Blogs from Antigua & Barbuda, Central America Caribbean - page 6

With the protests pushing back our plans we headed onto Nazca a few days later than expected. We knew we needed to organise our trip to the lines the same day we arrived so had enough time for sandboarding too. We arrived with a Canadian couple so after breakfast we headed together to the airport. After trying to bargain the price we settled on a flight and watched a video discussing the mysteries of the lines. Our plane was a small 6 seater and we were swung side to side so everyone could see the lines properly. Our flight focused on roughly 10 of the more famous lines eg the monkey, the dog, astronaut. They were incredible and was worth the cost of the flight... Even if afterwards I was feeling a bit queasy. We found ... read more

We arrived back in Cusco from the Inca trail saturday night exhausted and ready for bed. Jane's birthday was the same day Lucille & I start Spanish lessons & volunteering so we made Sunday the bigger birthday celebration. We met friends from the Inca trail at The Real McCoy's an English pub that served Sunday roasts, crumble and custard. It may not have compared to our mother's versions but it was very good! In the evening we met up with Aussy Mark and went for drinks and enjoyed some dancing at a local discotheque.    The Spanish classes were great, as Lucile had already participated in a week's school we had individual tutors after the first day. They were really good and we learnt a lot. One day my lesson went to a local food Market ... read more

Today was my real introduction to Montserrat with a special tour, but starting off with a very encouraging meeting. I met with Herman Francis, the Minister of Culture in the morning and was very impressed to discover that his work was also very much hands on as he runs various school and community music groups in the evenings and a weekends. I can't imagine there are many other ministers of culture around the world who are so closely involved and dedicated to their ministerial cause. It was also good to find out that there are a variety of music groups that have been running for some time and a fairly substantial selection of instruments available (though some looked rather worse for wear - there was even a very old looking banjolele!). There is 'Small Beginnings' a ... read more

This is my first trip across the Atlantic and my first tropical expedition. Even more exciting, it is a trip with a purpose and has come about due to the marvellous connection between the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and Sir George Martin. Little did I realise during my teenage Beatle obsession that I would not only meet their producer but put on a big show in his honour and now be instrumental in setting up an scheme he came up with to bring music education to the island of Montserrat. So I'm quite amazed and delighted to be here, staying in his house on that very island. What a journey! Yesterday's travel wasn't too bad. An 8 hour flight from London to Antigua was just within the outer limits of my comfort zone; I ... read more

(Apologies this entry has the wrong location as travelblog website wouldn't let me choose the correct one.) We arrived in Copacabana via bus and boat ride from La Paz. It is a quaint town on the shore of Lake Titicaca; we tried the speciality of freshly caught trout from the lake and it was delicious. Isla de Sol The legend is Isla de Sol is where the Inca civilisation was born. We decided to take a boat trip over and see the ruins which was a maze of corridors and lanes. Lucille was unwell with a chesty cough so stayed with girls we befriended to take the boat south while Jane, Amanda & I walked the 9km to the other end of the island. Initially the high altitude made the steep uphills harder but we soon ... read more