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After a top time in Chile/Bolivia and leaving friends behind didn´t know what to expect or what was in store in Peru.. I shouldn´t have hesisated, its been an awe-inspiring adventure!! I by-passed Tacna as not much there apart from cheap ass hookers ($6 wtf) and headed straight to Arequipa, Peru's second largest city. What really struck me about the place is from the main square, Plaza de Armas, you could be sat there overlooking the Andes behind la catedrale, fantastico!! Furthermore, the local mercado is the brightest I´ve ever seen, an explosion of colours, exotic fruits and cheap dishes!
Headed to Cusco after a couple of days to meet a friend from Bolivia to do Macchu Picchu together. When in Bolivia the altitude was at least 1000 metres higher but for some reason got bad altitude sickness in Cusco.. tried to drink it off needless to say it didn't make it any better. Cusco was a culinary delight also, having cheap Cebiche at the San Pedro market and also cheap set menus where you got a 3 course meal and mate (herbal tea) fer a quid, loco! We did Macchu Picchu the poor mans way.. got the bus to Santa Maria then two colletivos (one of which makes death road look like life road!) then walked along the train tracks Stand by me stylee to Aguas Calientes. We stayed overnight then got up there for 6am which was brilliant as not as many tourists there and was ace chillaxin overlooking the complex waiting for the rays of light to shine down! We did a runner as soon as the maddening crowds came!!
The bus from Cusco to Lima was awful, first of all the seat was smaller than I thought and the roads were really windy and treacherous. To make matters worse the road was blocked off in the middle of nowhere at 1am, we thought we were gonna be stuck there for 48 hours but luckily some truckers moved all the stones and we went on our way. Once got to the Nazca the roads were better and it was nice travelling up the coast to Lima and seeing the Pacific again after what felt like a long time in the mountains!!
I loved Lima, it was a wee bit too cold to go swimming into the sea but still made it down to la playa. Stayed in Miraflores which is a posh neighbourhood and had some delish dishes including anticuchos (cow and chicken heart) y quality sandwiches. The hostel was staying at was celebrating its 3rd birthday, needless to say messyness ensued.. the barman cracked me up as he was useless (he broke at least 5 bottles trying to flip them) but funny at the same time!
Got a flight upto Iquitos and went straight to the jungle retreat.. absolute paradise in the middle of nowhere, the only noises around were all the animals day and night, it was really cool as could tell the time of day by different sounding animals! Loved just doing absolutely nothing for once and it was a time to catch up on sleep, contemplate and invigorate. There was some weird and wonderful creatures, everything seemed bigger/on steroids!! Even when it rained it was therapeutic! Went to Quistococha when got to Iquitos which is a zoo, beach, lake all rolled into one. Saw some wicked animals including Jaguars, Anacondas & other stuff never seen before however really liked the Puma coloradas with their piercing eyes.
Leaving Peru tomorrow, heading on a boat up the Amazon river to Santa Rosa then spending a couple of days in Leticia to see the jungle on that side and then flying over to the capital Bogota. Also two months today reuniting with my lovva in Rio, cannae fookin wait!!
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