A very early start today but it was worth it to see the wonderful views of Cotopaxi. It stands at 5897m and is one of the highest active volcanoes in the world (although it has been fairly quiet since 1904)! Sadly we didn´t have time to climb it. It takes 7-9 hours to get to the summit and another 3-4 to get back down. Instead we opted for a short hike around Lake Limpiopungo at an altitude of 4500m. The views of the volcano are breathtaking and I have some great photos which I will add when we get back. During our hike we saw a local football team practising at high altitude to make them fit and strong. We headed on to Saquisilli, the largest rural market in Ecuador. The smell of fish is still ... read more

Today we left Quito and headed north towards the Equator visiting the excellent "In Situ" Inti-Nan solar museum. We learnt some of the history of the indigenous people as well as having the opportunity to conduct lots of cool experiments! We watched the Kondi Contrifugat forces in action by pouring water down a sink on the equator line, in the northern hemisphere and then the southern hemisphere. We also attempted to balance an egg on the head of a nail and walk in a straight line along the equator with our eyes closed. You could feel yourself being pulled either side. It was really cool. Afterwards we headed to the Mitad del Mundo which marks the original spot of the equator line before we had GPS. On the way to our next stop of Otovalo we ... read more

As most of you know I, along with my Dad, am about to embark on my next holiday adventure. This time my travels are taking me back to South America to visit Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. I shall be away for 22 days flying into Quito, capital city of Ecuador (and the second highest city in the world) via Madrid. The highlights of the trip will include Quito, Otavalo and Saquisili, the volanic peaks of Cotopaxi, Chimborazo and Tungurahua, the Amazon Jungle, Devils Nose railway and of course 7 nights sailing and visiting some of the Galapagos Islands. We will be travelling via plane, coach, motorised canoe, train and motor cruiser staying in hotels, jungle camp, hosteria and boat! Hopefully, I will be able to update my blog as we go along if internet access ... read more

Well, it has been a complete whirlwind since my last blog. I headed to smokey Zion which was very disappointing due to three forest fires. A lot of trails were closed but I still managed to hike 5 of them in one morning with my new friend Mark (from the same town as me in the UK). Only crazy British people would be out in the midday sun but we stopped after hike number 5! Will definitely visit Zion again when it is less smokey and not 104 degrees! Viva Las Vegas was next and what a contrast to the National Parks of the last few days. A crazy, glitzy, fun, glamourous place that is hard to describe. I enjoyed winning my $14 on the slot machines and watching people play roulette and black jack. I ... read more

Visited Monument Valley a few days ago. Baking temperatures but enjoyed a hair raising jeep tour with a Navajo Indian - Willie from the Redbottom tribe (only realised the pun a few days ago!). Anyway, we went on this awesome tour and saw some amazing monuments. Willie was a great guide and we were able to get out of the jeep to hike on some of the Mesa's where we saw cool arches and circles. I say hike, it was more like bouldering and I definitely took my life in my own hands a few times. Could have done with a harness and some rope! We also saw some examples of cliff dwellings and some paintings on the walls which date back thousands of years. In the evening we watched the sunset and then camped out ... read more

Well, can't believe it is now day 9 of the trip and we have made it all the way to Texas and have just arrived in Del Rio near the border with Mexico. I had a fun day in New Orleans after the big night of partying and went shopping for a dress for Vegas. I can't let the side down for our Limo ride and everyone else is going to dress up so a good excuse to shop! Yesterday we drove into Texas and got to catch a free ferry across to Galveston where we camped right on the edge of the beach. Pretty cool apart from the sand flies so I am now covered in bites! Enjoyed swimming in the sea though even if it did feel like bath water. I also managed a ... read more

Well since my last entry I have travelled all the way to New Orleans! I enjoyed the natural history museum, a walking tour of Brooklyn and some window shopping on 5th Avenue, a discussion about Brazillian politics (with 2 Brazilian girls I met at the hostel) before leaving for my tour on 4th July. It turned out that a girl in the bed above me in the hostel was on my trip! What a coincidence! There are 2 Southern Sun trips with 13 people on each plus a tour leader. My trekamerica groups consists of 4 South Koreans, 2 Swedes, 1 Dane, 2 Germans, 2 Scots and one other girl from England! Interesting mix of people! Oh and on the other trip is a guy from my home town - Abingdon who went to the ... read more