Beach life I think suits me... we left Lima last week (now a much cosier group of 5 inc. our guide) and preceded north where we hit the sun, the sea, the surf and the sand. And, I must say what a nice way to end our time in Peru via the seaside towns of Huanchaco/Trujilo and the lovely resort of Mancora - did not really get up to much other than lie around on a sun lounger, drink ice-cold beer, and gorge myself on the truly wonderfully fresh ceviche (Jon you were so right about this raw seafood dish it was addictive - for those interested don't think Sushi it's much nicer raw fish marinated in lime, chilli, onions and coriander and it's to die for). Though I will add beach-life was not all rest as I did force myself off the sun lounger for an afternoon to visit Chan Chan which is a huge sand city (or if you like the biggest sand castle in the world covering 14 Sq KMs). The city was built around AD1300, was almost destroyed a few times by earthquakes and floods, was raided and almost destroyed again by the Spanish, then had a road built right through it 20 years ago and parts are still standing but that's about as interesting as it gets.

But enough of the seaside as it was time to hit altitude again and make our way to Ecuador where we were met with the most bizarre boarder crossing I've ever experienced. We got a bus to the most northern town in Peru (Tumbes) and then once we stamped ourselves out of the country our backpacks were loaded on to a cart which we followed for about 15 minutes through a barricade which marks the end of Peru and over a bridge which basically was one big hectic market selling everything from socks to monkeys (live monkeys)... ok I think we're in Ecuador but I'm not sure as we don't go to immigration as there does not appear to be an office anywhere, instead we book bus tickets and go for breakfast in the town of Huaquillas - I ask are we in Ecuador? I'm told yes!! So two hours later and breakfast well and truly over we get in taxis and drive for about 10 minutes through the town and finally we find immigration to be met by Bud-guzzling officials who proceeded to stamp us into their country whilst pouring cans of the beer down their throats (no I am not joking) and I think to myself... "I'm going to like this country"...

Ok time for the boring, facturial bit... Ecuador is one of the smaller Sth Am countries but has the highest population density of all the countries, my Lonely Planet also tells me that it has the most varied geographical landscape of any of the other countries here as it includes the Andes, the Amazon Jungle and the Pacific Beaches and all this in a space the size of Nevada (I know one person out there who will be interested in that little irrelevant fact) and it is famous for the Galapagos Islands and also for the Panama hat (the country's biggest export)...

Right now we are staying in the beautiful colonial town of Cuenca in the southern highlands, which is the original home to the said famous hat. This town is probably one of the nicest I've yet visited in South America - it has a great vibe, a wonderful setting in the hills, beautiful architecture and the Ecuadorians are extremely welcoming and friendly and seem to be less use to tourists than Peru, so appear to be genuinely interested in talking to you rather than trying to sell you a tour or useless trinkets. I've only been here a day but have already been to the world-famous Panama hat factory where I saw how the hats were made and then tried a few on for size, I've wandered around the little cobbled streets taking in the splendid architecture, walked along the river side where women still wash and dry their clothes and sampled the local beer (thankfully not Budweiser).

Ecuador... yes, I really do think I?m going to like it here