Where in the world?

We arrived in Cusco at 0500hrs and were whisked away to a hostel where we could rest for a few hours rather than having to wait until 11am to check in. had a couple of hours sleep and headed out for some nourishment. The guys sorted out a trip to the jungle and Macchu Pichu although as is usual in Peru, the price increased and they ditched the jungle trip.
Cusco is a beautiful city with loads to see. Our 2nd day we caught the bus to tambu machay ruins and walked back to Cusco via Puca Pucara, Q'enko and sacasayhuamen ruins. managed to pick up an archaeology student on the way and he gave a cheap tour. We paid the same guy the next day to take us to the sacred valley which was great. On the way home we stopped for chicha, the local maize beer and thankfully for their supplies, it tastes like earth so I'll be passing on it from now on!!!!!! Our driver didn't have any, but he already didn't know which side of the road to drive on, which was pretty scary.
The day after I began volunteering at yanapay school and the guys headed off to Chochiquirau, another inca ruin that is much larger than Machu Pichu and was only discovered 20 years ago. They had booked a 3 day horse-riding trip with our "guide" although when they got there, the horses were nervous and not used to riders so 2 of them got thrown off. bad enough on it's own but when you have a sheer cliff on one side its even worse!!The guide, itturned out wasn't an archaeology student at all but just a chancer trying to make a fast buck. Luckily the guys were ok with only a few cuts and scratchs but it could have been a lot worse. So if anyone comes across a guy at one of the ruins near Cusco called Xavier who claims he's an archaeology student and also works at a restaurant in gringo ally BEWARE.
While the guys were on theri hair-raising trip I was slaving away at the school' only kidding, it was great. Stayed at the yanapay hosrtel and there were 2 clowns and a puppet guy there. great guys on and off stage, and very good dancers!! So thankyou Juan carlo, Luis and martin.

LUIS IN FULL SWING!

JUAN CARLO

MARTIN AND "FRIEND"

EMELDO DOING HIS THING!

MORE PHOTOS AT http://hellcat1uk.spaces.live.com

After leaving Sucre we arrived in La Paz but decided to bypass it in favour of a little more beautiful scenery and
peace and quiet. We had to wait for the connection to Copacabana so I decided to brave the ladies toilets and by brave I mean BRAVE!!! You literally had to pick a stall and stand as close to the door as possible so that someone else couldn't sneak in through a 6 inch gap as the other person came out!! Pretty tough birds in Bolivia!
Anyhow after the toilet drama we caught the bus and the scenery was spectacular.
See http://hellcat1uk.spaces.live.com for photos. (I've run out of download)
We reached the side of the lake and had to get off the bus so that it could go on it's own ferry whilst we caught another. Eventually got back on the bus and arrived in Copacabana. Pretty much a 2 street town, the plaza is yuk. Bought tickets for isla del sol and watched the best sunset I think I've seen. Caught the boat in the morning and got a bit confused when the boat cruised passed the south end of the island where we were meeting a friend. They'd managed to put us on the wrong boat and then expected us to pay to get back!! Eventually with the help of some feisty Argentinians they agreed to take us back........3 hours later. Arrived where we should have been and cursed the fact that we'd got our big backpacks. There are many steps that go vertically and people trying to sell things as you struggle to even breath!!!! managed to get to a hostel and collapse as the woman was holding her hand out for payment! Found a great little restaurant called Las Velas at the top of the village in the eucalyptus trees. Its in the lonely planet but the guy who owns it was miffed that they didn't say it was all homemade food. Very delicious vegetable pizza, lasagne and great trout. No meat per se but after Argentina I didn't really need another steak!
Next day walked to the north of the island through small villages. reckon its about 12km. Met the guy my friends had been trying to catch up with and went to the inca ruins. paid for a guide although in Spanish only. We'd have missed half of the stuff if he hadn't been there. decided to head back to the south of the island on the high path and just got back for sunset. Found a great hostel on the path furthest away from town but hot water, what a novelty!
A 2nd night at Las velas then an early night. Boat back to Copacabana then headed to Puno via the Bolivia/Peru border. We intended to stay there but ended up getting tickets to Cusco. Puno is known for its floating islands of the Uros people. I'd been told that it was really touristy but I was impressed with them. You need to see it to believe it. The islands are basically made on the reed roots and then layers of reeds are added for stability and as the lower layers rot, more are added. Apparently there are no longer any pure uros indians but thats what happens!!!
check out my photos at
http://hellcat1uk.spaces.live.com