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Buenas tardes....
Since the last entry, we left Huaraz for Nazca, flew over the Lines, and have been in Arequipa for about a week (further south again), enjoying how pretty this city is (a UNESCO World Heritage site, and surrounded by volcanoes...) and a few days in the Colca Canyon (twice the depth of the Grand Canyon).... Our hearts are still very much in Huaraz, however, particularly given that on arriving in Nazca we seemed to arrive well and truly on the Gringo Trail... now traipsing around what's to see with all the Saga Holiday versions from around Europe and North America in tow!!! It's come as quite a surprise. I expected the backpacker crowd here, but they're few and far between among the busloads of regular holidaymakers. There's nothing very intrepid about being in Peru! (I often think back to Pete's story about being on a boat on Lake Titicaca and yet another panpipe group striking up... 'No! I don´t want to buy your *** CD!'...). I know you'd love it, dad!!!
For fear that I'm starting to sound a bit over-travelled (after all of three months) and ungrateful, rest assured that it's still cracking to be here (especially when I get e-mail adverts from my internet bank with the heading, "Are you ready for the big freeze?" and we're enjoying some of the best weather yet in Arequipa...! Sorry....)... and we're determined more than ever to make the most of being here, having this time off, and to never ever take it for granted...
It's amazing to have seen the Nazca Lines, and I wish I was more 'archaelogically appreciative'... And that it's 'easy' getting around just means that we are able to sit back and enjoy it all such a lot... enjoy being away from all the practicalities of life for a little while... Tonight we leave for Cusco. If Machu Picchu doesn't live up to the hype and the Inca Trail is more reminiscent of Oxford Street, well then there's sure to be an Irish pub (in the square, wasn't it Graeme?!) that we can enjoy the craic in!
Our day biking around near the Colca Canyon was fun... and today we really enjoyed the very photogenic Siena(!) Santa Catalina Monastry here in Arequipa. Beautiful. We enjoyed taking photos of both... Oh, and hope you like the picture of the only condor we saw in the Colca Canyon - the 'best place' to see them in Peru! (Luckily we'd already had our very own group circling over our tent in Huayhuash!)
Thinking of you all loads, as always. And loving your messages xxx
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