Claire Hello, sorry everyone, I`m so far behind ìn my diary, I think I`m going to write it when i get home. Apologies if you wanted to be kept up to date while I was away. Quick summary for you though: finished my 25 day tour last weekend (La Paz, Bolivia, to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). Bolivia highlights included mountain biking down the world`s most dangerous road (Death Road) - terrifingly dangerous but i absolutely loved the thrill (I was flying down that road/track at the front with the boys...!); the Uyuni Salt Flats - such unusual sights; and nights out in Sucre. Brazil highlights included the Pantanal - a few days spent sleeping in a hammock, horseriding, animal sighting, fishing for piranhas (and eating for dinner- i caught the biggest one!), sitting by a bonfire and itching mosquito bites - this is the life; snorkelling in Bonito; seeing Iguassu Falls (from both Argentinian and Brazilian sides); impromptu all night dancing at Che bar in the gorgeous Carribean esk coastal town of Paraty; treking 3 hours up and down slippery jungle hills to ´the most beautiful beach in Brazil´, Lopes Mendes, on the island Illa Grande, off Rio (and then realising we took the long route...); eating sushi and sashimi for the the first time, seeing the views from Christ the Redeemer and Sugar Loaf mountain, feeling the beats and gently turning down gorgeous, buff, topless, but slee-zy men at a favela party, sunbathing on Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, and taking a tour of Rocinha, one of the favelas (slums) in Rio - I found this fascinating. I can`t really describe it. We took the local transport up the hill (hair raising motorbike ride), walked down though the tiny pathways through the town, seeing the people, the graffiti (which is a proud art form), hearing the music, keeping distance (and putting cameras away!) when guys walked past with guns - I even saw someone carrying a machine gun. I don`t think I`ve ever seen a machine gun in real life. We learnt about life in the favela, the politics, about how the drug business runs the favela and protects it - police are of no use here. The gang who run Rocinha are called ADA - Amigo dos amigos. Anyway, going off course... I`ve loved it. I`m now in Buenos Aires, where i`m flying home from next week. Will spend my last few days culturalling, watching (and dancing?) some tango and gasing at the beautiful people (even the dustbin men here are good looking... it`s amazing) I`ll be home on Wednesday. Hope you`re all excited to see me, I am you! Muchos muchos love, Claire xx

Fiona D Hope you're feeling better and have survived the all night bus trip! Kirsty's group are on a jungle trek so haven't heard from her for a few days. If you put "Dare" into the search page on offexploring it should take you to her group blog, no messages yet as they have been "up the jungle". Take care and have fun Fiona xxx

Claire Hi everyone! Congrats Sam! Good luck with the real world. Keep me updated... Thanks Fiona. The Salkantay trek really was so good, i´m sure i will remember it forever. Hope Kirsty has as good an adventure as i´ve found. Jon - i so wasnt´t a fan of inca cola. Especially as they like to serve it hot... eww. Hehe. So shocked about the difference in prices in Brazil to Peru and Bolivia!! Its just like home..ahh! Sadly, for some reason i´m feeling ill today (hence why im on the net rather than at the beach... cant face it) and we have a long rough all night bus journey to Iguaçu Falls this eve - yay. Wish me luck! So excited to see it though... xx

Jonna Claire! I'm officially so jealous, your stories and photos are amazing, you're like...living the dream! i loved looking at your fallen angel photos, they are almost identical to some of mine! Hope you're stilll having an awesome time, and can't wait to see you and hear all of your stories in person! lost of love (drink some incas cola for me!) Jon xxxxxxxxxxxx

Fiona Duncan Hi Claire, I so loved reading all about your trek into the mountains, the detail is fantastic and it sounds like the most magical adventure. You are storing up some wonderful memories and stories, and making loads of new friends! Kirsty is packing tonight, she flies off to Borneo tomorrow and we're going to miss her loads. I think her group have an offexploring web page, will send the link when I find it. Good luck with the rest of your travels, take care and keep safe, Fiona XX

Sam Hey Claire!! Sounds like you're having a really good time out there!! Just thought I'd let you know that I've passed all my exams and as of 25th June I'll be a graduate (scary!!). Anyhoo... Keep having an awesome time and upload more photos!! Lots of love Sam xxx

Clare You sound like you're having sooo much fun! You're def going to have to attempt recreating some of the food you're experiencing as it sounds lush - although wonder if you'll eventually get bored of so much avocado! anyway, your blog is brill so keep it coming :-) enjoy yourself and take care xxxxxxxxxxx

Claire Ahh I´m still over a week behind. Just finished writting about the last week at the language school, still got to write about my trek! Only managed to upload a pathetic couple of photos this week too. I´ll get it done soon, i promise! I´m leaving Cusco, and Peru for that matter, tonight. Getting a bus to La Paz, capital of Boliva, to start my tour there on Thursday. Glad you´re having some nice weather at home. Had some hot days too on the trek (especially Machu Picchu) so have a nice tanned face... for the time being. Go you steph..! First of our graduates!! Wooo! I miss you uber loads too. I´ll get you some piccies up soon... :) xx

Fiona Duncan WOW! Claire, what a blog. Keep this coming, it is just wonderful to read and paints such a vivid picture of the place and all the interesting people you are meeting. Glad to hear you are having plenty of early nights - NOT! If you can't burn the candle both ends now, when can you? You seem to have made good friends with the other students at the language school, no doubt you'll keep bumping into each other as you travel on in South America. We are having some lovely hot weather here, hope it lasts for while. Good luck with the rest of your trip, have fun, keep safe and be sure to remember to call your Mum xx

Steff Hey sweetie, wow well sounds like your getting into the full swing of things over there, you will have started ur trek now which should be awesome but sounds like you had a brill time at the school, we'll get a little fluent spanish claire coming home salsaing all the way! woop. I'm loving hearing about everything your doing, cant wait to hear all about the trek, ... Guess what, I'm a graduate now! actually what? hehe i cant believe it and my gradation ball is tonight..extremely scarey times.... i miss you hun but glad your having a great time! I have lots of fab images of everything your doing and seeing in my head, looking forawrd to seeing some piccies......keep enjoying yourself hun love u lots x x x

Claire Yup, i really am appreciating it so much now. Its been so great to live in cusco for a while. When i was telling my new roomate i was returning to cusco next weekend, after my trek, I actually called it "home", was funny. Feel like it has been though... Had such a good day! Went paragliding in the Sacred Valley, which was fantastic. There was a family of two little girls and a boy near where we were and we played with them for hours. They were so cute. Think we took about 500 photos of them each. I´ve got a free day tomorrow before i start my trek on monday so will hopefully upload some photos... xx

Ally I've been reading you blog Claire and it sounds like you are having a fantastic time! Enjoy it all, we can't wait to hear all your stories when you return. Take care,lotsa luv, Ally.

Claire Thanks for the messages everyone. Really nice to hear from you. I´m having such a great time. The spanish is going really well. Feel like I´ve learnt so much already. I´ve decided that I am going to take it up seriously when i get home (and salsa classes again... i adore it). I have my classes in the morning from 8.30-12.30 so have the afternoons free which is good but they just seem to fly by. Tomorrow I´m booking my 5 day Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu. I leave for that this monday. A few others from the school are going on the same trek so should be good.. Going salsa-ing again tonight. Think we´ve tried every club in the Plaza but Mythology is our fav - they know us by name. Oh dear... :) xxx

Clare sounds like you've already started buying bits of quaint pieces of clothing etc - you'll prob have an entire rucksack full by the time you've finished! you'll have had your first day of language lessons by now, hope its been enjoyable - how long are your days? is it a really intensive course? anyway, thinking of you and your adventures (especially during my 'procrastinating from revision' daydreaming sessions!) lots of love xxx

Fiona Duncan Ola Claire! Sounds like you are having a whale of a time and meeting lots of interesting people. I'll be following your adventures and loving it, it'll be the next best thing to actually being in South America (don't worry this is unlikely to happen!). Your Dad is going fishing with Greig (and the guys) to Sutherland this week-end, not sure how much fishing they get done....... Kirsty is busy planning for her travels and keeps sending me lists of stuff she has to do before she goes, you are going to have some great tales to share when you next meet. Well, take care, keep safe and remember to call your Mum XXXXXXXX