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Sorry for the delay in posting peeps, busy times!
Starting with Monday night, Harriet was working her magic on the Mexican barman in the hostel while me, paddy and sanchia played the american version of gin rummy (my new favourite game) and foozeball (spelling?). Our plan was to go out to a salsa club but Harriet had invited the barman along so we had to wait for him to finish at 12. Luckily we checked some salsa clubs online and it turns out most places are shut on a monday night! We ended up at another karoake type bar and much to harriets dismay the barman revealed as soon as we got there that he was getting married in a few weeks! I have suggested she find out such facts earlier on! We stayed til about 2, but it wasnt really buzzing.
Tuesday: we got email confirmation of our booking in Huacachina and it said that the sandboarding trip was at 4pm, so it was a mad dash to get ready and get to the bus station for the 10.30 bus. Harriet wisely left her big rucksack here, whilst I got my workout jogging with my big rucksack. Luckily Peruvian time is a bit more chilled and so we made it! The bus was like 7 pound for both of us. It was a nice modern coach and we had a hostess who bought round food and drinks. Harriet slept for most of the 4.5 hour journey and I enjoyed seeing some of Peru outside Lima. We arrived in Ica and it was very hot and sunny :) We jumped in a little taxi and the friendly driver took us on the short journey to Huacahina.
Its an amazing place, it is a tiny village based around an oasis in the middle of the desert. The hostel was relatively expensive for Peru but it included the dune buggy/sandboarding, a cooked breakfast and we had the nicest room I have ever stayed in in a hostel. It was really modern and had an en-suite that puts our bathrooms to shame! We missed the 4pm trip, but signed up for the 10am trip. Me and Harriet went for a walk around the oasis and then started walking up one of the mountain like dunes that surrounded Huacachina. Harriet decided only to go about a fifth of the way and so she sat and chilled while I struggled to the top. Again, it was a great workout and a little scary as there was steep drops either side, but I guess you'd only fall onto sand! I made it to the top and there was a beautiful view of Huacachina and you could see Ica in the distance and then everywhere else was just sand dunes. There were a few other backpackers up there and one guy typically had his guitar so we sat round while he played some songs and watched the sun set over the dunes; it was beautiful and I'm gutted I didn't take my camera! Me and a fellow Brit decided to run down the side of the dune, which was great fun and I didn't fall over!
Me and Harriet had booked the bbq at the hostel and so we had a good feed and were chatting to some French guys. It is a very different experience travelling with another girl compared to a boyfriend; people are considerably more friendly and more likely to talk, while I find we tend to avoid couples as you presume they want to be together. Harriet woke up with a rather dodgy gut; glad I don't eat meat, can't go too wrong with avocado and asparagus! No need for straws yet though! Harriet is in desperate need of a belt as she has lost so much weight that her trousers are all falling down.
Wednesday:
Enjoyed a nice breakfast and got ready for our trip, again it run on Peruvian time so we left about 10.30 in our sand buggy with the french guys and a german couple and south korean woman. The driver took us up and over some huge dunes and we were driving around the desert for a bit. Then we had a go at sand boarding; the driver took us to the top of the dunes and we rubbed candle wax on the bottom of the board to make it slide easier. We went down on our fronts as its the fastest way. It was great fun and Harriet impressed herself by doing it and she loved it! We also tried going down on our bums and the french guys tried standing, but they reckoned it was a lot harder than snowboarding. The hills the driver took us to got higher and by the end I'd rather mastered it. (I can't load pics on here, but I have put some on facebook which I know some of you have seen)
We went back to the hostel and got rid of the sand that had found its way into every orifice. We laid by the pool for an hour before getting a taxi to Ica and booking a bus back to Lima. We had an hour and a half to kill, so we went for lunch and had cerviche!
The bus journey seemed long and we arrived back in Lima about 7. We come back to the hostel, it was a bit like coming home. It turns out my card had arrived not long after we left the other day, so I now have a card, but it means if we'd waited we wouldn't have had to go back and forth! Bloody bank telling me it would arrive on Thursday! Nevermind, I am an independent woman again :)
Sanchia is now working behind the bar for free lodgings, so we sat with her and Paddy and a couple of new peeps. Caught up on the gossip and played some pool and gin rummy! We were sleeping in the staff dorm last night and it was probably the worst nights sleep ever; its on one of the busiest streets in Lima and the traffic here likes to beep their horns continuously, all night! Plus, it was freezing!
Plan is to head to Nazca now, but to get a cheap bus we need to go to Ica again and then get a bus from there to Nazca. Which means a long day travelling! So much to do!
Thanks for the amusing posts guys, always exciting logging on to see who has said what (not quite so exciting hearing about stool samples, urghhh!). I hear Pistorius has been found not guilty of murder; surely the South African criminal justice system has now lost all credibility! Not long til the big birthday and party!! I aim to post soon, but not everywhere has computers and it takes ages to write it out on my phone!
- comments
Mum Hey babe, The sand boarding sounds like great fun and Huacachina sounds like an amazing little place. Poor Harriet, I suppose upset tummies are a travelling hazard! Glad your card has arrived and hope you have managed to activate it okay now! I have some news......I am now the proud owner of a little red KA........well will be on Monday. My car failed it MoT and was going to cost quite a lot to get put right and so felt it was the right time to get a new one......the number plate starts AV so we felt it was meant to be as in Auntie Vic......I am sure people have bought cars for less good reason. We are gearing up for the party and as you can imagine I have got my Aggie and Kim head on, things are getting tidied and cleaned! And tomorrow should see the finger buffet sorted. So all good here. Hope the journey to Nazca isn't too arduous but looking forward to hearing about it soon! Love you. xx
Auntie vic Oh busy busy times. Saw the pics on facey it looked amazing. Grandad and maggie are reading your blog. Glad you have got your card. Money belt love money belt. Well done Harriet on your big trousers!! All good here busy busy to getting the party ready. Debs only gone and got marksies rolls so it's turning into quite the event. The man at the top of the dunes with a guitar sounds like a chap I'd like to chance upon. All just sounds fab we are loving it. Take care xxx love you both xxxx.
Paul Huachina sounds and looks beautiful, Alex, and what a perfect place to stumble on someone with a guitar. Shame you had to go back to Lima afterwards but pleased you've now got your card, and can head for Nacza. Hopefully Harriet's tummy has recovered and she an fully enjoy tomorrow. Must check back here tomorrow morning to see what little gem Auntie Vic has come up with!
Auntie vic Morning he's 18 he's 18. Just done our family pressies and cards nice and early so we could all watch. Lukeys first day a college today (good week so far he's still enjoying it) so hope he enjoys it as well. He's had a prosperous morning so far. So today me and mumma are on a finger buffet run, list is done with good meat and veggie options. Mummas post didn't show up when I left my comment yesterday so didn't mention john grose gate. It was very amusing and fret not we made terry (our salesman) work for his sale. We bartered well using all the skills we had previously learned during our boot sale days! And it has resulted in mumma ending up with the most gorgeous little bright red baby you have ever seen. (Don't be shocked if you lose your bedroom to her) and I was on a winner cos like the song says "I've got a CD player" two minutes at grandads and it's out of mums car and in mine. Bloody result cos now I can have chas an dave back in my life on every journey. Now off to change all the beds for the party comers don't want the family thinking I'm grimey. Don't worry we know you can't blog daily and to be honest the alliet community amuse each other when your not here. We have ourselves a blog posse of our own. Love yous xxxxxx will fill you in on party news xxxxxx
Jan It all looks and sounds so exciting and the pics were great! Glad you've got your card and hope Harriet's tum is better (more weight off!). You both look really fit and well in the photos. Tell H that I had my tooth out and it's fine. Really nice emergency dentist that also said he would take me and Jeff on as patients and also H when she gets back. Although they are not officially taking on patients they use their discretion, so that's a relief to finally get one! Jeff and I are going to the Wolesy theatre tonight to see a musical play. Jeff played golf with one of the actors yesterday and he said to meet him after for a drink! Also my big news for H is that I'm booked to see Straight no Chaser on January 28th in London and I'm so excited! Take care and love to both xx
Paul Feel I'm missing out not seeing these photos. Perhaps I'll have to finally join the Facebook fraternity despite years of dogged resistance!
Paul Didn't understand a word of Auntie Vic's last post but then reading your Mum's again, I now know that her bright red baby is, in fact, a car! Registration AV too, so it must be pretty zippy!
Grandad Alex and Maggie hi alex just to let you know we are following your adventures - - the good and the bad, all of which sound a great experience - sounds like you are really having an amazing time in a beautiful part of the world.Enjoy! All buzzing here, saw mum and AV last night - mum over the moon with her new baby which arrives next week. They are both busy preparing for the party sorting out the food and cleaning and clearing but i know they are enjoying all the buzz - it should be good. Grandad and i are off on our caravan adventures sunday for a week so we wont be in touch for a bit but will catch up when we get home. In the meantime enjoy every minute and take care of yourself - love kisses and hugs xx
Dad You and Harriet having great experiences and meeting some interesting people. New car coming as you will have read from mum, Vic and grandad and Maggie - been dominating proceedings and sounds good. Rolled wicket for last time today in wonderful sunshine and umpiring for last time - big game with Frinton needing to beat Witham to win title. Wish me luck. Witches won well last night - and your two chocolate bars were lovely. Two thirds of bottom-related routine procedure completed (too much info I know) but probably won't be completed for a few days now with Sophie and Benny here for the weekend, and most of Luke's partygoers here on Sunday. Continue to enjoy you two as you set off on new horizons.
Auntie vic 2 turds of the way through. Go elv