24.09.08 Gringo Love Take a walk along the shoreline in search of a cleaner stretch of beach. Don´t find one. Hear a shout of, ´Gringos´and are greeted by an old timer straight from the scenes of a Bolivian western. We´re not sure if this is a stick up until he surprisingly invites us to join him and his family for a BBQ on the beach...after making certain we´re not Americans. Politely eat my second plate of animal offal in a month - he´s literally all heart. Not entirely sure of the conversation but believe we cover race, religion and politics in [View Full Entry]

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17 - 19.09.08 This party's dead anyway Briefly return to Cusco for one last night 'on the rocks'. Spend most of the time snivelling in a cool new Argentinian bar where the owners test out their latest extravagant cocktails on us. I drink 1 shot 2 many and felt 6 4 a while until I 8 something! Wake up dehydrated with ten hours to kill before the bus outta Dodge leaves. Feel self-abused enough to sample a burger from the recently opened McDonalds. Tastes delicious but not sure of the meat content. Make mine a Big AlpacaMac! Realise that spending unnecessary [View Full Entry]

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09.09.08 - 12.09.08 Cusco Once the focal point of the Incan empire. Then, invaded and pillaged by the Spanish in the name of Christ. Now, a mecca for travellers and tainted by the effects of tourism. Still a beautiful city in parts but with more of an edge than we´ve seen so far - complete with a sense of danger and all the hedonistic temptations that come associated with it. Rock and roll! Where there´s no will, there´s a way! Good intentions to avoid bad habits last until the first night. Make meticulous plans to sample South America´s most popular export [View Full Entry]

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03.09.08 Arequipa Fully recovered from food poisoning and no longer living in fear of every fart, we spend the day in Arequipa. A city steeped in history and religion with cobbled streets, communal courtyards and condors circling above ornate churches. All roads lead to the central square where young Peruvian lovers court - usually with the men trying to act more amourous than the women will allow. Hey, don´t blame the playa, blame the game! Visit frenetic street markets, eat in roof terraced restaurants bathed in the orange glow of sunset and drink in bars that wouldn´t look out of place [View Full Entry]

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26.08.08 Leaving on a jet plane Fading memories of jaded final farewells. Seeing my mother´s tears for only the second time. A weekend spent getting high does´nt necessarily help you fly! 27.08.08 Lima-Miraflores-Barranca Recovered in a hostel sent from heaven, aptly named One - it will be the first of many. City could pass for Brighton in disguise, complete with an enveloping sea mist, pigeons and pebbled beach no less. The long and short of it Sharing a similar skin colour allows me to easily integrate with locals - unlike my gringo girlfriend! Missing the attention already!! Most o [View Full Entry]

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