Left the hostel at 8.30 am to catch the bus to Tacna (S Peru). I am very pleased with the amount of Spanish I have learnt since we have been in Peru and in fact have realised my spanish is a damn sight better than taxi/bus drivers as none of them know the word "PARE" means "STOP" it does not mean slow down a tiny bit and toot your horn like mad. Nick had booked the front seats on the bus so we were able to experience the terror of bus travel e...

Well my chicos had a 4.30 am start to start their mountain climb. I had a lie in until 5.30 am as the mulas don't like the dark. It was still dark when I got up and as I looked up the mountain I could see their flashlights snaking around the edge - it did bring a tear to my eye I was so proud of them all (actually the tear may have been because I cricked my neck looking up!) Finally met my mula at 7 am. I think all the mulas had a meeting beforehand to discuss ta...

Had a late start of 7am this morning. We continue our trek to the next village of Oasis where they have a swimming pool (hurray!). The trek is going to take about 4 hours and there are both up and down bits so I am apprehensive after yesterdays drama! Oh well the only way out of here is on foot so I have no option but to give it a go. We also have a new member to our group a small dog with no tail (with serious anger management issues!) Got to our destination in ...

Had a 3.00 am start this morning to start our trek in the Colca Canyon. There were 10 0f us squashed in a people carrier but we all managed to have a little nap on the way including the driver (we nearly made it down to the canyon the fast way but thankfully the guide woke him just in time!) First stop was Condor Canyon to see the condors (ugly birds!). We then set off on our first day trek which was between 3 and 4 hours mostly downhill. They forgot to mention t...

Got to Arequipa late last night. The taxi driver tried to scam us by pretending he had never heard of the hostel we had booked and then saying it was full but we told him to take us there which he eventually did. I have made a new friend in Arequipa called Alexandria she walked into our room at 8.30am this morning took my iphone of me, had a quick look at the apps I had and then asked for Beauty and the Beast on Youtube. After about 1/2 hour we told her we had to...