After the boat trip we arrived in Lima, the capital of Peru, in the early evening. We went straight to the hotel and got ready for our final meal together. (It turned out to be the first of many final meals over the next few weeks!) Dee, whose arm was now in a plaster cast having broken a bone in her hand, was leaving in the early hours of the next morning so it was indeed our last meal as a whole group. I had been put in a room with Shanna, another teacher ... and you know what happens when teachers get together .... CERTIFICATES!! It was Shannas idea to make everyone a certificate but having only an hour we settled on just giving everyone a title. (The certificates are still in production ...). We came up with a title for everyone that best summed them up on the trip. Five minutes late we went downstairs to meet everyone in the reception.

We found a nice restaurant in the main Plaza and enjoyed our meal. Before dessert came Shanna stood up ready to make her speech. She started off by saying what a wonderful trip it had been and that we had come up with some titles for everyone. Everyone sat there looking really nervous waiting for their turn wondering what Shanna and I had come up with...

Clare - The most enthusiastic tour leader award: For always being happy, cheerful and looking at the positive side of everything and making our trip a pleasant one.

Tony - The most laid back tour leader award: For always being so chilled out and taking everything in his stride. Our very own Mr. Cool!

Jake - The sensitive Stud: For his ability to pull Peruvian women (sometimes several in one night) going home with his arms covered in phone numbers! But also because deep down he was a softy.

Dee - The best dismount technique: Having narrowly missed out on the best mounting technique in horseriding Dee claims the best dismounting technique in sandboarding after her spectacular tumble! Her bravery meant her coming back to the sand dunes to have dinner with us even though she was in a lot of pain.

Neil - The Gentleman: The charmer that is Neil Chlamers was the perfect gentleman to all the ladies on the truck. Opening doors, carrying bags and just in general being very kind and polite. He was definitly the ladies favourite!!

Matt - The thinker: Matt not only got this title because of his famous pose in photographs but because he was really good at coming up with ideas and solutions to problems. His speciality being recipes for group meals. YUM!

Tony (T-Bone) - The sleep wonderer: After a night out drinking who knows where you might find T-Bone in the early hours!! Asleep outside on a bench ... asleep at the computers ..... face first in the campfire! One thing is for sure, it wont be in his bed!!

Nikkie - The drunk dialer: After Nikkies been on a night out expect a few phone calls from her in the middle of the night telling you she loves you! Knocks on your door / window. Then she will deny all knowledge in the morning!!

Sarah - The encourager: Sarah has encouraged everyone to do some things they might not have wanted to do at first such as having their face painted or dressing up like a twatt for a night out but in the end a good time was had by all and it was definitely more memorable!

Larry - The protein monitor: Larry took this role very seriously especially during the Inca trek making sure everyone (especially Kelly) had eaten enough protein to get them through the days trekking. Without him we might be stuck halfway up a mountain somewhere!

Kelly - The most emaculate: Kelly always managed to look clean and tidy no matter where we were. She even managed to keep her white top clean whilst sandboarding in the dessert!!

Lyndsay - The lifesaver: When Dee had had her accident Lyndsay ran across the sand to her rescue, doing her best impression of Pamela Anderson!! The boys were very impressed!

Collette - The best drunk: For the night on the sand dunes where she was pouring coca sours over herself and anyone else that was close by. Her drunken giggle is one not to forget.

Everyone really liked the speech and I have to say Shanna did it really well, no one else could have done it better. Speech over Clare decided to give me and Shanna a title ...

Shanna - The best swearer: Ive never known anyone swear so much!! So much so it became a drinking game! Everyone had to drink everytime she swore .... well we just couldnt keep up! The best performance would have to be on her birthday when she swore at the waiter from across the room and silenced the whole restaurant!!

Me - The best hair: Apparently, I have the best hair, but I think Clare just liked it as it was the longest out of everyones.

After dessert we all went back to the hotel for an early night as we were quite tired. We said our goodbyes to Dee but everyone was going to meet the next night for our last night out.

The next morning we had to change hotels. We were all moving to Miraflores the posher part of town, half of us to a posh hotel and half to a nice but not so posh hostel. I went to the hostel with Matt, Neil and Jake. After exploring the area we all met up again for the final meal (take 2) and Cheryl came as well. The restaurant was near the beach but it was quite cold as it didnt have any walls or roof!! After the meal we said a few more goodbyes to Larry, Kelly, Lyndsay, and Collette who werent coming out afterwards.

The rest of us then went on to Bartini when we spent the night drinking and dancing away. At 3am it was time to say goodbye to T-Bone as he had to go catch his flight. The rest of us made it to 5am before leaving.

The next day we had to say yet another goodbye as Jake left to go home. We did take him to KFC for his farewell lunch first though. The rest of the day we spent relaxing and recovering from the night before.
Quite a few people had left but it was not the end of our group just yet as the remainder of us were stowing away in the truck for one last road trip ...