Telliott

I have been in Germany for almost a week now, and so far so good! I am beginning to feelwhy people like Berlin so much - it is difficult to put a finger on exactly what it is though; je ne sais quoi is definitely the answer I want to give, but it feels too much like a cop out. I will try to explain a few aspects though. 1)The city plan. Big wide thoroughfares eliminate the claustrophobic feelings that dominate so many other cities, like York or in a more extreme version, London. Rows of trees line many of the streets, and again, it opens the whole place up. It also makes walking a lot less painful, as there is enough room for people to walk 8 abreast in so many places. As I mentioned ... read more

After one final, and very heavy, night in Mancora, I was on a 9am chicken bus (bad seats, no air-con) outta there. Long story short, so as not to dwell on it (I just deleted this paragraph as it sounded to negative!) , this, the next 15hour night bus, and the taxi rides (more the taxi drivers - they are just bad people) made me somewhat irate - more than any other journey I had taken this tour! Anyway I arrived at Yurimagus, and more importantly, I arrived at the time I wanted to, which is to say, I arrived in time to catch the boat. I did not even know there was going to be a boat that day, nor what time it would leave, so Lady Luck was definatly on hand for that one! ... read more

On the 22h bus from Cusco to Lima, I decided that actually I fancied a few days on the beach, rather thasn in the mountains of Huaraz. This was quite a big descision in some respects, as it required a bit of rearranging. More than that, instead of another 8h bus, it meant that I had to get a 15h bus, followed by another 3 h colective taxi - so including transfer times, I was travelling for 42h by bus. This was not good. Needless to say, attempts at conversation with me towards the end were met with monosyllabic answers or a smile that didn't touch my eyes. However, at the end of it was Mancora, Peru's best beach. I am spending a few days here now, r&r before I head into the Amazon. It is ... read more

So, after my last entry, I found a resturant overlooking the main Plaza which was reputed to serve good Cuy - the Peruvian delicacy. Being a game old bird, I am happy to try anything, but I think this was one of the more bizarre foods I have ever eaten! Here is my account of the ensuing battle. ------ There were several resturants viying for my patronage as I walked towards my pre-selected eatary, which meant when I arrived at said place, I was obliged to ask the waiter trying to usher me in if I coulkd have a free Pisco Sour with my meal - he aquiesed. Win! Seating myself in a perfect people watching position, my order was taken without me ever looking at the menu, and I sipped my drink whilst watching the ... read more

After the excitement of the Death Road, I jumped on a night bus headed south to what is claimed to be the highest city in the world ( http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/featured/highest-cities-in-the-world/4660 ) - Potosi. At the time the Spaniards descovered the mountain beside the then town's rich mineral deposits, the population exploaded' as the Spaniards imported huge numbers of people to work the mines and fund their eer expanding empire. This meant that at one point in history (between the C16 and early C18), Postosi was also one of the worlds largest in terms of population. Anyway, I arrived in the wee hours of the morning, and after learning a Polish guy and his American grlfriend could speak fluent Spanish, I latched onto them when the bus rolled in an hour earlier than anticipated, at 6am. Together we ... read more