Backpacking

Hello All

So we left Cusco on the 21st and headed for Puno and Lake Titicaca. I had forgotten how much fun Peruvian bus rides can be; all that bouncing through potholes and swerving to avoid old women / stray dogs / other vehicles...oh how we laughed! Missed the tour of the reed islands (mainly due to our hotel receptionist miss informing us...can a backpacker get no service these days??), but met up with some friends for food and drinks.

The following day we headed for Copacabana and the Isla Del Sol (Island of the Sun for the uneducated among us). We met a fellow Brit on the way over, and good job too as we discovered we didn´t have enough cash on us to pay for a hostal (let alone a hotel...how ghastly!). The border crossing is an interesting affair. Three buildings, two forms, and one stop sign later and we´re 7 people in a 6 man campervan heading for our destination.

The Sun Island is amazing though, so quiet (only 2000 residents and no vehicles), water all around, and just the friendliest people. We were sorry to say goodbye.

The following day we caught a bus to La Paz (which actually stopped on the way due to the steepness of the hill!). Finally made it into La Paz and the approach is stunning. You come in from high and descend into the city, which is saying something when it stands at 3800 metres above sea level. It´s huge, with these stunning snow capped mountains in the background.

On ground level it´s manic! So much hustle and bustle going on that you don´t know whether to stand and watch or get out of the way! We´ve wandered through the Witches Market (where you can buy Llama Foetus´among other shopping essentials), been to a a fake english bar called Oliver´s Travels, and visited to the Coca Museum (Cocaine was all the Westerners fault don´t you know).

Tomorrow we´re off to the salt flats for 3 days. Be glad to get out of La Paz for a little while, it´s so busy!

So that´s about it. Catch you next time people.

Sharm

It's upon us. Tomorrow we embark on 113 days of traveling around the world, and I really can't wait! However, after 10 months of planning I still didn't realise we'd have to be up at 5am tomorrow to catch our flight, I've bought most of my gear today, and in two nights time we have nowhere to stay and little idea of where we're going next! Awesome.

So, first stop Lima, a city that I have in my head as being a cross being 3rd world poverty and modern day consumerism. I bet I'm wrong on both fronts, but then what's new? Luckily Sue has managed to wangle us emergency exit seats for the flights over, and for those that know us I'm sure you'll agree we need the leg room!

But I won't bore you with too much detail, I'm sure we'll be able to keep you posted by the magic invention of the World Wide Web. Hopefully you'll manage to stay in touch with us for the time we're away, and please write back, it'll give us something to do after we're bored with each other

Sharm