Isla del Sol. What a stunning (haven't used that for a while!!) place it is!

Crossed the border, on the worst bus in the entire Universe, into Peru and headed to Cusco. Well, I guess if you were a 5 foot Peruvian it'd be fine but those extra inches have to go somewhere…. Luckily the hostel I'd booked was fab and had a little bowing, scraping pixie man on the front desk. Bless him!! Found out that, rather hilariously, I was the only person in my "group" walking the Inca trail. He he. Hope my guide's ready for me!

The next day saw the beginning of the Inti Raymi celebrations. All the school children were dressed in different traditional Peruvian costumes and danced through the streets of Cusco into the main plaza. It was an amazingly colourful, magical day and again my timing (all planned of course!) was excellent.

The next few days saw me walking the famous path of the Inca's and ending up at Macchu Pichu. I was surprised to find the walk itself relatively easy. My elation at that, made it all the more easy as I went along… PMA in action! Discovered, when we piled out of the bus at the trail start, that I'd been joined by 2 other girls, Renske and Anneliet, sisters from Holland. Their company made it really enjoyable and despite a number of ailments (not pleasant - I won't go into them here!) and my tent leaking so much that my sleeping bag got wet, I revelled in the walking, the history and the experience. Well done me ;)

Birthday tomorrow…. Off to the Sacred Valley then guinea pig for supper. Yum! Can't wait!