The journey continues.

Wow, had a fantastic day yesterday and the sun shone. Whipped out the sunglasses and sun cream before it disappeared, we are desperate to use up sun lotion to lighten our bags! We even zipped of the bottom part of our trousers and bared our knees.

Started the day going to an island which is a bird colony, lots of different birds, including turkey vultures, Peruvian tern , pelicans and even penguins. There were also sea lions and we managed to get really close to them, was brilliant they did not seem to be fazed by it at all.

We then went to a winery where they make the famous Peruvian pisco, we were shown how it was made, everything is still so basic, concrete tubs for squashing the grapes. They do this on a festival day where the women get in and trample them and everyone seems to drink a lot, the festival goes on for ten days. The juice from the wine is then put into ceramic pots to ferment, left over skin and pips are used to fertilise the ground. They had a fantastic plant there with beautiful red flowers which I took a photo of. The guide told us it was a poinsettia and when I looked closer it was , but huge not the totty wee things we get .  We then got to try there wares, we had about eight shots each, David tipsy after first two but he kept going for the team. Was funny watching him though, he did smuggle one to our guide who was more than happy to help! I managed to stop him from dancing, phew! 

In the afternoon we went on sand buggies which was very good but I did have moments when I 

thought what on earth are you doing! David off course loved it especially the sand boarding volunteering , even pushing his way to the front to have a shot. On the very first go, he was basically down the dune while I was still climbing up it. He was first to go , I was last! Typically for us our buggy broke down in the middle of the desert which was a bit of an oops moment , but worked out well, especially for David and the lads on the trip as we had more time for sand boarding, which I 

have to admit was great fun once you got over the fear factor, good job we went to winery first. 

We didn't get photos as didn't want to risk damaging our cameras, which is a pity as the scenery was stunning. 

Starting to fully recover from the very long journey here, our sleeping is all to pot. Had a wonderful day exploring Lima, saw lots of interesting things, from black vultures circling over our heads, Peruvian hairless dogs to inca ruins.

David stroking one of the hairless Peruvian dogs, they have shirt on to keep them cosy. This one is very fashionable and is wearing a little Lacoste number..

Each archaeological site has to have hairless Peruvian dogs at it!

This is a recreation of an Inca tomb, when they die they think that they are reborn, so they are buried with the things they will need, like work tools. This also included the wife who is in the pot nearest with its lid still on. Each tomb has at least one baby in it, the small parcel type object by the man, they believed that a baby was needed to show you the way to the spirit world. One tomb had three babies in it. 

Me, see I am here just avoiding the photos, I am wrapped up all warm, fleece, hoody and jacket. winter here! Apparently it is the coldest it has been here for it was either 16 or 60 years, wasn't sure what was said. Actually not that cold and David at times has been wandering in his t shirt, he does have a sniffle coming on though.  The tour guide put on her sunglasses, me and David just looked at each other and thought steady on, don't get carried away. 

The Peruvian coastline complete with Scottish mist! There is a pelican actually in the sea. Lots of cormorants and black vultures around too.

Some of the local birds, Peruvian dove and we think a long tailed mocking bird, not sure though so ideas on a post card please, there are amazing little blackbirds here too, scrub blackbirds with the most beautiful call. They squat down close to the ground, throw their heads back and warble away. Fandabidozee. 

Met our group last night that we are travelling with, all seem really nice, only four of us doing the complete trek though. Went for some traditional Peruvian food, mmmm interesting, octopus, ceviche and mashed tatties with crab. All I can say is thank goodness for tatties. David either very brave or hungry and ate most of it. The octopus is very chewy and kept him quiet for ages! Need to buy some in when I get home. Heading off soon on our trip so away to stock up on snacks. 

Peru day 1

We arrived safe and sound last night after 22 hours travelling so straight to bed for us. I still felt like I was moving lying in my bed, it was a bit like getting off a boat and having the solid ground under your feet. Slept well. Have been for a wander around the city of Lima, which apparently has ten million people living in it. Most of them seem to be taxi drivers who kerb crawl beside you tooting to get your attention, we managed to ignore them all. Well to be fair first of all I would shake my head and say no but I soon gave up on that! Ignore seems to work better, that way you don't get their hopes up.

Wet, cold and rainy - lovely!

 David's first geocache beside the lion

Managed to make it to Glasgow, first mission achieved. David is making friends with the locals.

Setting off from sunny Arbroath, the beginning of the trip, trying to hitch a lift as David determined not to pay for a train ticket! I flashed my ankle but no takers, strange but true.

By the way, managed to get my blurry eyesight sorted, new glasses weren't fitted properly, three trips to opticians and all is well. Hooray! Now I can see where I am going didn't want to end up in the wrong place.

Let's try this out!

Yikes spikes nearly time to be on our way! Scary Maclary. Have been busy today packing rucksacks and doing last minute jobs, where does the time go. Everything seems to be going in a blur, but that could just be my new glasses, still trying to get used to them!