Sunday 23rd March Easter Sunday, started 7am with firecrackers in the city. Meant got up in plenty of time to shower/finish packing. Ummed and arred about heading to Jacq's for that breakfast I never had, but go for the hotel one instead. It takes a while and I'm champing at the bit to get to the internet shop to back up my photos on DVD. The one I checked yesterday isn't open, but the next one is even cheaper. Whilst she is making my DVDs I'm uploading photos to the blog - computer's a bit slow so don't complete yet, but [View Full Entry]

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Thursday 20th March We all seemed to sleep well, headed out into the city with Ana, Linda and Mark. Spent much of the morning in an internet café/photo shop trying to get my photos onto DVD, but one of my SD cards has a fault. Can see the photos on the camera, but not on the computer. Start to move the pictures 5 at a time from SD card to camera to new SD card, delete and start again (793 pics on this card). It's painful but at least I'll know for sure I have my pics and can add to [View Full Entry]

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Wednesday 19th March Everyone's ready in time, and we're at the checkpoint before it opens at 530am. We're not the only ones, and the pace is quite slow (that's good for me as I don't lose everyone else). By 630am we're at Intipunku (the Sun Gate), where we get our first view of Machu Picchu - pretty impressive - especially as it's clear and we can see it all. After a few photos we head down the slope, arriving above Machu Picchu about 720am. Clouds are rolling in, but this just makes it atmospheric - and they roll in/out, so we [View Full Entry]

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Sunday 16th Not a good start for the Inca Trail. Have been ill nearly all night - crosses mind to drop out, but the Trail was the highlight of this trip, so rest whilst others visit Incan ruins, and then the bus is off. We meet Henry who is to be our second guide - think both Wil & Henry are going to provide some laughs/encouragement for us. I'm feeling pretty drained but the first day is supposed to be the easiest and I'll just take my time. We give our duffel bags (max 6kg, inc sleeping bag/mat) to the porters, [View Full Entry]

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Saturday 15th Onto the mini-bus for an 830 start (not bad!) and we head off into the hills, Wil pointing out some Inca landmarks (and many Eucalyptus trees from Australia!) as we wind our way to the Sacred Valley. En route we stop at a small village where goods are still traditionally crafted. The village is also supported by GAP charity Planterra. We see how wools are spun out and naturally dyed, and some of the plants these come from. We watch some of the goods being made and then are sent shopping - knowing that each sale will directly benefit [View Full Entry]

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Friday 14th An early flight today, so no breakfast before we go. Can see Mount Misty really clearly today, but we need to get inside the airport, checked in, pay oyr S/10 airport fee, and before too long we're on the plane. Journey includes 2 take-offs and landings as we stop mid-way. No food this time, so most people are starving by the time we get to Cusco around 11ish. I'd bought something from the bakery so was OK, but so missed out on going to Jacq's for breakfast (it's famous for it in the Lonely Planet, etc) - but still, [View Full Entry]

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Wednesday 12th March Not too early a start - 7.30ish. Breakfast. 15 minutes on the internet to ask my Mum to help out with my financial mess for a couple of days. Ensure main pack is left for storage, as we have an overnight trip to Colco Canyon (partly to adjust to high altitudes, partly to see the flight of the Condors.. Similar to vultures, I believe). Onto the bus with Pilar, our guide, and Walter, our driver. We head off through some spectacular scenery, after we've gone through more of a slum village. Along with many other houses these look [View Full Entry]

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Tuesday 11 March Hmm, bus journey nowhere near as nice as the other one. We're not under-way until 1am, by which time everyone is nearly falling off their chairs (Although fortunately there is some English TV to watch whilst waiting). We're allocated seats, recline and doze off (I wouldn't go so far as to say sleep), until 630am, when all the lights go up and some 'delightful' music starts. We still have another long 3.5 hours to go, which is 'filled' with 'breakfast', music, and watching Mark chat to Cecialia (a Peruvian) using my phrase book. Finally, around 10am we arrive [View Full Entry]

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Monday 10th March So, 7.30am breakfast (same as yesterday, but 1/3 of the price!), before we head off to the Chauchilla Cemetary, which is being preserved as much as possible after being decimated by grave-robbers in the 1970s. Inca traditions had people buried in jewllery and much of that has been taken. The bodies we left to distinegrate in the sun, but some have been found, although it is expected in the next 10-20 years that these will disintegrate also. We have a bit of a dilemma about the photos, but decide to go with it. Find out a lot of [View Full Entry]

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Sunday 9th March So frustrating that can´t get the photos up for this yet, as had the best day, and got some great photos! A really early start (6am, although my alarm clock didn´t go off, so 6.30am... I did wonder why Anna, my room-mate for tonight, was getting up 2.30am!). Quick breakfast, with a nice rendition of ´Happy Birthday - nice juice, otherwise not the greatest (and we´re back to white bread/jam/egg!), before heading back to Paracas for our trip to the Ballestas Islands. An optional trip, but otherwise you sit in the hotel. Lonely Planet describes them as the [View Full Entry]

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