Heading home soon - thanks for reading! ¡Hasta pronto! [View Full Entry]

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Great boat trip! [View Full Entry]

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flew over the lines, went to gold and ceramic workshops, museum with original aqueduct in the garden and a cemetery [View Full Entry]

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Time for a break from the hectic sight-seeing schedule. Couple of days by the pool were just what the med student ordered [View Full Entry]

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Back in Arequipa, I had a bit of a holy day - visited a monastery, convent, cathedral, one Jesuit and several Catholic Churches. Parents, I hope you are proud! Bronagh, I hope you are still speaking to me! [View Full Entry]

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Day two and we got what we came for - a good view of the condor! [View Full Entry]

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Took a two-day trip from Arequpia to visit the Colca Canyon - the second deepest in the world. Passed by the mountain where Juanita was sacrificed, as well as El Misti - the local active volcano. Stopped off at lots of 'viewpoints' which doubled as souvenir markets. Had some muña tea for the altitude - highest point was at 4850m above sea-level! Someone spilt the sugar bowl though, and as if from nowhere, this young alpaca darted up and started licking the table clean - for a good 15 mins! Spent the latter part of the first day in some volcanic [View Full Entry]

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Spent a day in the White City of Arequipa, looking around churches and colonial houses. Also went to visit the ice-maiden Juanita, a young girl who was sacrificed to the mountain Gods at an elevation of over 6000m. She is one of the ten best-preserved mummies in the world - apparently she still has maiz from her last meal in her stomach. Took a taxi out of town to a posh restaurant with extensive gardens and lounging areas and was the only tourist there. Braved the Arequipan specialty of Chupe de Camarrones (shrimp soup), which was very tasty, if a little [View Full Entry]

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Got to the Sun Gate and couldn't see a damn thing - the entire landscape was one big pure white cloud. Tried very hard not to be disappointed. After waiting in vain for the clouds to lift, we set off again, wondering this time why we were bothering. But then! We turned a corner and there it was! I'll admit I had tears in my eyes when they first set upon Machu Picchu. I couldn't quite believe it was really there, right in front of me. Albeit, still covered by mist and cloud, but visible nonetheless. In fact the mist added [View Full Entry]

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Again, not much time for a write-up, but basically I did the Inca Trail, it was great - far prettier than I'd imagined - and now have sore calves. Rained the entire third day and in an effort to avoid getting pneumonia, I had to borrow a pair of tracksuit bottoms and wear plastic bags between my socks and my sopping shoes. But my spirit wasn't dampened (see what I did there?) and I was quite sad to think that soon all the walking would be over. [View Full Entry]

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