3rd Oct - Devil´s Nose Train Ride

This was an amazing day. After a quick breakfast at 5.30 am we got ready to board the train. As you can see we chose the roof option - a popular choice! It was an incredible journey with stunning views of the Chimborazo volcano, farmland,mountains etc. It was also pretty funny - we derailed about every 20 minutes and each time some of the workmen had to jump off and try to mend the track. The 5 hour journey actually took over 8 hours but nobody cared. We chatted to a lovely Australian girl who is now living in London - it was lovely to talk to an English speaking person - hadn´t been many up until now!

We spent the night in a tiny town called Alausi in a disgusting hostel so got straight on a bus the next morning and then basically spent the next few days (and nights) on buses determined to get to Peru and to more touristy parts.

8th October - Huaraz- hooray!!

Finally, after what seemed like a lifetime on the buses we arrived in wonderful Huaraz! This place finally feels more like what we imagined. The roads are still half paved, every car beeps as it goes along, dogs are still everywhere etc but it is surrounded by beautiful scenery and me and Rich aren´t the only people in our hostel or the restaurants! After a day to get settled we booked ourselves on a 5 day trek and on Thurday 10th we went with a guide on an acclimitisation trek. It was great - taken by taxi to the start and then went on a beautiful 3 hour hike with our Peruvian guide Michael around the mountains surrounding the town of Huaraz. We were really looking forward to the next five days after this!

10th - 14th October - Santa Cruz trek

Met our guides and fellow trekkers (2 Austrians - Martin and Eva and 2 Germans, Janine and Max) at about 7 am and then got on a crazy minibus with what felt like the whole of Peru!! Finally arrived at the start of out trek about 4 hours later!

The first day was pretty tough - although the donkeys were carrying most of our luggage lets just stay my day pack was not light!! I felt exhausted (to be continued - need to pick up a load of washing - not up to ma Haynes or Clarkes standard I have to say!) and then going for coffee - it´s a hard life! Will continue from Lima in a day or 2...