A very quick update to let you know that I am still alive and kicking! Have had a fun packed and hectic few days and am off to get on a night bus to Cusco in a bit so I do not have time to go through it all now but will add a proper update soon. Have been away from internet access for a few days and just saw the headlines about London - hope everyone is ok! Those of you bugging me about photos - sorry, you'll have to wait until I get back. There will be hundreds ...

Hey all, So, the tour is well and truly underway now. The group are great. There is even a guy who loves The Swan which most of you know is my favourite bar in the world so that made my day! We have reminisced about live bands, cheesy tracks and the sticky floor. We spent today in the Pisco region of Peru and started the day with a trip to the Ballestas Islands; the poor man's Galapagos Islands apparently and that seems like a pretty apt description. Bet richer...

Buenos tardas! So. here I am in the vibrant city of Lima, Peru which turns out to be more foggy than vibrant but the brightly painted buildings more than make up for this. They are red, orange, yellow and green with just the odd grey or white one as if their owners had decided that enough was enough and they would opt out of the local decorating style. I arrived 2 days ago so fogged with sleep that I simply collapsed into the bed I was given with little thought...