We arrived in Lima on Wednesday 6th February with low expectations, as we had heard a few "don't waste your time"-type stories about Lima, but I'm really happy to say the negative rumours proved unfounded, and we really enjoyed our few days there … it certainly equalled (or bettered) some of the other South American capitals that we've visited.A city of some 8 million inhabitants (Peru's population is around 30 million), Lima certainly has its share of shanty towns and grim suburbs, but our base was Miraflores (which translates as "look at the flowers"), an attractive seaside district.

We spent the first day exploring Miraflores - conveniently finding a Lebanese café for sheesha and baklawah! - and on the second day took a city tour to Lima's historical district, the OldCity. We visited the two main squares, San Martin and Plaza de les Armas (there seems to be a plaza by that name in every town), the central church and its rather grisly catacombs. We ended the evening watching the sunset at the Parque del Amor, a lovely garden area with a perfect panorama of the sun setting over the Pacific ocean.

Friday, and the last day of my trip … it would have been so easy to mop about feeling miserable (OK, we did some of that, too) but we wanted to maximise the little time we had left, so we hired the hotel's driver, Juan Carlos (who else?), for a short day to take us south of Lima to the ruins at Pachacamac, and further on to Punto Hermanos, a popular beach.

Pachacamac ("Earth Maker") dates from around 200BC (early Lima period, I think?), with subsequent civilizations adding various administrative and religious structures around the site, becoming an important religious site in the Huari period (800AD). Gazing at the landscapes surrounding us, we were really struck by the similarities with southern Egypt … all that was needed was the muezzin's call (and a bit more litter!) … and you could really imagine yourself in a Nile village, as the scenery was so similar - one of those "small world" moments.

After Pachacamac, we drive a further 15km south to Playa El Silencio at Punto Hermanos, the most southerly beach on Lima's Circuito del Playas (beach circuit). El Silencio actually was a busy spot (featuring transvestite chewing gum sellers, hmmm!), but very pleasant nevertheless, with David claiming the warmest Pacific waters this side of New Zealand.

Sadly, this is where I leave you as I make my way back to the UK, with a heavy heart but many happy memories of this fantastic trip. So it's over to you now David, to carry on the adventure … buon viaje, darling!.

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David continues ...Alas, Mother Time did intervene and the inevitable taxi to the airport came our way. And so, here I am, a sad git in the hotel foyer typing away on this blog entry. I already miss Anni and will do so every day and every hour for the next 6 weeks, until I get back to the UK. I know it will change and the missing will become gradually replaced with anticipation as my return journey draws nearer ...

...and I know I still have amazing places to go (I will be in Galapagos Islands in less than a weeks time), and things to do, like crazy-arse mountain biking, the Cotopaxi downhill ride, canoeing in the Amazon, canyoning down waterfalls and swimming with sharks ... but I will still miss Anni.

We have had a fantastic adventure these last 11 weeks and there is no doubt this has been the adventure of my lifetime so far. I look forward to plotting more of them in the future. For now, adios, hasta luego, habeebti ... muchas gracias for sharing in the creation of this adventure and making it a shared trip of our lives.

I am looking forward for the "missing" to translate to "anticipating", which it surely will.

Ana behabek awi awi awi.

David xxx