Day 21 April 14th. Despite best intentions ended up in a great bar and got a bit drunk so nursing a hangover and helped me to sleep as I had bugs biting me in bed last night. Went to a Lama farm and saw Lama's Alpacas and Alcunias, some long haired the Pisac ruins and the steep walk at altitude on a narrow path gave us a taste of things to come on the Lares trek. Had lunch at the colourful local market. Travelled to Ollantaytambo another large Inca ruin, with hug...

Day 20 Thurs 13/04 Up at 6am for the 7 hour bus journey from Puno to Cusco on the Gringo bus. Great views on the way in between sleeping and they even gave us all a slice of cake :o) Our guide is a real superhero and has been in the Venezualen special forces, so we all feel in very safe hands. Cusco has a real buzz to it, maybe because it is where most people start and finísh their journeys to Machu Picchu. We have a briefing tonight at 7pm and then off t...

Day 19 Wed 12/04/06 Said goodbye to our Mamas, it was a wonderful experience to stay with the families, they have a very tough existence, but are so friendly and happy. Sailed for 3 hours to the reed islands, which are entirely made of reeds and float in 18m of water, take up to a year to build & have to have new reeds added constantly or they sink, but can last up to 10 years. Then sailed to the next reed island on a reed boat, which they let me have a go row...

Day 18 Tuesday 11/04 Bicycle taxi ride to the port, where we buy our gifts for our family visit tonight. Lake Titicaca at 3,820m is the largest lake in the world above 2000m it is beautiful and like the mediteranean along its shore and huge 170km in length so you can't even see land on the horizon on some parts. Our Mamas meet us when we landed and took us to there simple homes, one room was just full of guinea pigs!!!!!. Played football against the locals which ...

Day 17 Monday 10/04/06 Two flights today via Cusco, which we will fly back to to go to Laros trail, then bus ride to Puno at 3,800m on the edge of Lake Titiccaca, so drinking coca tea to help with acclimatisation, .........that's my story anyway. I think it is the home stay tomorrow night, so will let you know how that goes - Grae