I left Johannesburg after Stef and Danny very kindly left me to the airport! I won't say that Jo'burg airport is the most organised I've ever been in but after a little while queuing (in a few different queues) I was checked in. I had 90 rand left (about £9) and I searched high and low to find a book I could buy but none were less than 90 rand so I had no option left than to peruse the duty free(no harm in looking) and to my surprise I found a bottle of Po-10-C (potency) and alcoholic taurine based drink (like red bull) that I had seen in Malawi but never had the opportunity to try (I was also told it was illegal in other countries - obviously not), I even had enough change for a chocolate bar. The flight was fine, entertainment was poor both in quality and number of screens (not that it matters whenthey're showing eat pray love - it's like when you get food and it's bad quality and the portion size is small - do you actually want more bad food?)

Anyway after about 21 hours, 2 flights, 7 hours lying on the floor in Sao Paulo airport and crossing 7 time zones I arrived in Lima. I was shattered but was greeted by a nice Taxi man with my name on a sign (like you see in the films). I arrived in Loki hostel in Miraflores, a nice seaside area south of Lima city centre. The hostel was nice and had free breakfast and internet. I was so tired on my first day in Lima I couldn't really manage much. I did discover that the bus to Cusco (my next stop) was 23 hours and that flights were sometimes not too much more expensive. After a LOT of humming and hawing I decided to buy a flight (for $85). That was the main (only) task I managed on my first day in South America.

The next day I decided I should see some of Lima, I headed into central Lima (1hour in a taxi - I could probably have walked as quickly). As I arrived I saw the changing of the guards at the palace. I then visited Monastario de San Francisco which was cool, especially the catacombs which housed Lima's only free cemetery for a few hundred years. There are thousands of bodies buried there, they have been excavated and the skulls and some of the other big bones are on show - however no photography is allowed.I had been told that it was nice to visit the large cross on the hill overlooking the city (San Cristobal). I was told it was easy to find a bus - this may be true if you have Spanish - however the Peruvians I spoke to (well gestured and pointed at) were all really friendly and helpful and after walking around in circles I found the bus. The bus then spent an hour driving around in circles waiting for more passengers (I was starting to get dizzy). Eventually we set off - it was only at this point that I realised that it was a guided tour (in Spanish of course). Anyway eventually we reached the top of the hill and it was only now that I became aware of how massive Lima is - it has a population of around 10m. The views from San Cristobal were pretty cool and after a little while looking around we headed back to the city.

My next cultural experience was meant to be the inquisition museum - however I was unable to find it so continued walking and eventually reached the fountain museum which was meant to be my final destination anyway! It was cool to see, and apparently it won an award in 2007 for the most fountains in one park (I'm not sure if that is strictly speaking an award or more of a record). There was a fountain show at 7.15pm, unfortunately I had arrived before 5, it was cold (I was ill prepared for this) and there is only so much time you can spend looking at fountains! So I left and returned to the hostel. Although Loki hostels are renowned as party hostels and it was Friday night, I was tired and had an early flight to Cusco so I just hit the hay!