Hey chums! So, I survived Bolivia and am now in Peru! Bolivia was amazing and I would definitely go back, I might take a few Spanish lessons first though! My Spanish has improved and I can ask a few basic questions...I just can't understand the answers!! So, the salt flat excursion was absolutely awesome!!! Our first day was spent driving over the salt flats which just stretched for miles and miles. It was really difficult to remember that it was salt...it just looked like snow and ice, and felt just as cold! Got some brilliant photos...again, I have to figure out how to put them on this site! We stopped at an ísland' in the middle of the salt flats which looked very south American as it was covered in Cactus plants! Had more llama for lunch and then we drove to our hotel for the night in the mountains. It was basic with no hot water, 2 hours of electrcity a night and a semi flushing toilet...but it was great fun!! There was 5 of us sharing a room and when we woke up at the crack of dawn the next morning there was ice on the inside of the window...why didn't someone tell me it was going to be so cold here...I would have gone somewhere more tropical if I had known!! Well, maybe thats not quite true! Tuesday 11th July We spent today driving through the mountains at ridiculous altitudes...thank goodness we didn't have to trek anywhere! Visited some pretty coloured lagoons and the 'Dali desert¨which basically consisted of some rocks that had eroded into Dali like shapes..very weird! Wednesday 12th July We were up at around 5:30 to watch the sun rise and to drive up to see some geysers do their thing! We then stopped at a thermal pool where some of the group went for a soak...I was well and truly snap happy by this stage so wandered off to snap some more! Later in the day we stopped at a red lagoon which was, as its description suggests, very red! It was also the home to thousands of flamingoes, so again I got very snap happy! During the afternoon we drove across the desert again and were really close to the border with Chile and the Atacama desert. ' We stayed in a very bizarre town on this third night. We arrived there at maybe 4 pm and went for a wander but there was no-one around at all. It was like a ghost town! There were loads of dogs but no people...weird! All the houses in Bolivia are half built as tax doesn't have to be paid on incomplete buildings so even if the occupants don't intend on building another floor or another room they have to leave it looking unfinished to save some money! This made the town look even more strange! We later found out that it was a garrison town and was built to act as a defence against invasion from Chile...the Bolivians are paranoid about being invaded by Chile as they stole their coast line years ago! Not sure how good a defence the town would be with its only inhabitants being dogs! I'm sure there were people there somewhere, maybe they were just scared of us gringos descending upon them! We did see what looked like a barracks...not sure the Bolivians get the whole camoflauge thing though...the building was painted in green army camoflauge but the land was a lovely dusty brown! Anyway, I'm waffling... Thursday 13th July Today we drove back to Uyuni and civilisation! After I had de-dusted and thawed out I pottered around the town buying a few more souveneirs on the way...getting too good at it now - no room left in my bag already! Said goodbye to one of the group as she was off to start another tour in Peru then waited around for our night train to La Paz. The train was an experience! I'm sure that the people who sat behind me had 17 children and a herd of llamas sharing 2 seats! Anway, after a sleepless night we arrived in La Paz at midday and went back to the hotel I stayed in for the first 2 days of my trip. It was nice to recognise where I was and know how to get around without having to carry a map with me! Bought some more souveneirs and went to an Israeli restaurant with some of the group! Friday 14th July I went to the world's highest ski resort today, Chalcaltaya, (that is no longer a ski resort?!) with Angela - an Australian from the group. We drove through all the parts of La Paz that its probably not wise for us gringos to go to on our own which was really interesting! Finally got to our destination and had to trek up to the top of the mountain...this really was a mission as we started at 5300m and had to climb up 200m, I think, so we were really puffing by the time we reached the top! Felt really chuffed that we made it though and it has given me confidence for the Inca Trail..as long as I pace myself I will be fine I'm sure! Said goodbye to Angela and met my second tour group for the Peru part of my trip during the evening. We now have 3 gay French Canadian guys travelling with an English lady, and an English couple who have joined myself, an American girl, Jillian, who is my new room mate, and the 2 Australian couples I have been with since Sucre. Everyone seems good fun!. Saturday 15th July We left La Paz early this morning on a bus to Lake Titicaca and a place called Puno! We stopped at Copacabana for lunch on the way which was beautiful although very touristy! Said goodbye to Bolivia and crossed into Peru. The journey took most of the day...forgot what a drag these gazillion hour bus journeys are..my poor legs!! Had alpaca steak for dinner...getting into this meat thing, scary! Sunday 16th July The following day was the funniest day ever!! We had to leave Puno very early to catch a boat to Taquile Island where we had lunch and went on a small trek. All the men on the island knit their own hats - they had different hats depending on if they were married or single and the chief of the island had a special very brightly coloured hat! After an hour or two spent on Taquile island we got back on our boat and ventured to Amantani island...here was where the fun started! We each stood at the 'dock'and were introduced to our mama's who took us back to their houses where we were to stay overnight! Myself and Jillian's mama was called Olga and was actually the same age as us. Olga lived with mother and father and her 7 yr old daughter. It was so difficult to communicate with them as they don't speak English or Spanish so everything was done in sign language! We offered to help cook dinner..what a mistake that was! We were given a huge bowl of potatoes to peel with 2 machete style knifes! It took us ages to do it as by this time time the sun had gone down and we had only candle light. We sat in the kitchen, if you could call it that, and watched while Olga made us potato soup and a potato and rice stew thing! We tried to provide some entertainment so started singing songs from Mary Poppins and the Sound of Music...we rocked!! Well, it caused a laugh anyway which was the main thing! After dinner Olga dressed us up in traditional clothing and off we went to the island party! It was absolutely hilarious...we walked into what might have been a community hall and they was a pan pipe band playing while the rest of our group and their hosts were dancing traditional Peruvian dances in their costumes...guess you had to be there but I couldn't move for laughing for the first 20 mintues!! Anyway, eventually Olga got me up dancing so I did my bit!! Monday 17th July We said goodbye to Olga and travelled back towards Puno stopping at the Uros Islands on the way. These were islands made entirely of reeds with reed houses and reed boats and reed..well I guess you get the picture! Only stayed there for a short while then finished our journey back to Puno. More souveneir shopping and even some chocolate cake!! Tuesday 18th July Another day of travelling...ugh! 9 hours on a bus that kept breaking down!! Anyway, finally got to our destination of Cuzco and checked into another lovely hotel! Decided to go out on the town as its quite lively here so ended up in a bar that was playing salsa music!! Was good fun! And today I have potterd around trying to get my bearings! I have another 2 days here so am looking forward to chilling out for a bit as it has been very much on the go all the time so far! Start the Inca trail a day after I leave Cuzco...bit nervous! Anyway, thats it for this rather long installment! I'm off to do some more exploring!! Ciao ciao x