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Hi guys,
Hows it going? Again it's been a busy month or so, way harder than all you who work and think what I'm doing is just a holiday! I've been across 3 countries and I'm currently in Medellin in Colombia.
The last time I posted I was in Arequipa in Peru, where I spent a few days chilling out, watching football and also visited the Colca Canyon, which Coca Cola should really buy the naming rights to. It was really cool although in the guide book it said it's twice the size of the Grand Canyon, when i reality it's probably twice as long as the Grand Canyon but it's only 200m wide. I learnt long ago never to believe guide books, the people who write them tend to enjoy markets and museums way too much. Give me a modern shopping centre and a multiplex cinema any day!
After Arequipa we got possibly the best bus I have ever been on to Cusco. It was an overnight bus and it was like an airplane. We had a stewardess, we got videoed for some reason, either in case they can identify a hijacker, or they can account for any missing persons during a kidnapping. Also they had wi-fi which is amazing and best of all they played bingo, which I managed to embarrass myself in by getting excited at thinking I had won, only to realise I had to get both columns.... I ended up missing out by one number and therefore missed the opportunity to go up and tell everyone my name and say a little speech. I had a really good speech in spanish lined up. Oh well I guess it was not to be.
Cusco is quite a nice city, but it's a bit much as it's all aimed at tourists. We spent 4 days there before starting our Inca Trail and we stayed at the best guesthouse. We got a 4 person room for 2 of us and it had a massive flat screen tv ideal for watching the football on so we were sorted in that regard. Also the lady, Sonia, who ran the place was really nice and looked after us loads. She had the best dog ever, it looked like half lion half bear but it was so chilled, I never heard it bark once! Also Cusco was the place where I experienced the Chicken Mac at Maccie D's, possible the greatest fast food burger ever. It's exactly like a Big Mac but instead theyt swap the beef for chicken, amazing!
The Inca Trail was possibly the best thing I've done. i know I say that every month about something, but this was just really good fun, with a great group and great scenery. It took 4 days and 3 nights of sleeping, or not sleeping, in a tent. The 2nd day was quite difficult but at no point did I think to myself this is really hard I wish I was somewhere else. The porters we had were insane, they would carry what looked like a house on their back and somehow run, while I was there with a small backpack going super slow. We were told in Cusco that our sleeping bags we had bought in La Paz would be fine, which we liked to hear as they were really small and easy to carry, but our guide had a different view. We were told that the second night would be really cold so we bought some rum for health reasons and had a couple of shots to keep us warm at night. I wouldn't say it worked but it was better than not having any rum.
The scenery during the walk is amazing and the food was out of this world when you consider we were camping. One day we had applie pie and jelly and in the evening a freshly baked cake. The final morning was probably the worst point, as we had to wake up at 3.45am, after having drunk half a bottle of rum the night before, we had to lighten our load, and it was raining loads. But it was all worth it after the rain had gone and we got our first glimpse of Machu Picchu. The place is stunning and the photos you take just don't do it justice. We had a bit of a tour with our guide and after we were quite tired so we harrassed some llamas for a bit for photos and then headed back to the town nearby. If you ever go to South America definitely go to Machu Picchu and definitely do the Inca Trail.
After this, we went to Nazca for a few hours on our way to Lima, and saw the lines, which if I'm honest weren't as good as I thought they'd be so I'm glad we didn't spend loads on a flight over them. We then made our way to Lima, from where Adam returned to the UK, and after being in a group of 20, I was back to being on my own again. I spent a few days in Lima and then made my way up to Mancora, a beach place near to Ecuador. I spent 3 days there, and met up with my friends Dustie and Catie, who I then met up with again after I crossed into Ecuador, went to Quito and then headed to Otavalo. This place is meant to be the 2nd best thing to see in SOuth America, according to Lonely Planet, only trumped by Machu Picchu. It wasn't that great, it just looked like every other market I had been to. It was really big but most stalls sold the same thing.
That night we headed into Colombia, and we crossed over at night. We had all heard stories of buses being hijacked so everyone was a bit on edge as we caught a night bus to San Agustin, but after a while we were so tired that we just fell asleep. San Agustin is a cool little town where we spent a couple of nights. The owner offered to cut my hair, but I declined his generous offer and cut it myself! We saw the statues that are similar to the ones on Easter Island, big headed statues. Again I was a bit disappointed, but I guess all this travelling has made me a bit blaise about stuff now.
After we headed to Cali, the 3rd city in Colombia which was ok. I did some yoga, badly I might add, and some salsa, which I was slightly better at, although that's not saying much. I do think with my dancing I can't be taught anything, I just dance really well naturally, although it helps having had a few drinks! Now I am in Medellin, which was the home of Pablo Escobar the major drug lord. However it's a really nice city and it's really hot here. I will be heading back here for a few days on my way back south to Ecuador.
Tonight I have a 12 hour bus ride to Cartagena, on the Caribbean coast, and will head east along the coast after that. Iw ill then slowly head south and next month will be back in Ecuador to start my football coaching and improve the footballing standard in the country. Keep an eye out for Ecuador in 2 world cups time, I probably would be responsible for their success! I have little over 2 months left, I really like it out here and don't want to leave, but the thought of mum making me aloo paratha when I return is good enough to make me look forward to return home. That and a good curry, baked beans, fish and chips, dominos and most of all Nandos.....
I'll probably be in Ecuador when I next post, with the family I will be staying with for a month. My Spanish is still steadily improving. Entonces hasta el proximo tiempo, adios chicos!
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