We've just arrived in Cuzco, having flown across from a place called Arequipa, Peru's second largest city, and in the same busy category as Lima. In the short time I've been here however, I'm finding Cuzco to be an altogether more pleasant city. Things seem much less hectic and more spacious here, and its setting within the surrounding mountains, makes it more picturesque than the capital. I'm sitting at the moment in a place just off the main square, having just purchased a hat and some socks - both with llamas on (I've also been instructed that I must bring back a real life Lima as well) - from one of the nearby markets. Depite the altitude - I think we're about 11300 feet high here - making conditions a little cooler, it's still pretty warm outside, but we begin the four day long Inca Trail on Sunday, which means we have to be prepared for the cold, unforgiving conditions about to hit us. As a result, this current short stint in Cuzco is the first of two visits we make here, hence Cuzco (1).

The last couple of days have probably been the most shattering in the tour so far, not only because we have covered so much ground by road, but also because of the aforementioned altitude. Although my friend Paul told me it really hit him, allbeit for one night only, in Bolivia, many of the group have feeling intermittently unwell for a little bit just lately, and although the main symptoms altitude sickness themselves, a light head and difficulty in breathing, seem to have bypassed me, I've found myself a little more tired than I hoped to be. Having said this, we have all really enjoyed the the last couple of days at the Colca Canyon, which included a spot of condor spotting, a short hike which, I think, goes higher than we will be in Machu Picchu and a swim in a thermal bath in the small town of Chivay before dinner. We go out every night together for dinner, and let's face it, why wouldn't you when you can get a traditional Peruvian meal for around 20 soles (about 3 pounds 20p)?! Last night's, however, in an authentic and traditional restaurant was definitely my most daring, as I shared cuy, or guinea pig, with American Jenny - we'd attempted in Lima to get this last week, but it didn't quite work out! It's not so nice to eat, but you can witness this momentous occasion plus see a video of me sliding down a sandy hill, by far my most enjoyable experience thus far, on this site.

I realised I hadn't told you about any of the group yet. Including Barbara, there are fifteen of us: Jenny from the American mid-west; Canadian Jen; Tess and Katie, who went to uni together; Charlotte and Gemma, two sisters from the North; Katie again, from nearer London; two Australian women, Sue and Coleen; Ben, from the land of the Geordie; Louise, again from near Newcastle, I think; James and Christina, who have been travelling for quite a while round the world, having just come from Australia, where I shall be heading next month; and of course, me! More often than not, I share a room with Ben (who sounds more like he's from Lancashire) who I'm officially up against in a professional beard-growing competition. There are three categories: length (I think I'll win this one), style and suitability. James is the judge.