Lima, start of the tour!!!!!!

Hello All

First day in the capital of Peru today, after a hell of a long journey to get out here. Was flying for 14 hours in total, Heathrow to Amsterdam to Bonaire ( small Caribbean Island ), and then on to Lima.

Was freezing in Amsterdam, so when I got off the plane at Bonaire was taken back a bit by the immediate heat, it was baking! The airport there was small, and Pink in colour, called Flamingo Airport. The whole Island was surrounded by a small Indigo barrier reef, great to see from the air. the flight to Lima from Bonaire was 3.5 hours, and the flight was cool, seeing lots of rainforest near Colombia from the sky, and then an absolutely awesome sunset as we landed in Lima. The airport is very modern, then drove through the City with a bloke who was arranged to meet me, and a Utd fan!

Lima is a big city, 9 million people. The people drive like maniacs as we got to the hotel. I met a couple in the hotel who are part of the Tucan Tour reps, they are Australian and seemed nice called John and Wendy. I was the last person to arrive, and everyone else had gone out for the night. There are 33 people on the trip ( the biggest theyve had ), so tonight we have a meeting and are having a meal in the hotel, so will get to meet everyone then and have a few drinks.

Today I walked around the City with John and Wendy. We went to the city Monestary, and did a guided tour which was interesting. Its used to be the City cemetary, until 1821, and there are 25,000 or so bodies there. You can go underground, where there are lots of bones neatly stacked up, Catacombs. We the went to the Inquisition Musuem, and then had a meal and a general look around the City. Its actually quite a clean City for its size. You have to watch yourself, be careful not to be seen flashing your camera about etc, but I thought it was generally ok, may be different at night though. You have to watch out crossing the roads, they dont stop for anyone, and there are loads of horns beeping all over the place. The buses are just peoples own, and they have a conductor who rides on the and shouts to each stop of where it will be heading! Did a lot of walking, saw a bit of the City, and took some photos of which I´ll try to put on here asap. Not many people speak English either! Again today it was hot and sunny, wearing shorts and a t-shirt.

Tomorrow we set off at 7.30am on the truck to Pisco, its supposed to be pretty good there ( a poor mans Galapagos Island ). I'll put next updat on here asap.

Adios!

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