Hey all,

So there is so much to tell that I hardly know where to start. I am currently in Cusco, an important Incan town and our final stop before the Lares Trek and Machu Picchu. I feel as if i have been away for a month already instead of the two weeks thatit has actually been (2 weeks to go!). It has been a packed couple of weeks. We stopped in Nazca to see the Nazca lines, huge lines and pictures drawn in the desert by the NAzca people hundreds of years ago. No one really knows why they are there but they are very impressive. Due to their size, they are best viewed from the air so I strapped myself into a 6 seater cessna airplane for the experience - felt pretty queasy by the time we landed!

Next we headed to the city of Arequipa, the second largest city in Peru. I have to say, it was much nicer than Lima and much easier to navigate. While there I took the time to explore their main Cathedral and the Convent de Santa Catalina de Siena which is like a town within a town and so peaceful. The nice thing about being in a city was that we had a chance to relax an take in the sights. I also got to visit the museum which houses Juanita, the frozen girl. IT´s a fascinating stiry. She was an INcan girl who was sacrificed to the mountain gods hundreds of years ago. The burial spot was covered in snow and she was preserved. About 500 years later in 1995, the volcano started spewing ash and melted the snow on the mountains and archaeologsts found her. It´s a little surreal seeing her body wich is kept in a glass case where the temperature is carefully onitored. The museum curators talk about her living on and bringing the INcan people metaphorically back t life and I appreciate the historical significance of the fnd but I couldn't help thinking that, if it was me, I would ot want to be kept in a box for tourists to stare at after my death!

From Arequipa, we went off to the Colca Canyon area. It was truly beautiful and quite unspoilt despite its popularity with tourists. We stayed in fabulous lodge with the most breathtaking views of the mountains. You could sit out on a hammock and see pre-INcan terraces hewn into the moutain sides.The altitude has caused us a few problems and you can definitely feel the lack of oxygen when walking at these heightts (4000m ish). You pant like you'v run for the bus when in fact all you've done is stroll along a fairly flat moutain path!

Anyway, I had best go as I am off horse riding round Cusco in about half an hour. Hope everyone is well and thanks again for all your messages x