Day 94 - Got up and had some breakfast and then got picked up for our tour. We headed to the nearby monteverde cloud forest which is pristine, very wet rainforest. The rainforest was pretty spectacular, very lush and massive trees and overgrown everywhere due to the warm and wet rainy season. We were going on a zip line canopy adventure. We were harnessed up with belts etc and then strapped onto zip lines and we held onto the metal line with our thick padded gloves and then flew from tree to tree before being unclipped by someone and then clipped onto the next zip line. We went through fifteen zip lines and some were as high as 1,500ft above the jungle floor. It was incredible flying through the canopy…very fast. Catherine got it for me as a belated birthday present and she did it as well and was a little nervous at first but ended up loving it. Then near the end of the zip line tour we did a jungle tarzan swing where we literally jumped off a step and swung through the air about 50m clipped into a harness again. Great fun. We then got back to the start and had lunch and a little sit down. And then we walked round the national park through a series of massive bridges which traversed across high above the jungle canopy giving great views…except that by now the rainy season afternoon rain had really set in. We had to wear full body bright orange waterproofs to keep dry or drier!! Then back to the hostel and out for a nice dinner where the restaurant was set on the second floor around a huge tree that has grown through the middle. It was massive and all the tabels were situated around it. Had a nice steak!

Day 95 - Had to be up at 7am for our transport to the next place called La Fortuna. Transport was firstly a jeep then a boat across a lake and then another jeep arriving into Fortuna at 10.30am in the end. La Fortuna is a small town situated 15km from a massive active volcanoe which was been erupting every day for 40 years…only at night mainly. Although there have been some massive eruptions at times in the past. We got ourselves a room and then headed out for lunch. In the afternoon we had a walk round the town and got a Jeep rental booked for the next day. Then in the evening, we cooked dinner in the communal kitchen at the hotel.

Day 96 - In the morning we went down to Alamo car hire to pick up our jeep and told the guy we wanted it for week as we now plan to drive up the Pacific coast of Costa Rica getting us towards the border with Nicaragua. The jeep is very nice, air con, four wheel drive for off road, and quite roomy! We had an action packed day planned to set off straight away. First port of call was Arenal Volcanoe and we did a walk through the jungle to a nice viewpoint and saw a few interesting birds along the way. Then drove to an amazing waterfall where we had to walk down quite a way through the jungle. But then you come out at an 80m waterfall dropping down a cliff into a huge plunge pool which we swam in and it was freezing!! Then the heavens opened and we set off back up! Then the final thing we did was drive to a very luxury spa resort called Baldi Springs where anyone can go and pay to use the facilities. It was awesome. They have 25 different pools or sproings ranging from 30 celcius to 67 celcius. They were carved out with waterfalls. Some were big like a swimming pool and others could only fit about 6 people in. It was so relaxing hopping from one pool to another and some had swim up bars where they had seats in the water for you to sit and have a drink at…rather nice!! And only cost nine pounds each! Stayed there about four hours and then we were absolutely starving and headed back to the hotel and got a take away pizza and then fell alseep about 8.30pm…shattered!

Day 97 - Not a great deal to report today…got packed up and then set off driving down the coast to Playa Tamarindo. Roads were pretty good most of the way and stopped off for lunch halfway and got there in about four hours! Playa Tamarindo is a nice back town on the Pacific coast good for surfing and very popular with Americans moving to live there. We found a little appartment which ahd a kitchen which meant we could cook to make things a bit cheaper. And had a nice pasta dinner in the evening. It was pouring with rain though when we got there!

Day 98 - Got up and had breakfast in the appartment as we had bought food in. Then had a walk down to the beach as the weather was alot better. Booked ourselves in for a two hour surf lesson at 11am which was great fun! Had an instructor who gave us some simple instructions on the beach before heading into the water. The key is speed, you need to jump uo quick as the wave comes behind you, while you are paddling along. We both managed to stand up and surf waves in towards the shore so were very pleased with ourselves. It was a good place to learn as the waves were not too big. Then went back for a well earned lunch. Cat had a little sun bathe by the swimming pool for a bit and then got too hot, while I watched the footy on TV. Then in the afternoon we had a drive up the coast to see some of the more remote beaches as the roads deteriorate, which means a lack of public transport. Found three nice beaches which we stopped at and had a walk along. Then back to base and cooked again!

Day 99 - Not much to report today as we drove down the coast to a nice little town called Playa Samara with a nice beach and found a nice place to stay run by a Canadian lady who had moved out here to live. Driving took about two and a half hours so not too bad, weather was pretty bad though. When it rains in Costa Rica, it really rains!! So we went for a crepe when we got here and had a look at the beach and hopefully weather will improve tomorrow for some beach time!!

Day 90 - We were really tired from the early bus and we got a water taxi out the main island of Bocas Del Toro just off the North Western Panamanian coast. Got the boat at 6am and then managed to have some breakfast and find a hotel all by 8am! Then went back to bed as we were shattered! Got up in time to go out for some lunch and then had a wander round the town and found out what tours were available etc. Then about 5pm we got a water taxi over to nearby island about ten minutes away called Isla Bastimentos to go out for dinner. It was a really nice laid back island with a good caribbean vibe and friendly people and we met a very cool little kid dancing outside his house as music was blasting out. He was only about four but was quite a mover! Then found a really nice place for dinner overlooking the sea and hada really nice dinner before getting a water taxi back to our island about 8pm and watched a film on the dvd player before bed!

Day 91 - Up at 7.30am and had some breakfast we had abought from the supermarket. To save money we have bought a bowl and a spoon each to take round with us so we can buy cereal and milk in the mornings for cheap breakfasts. We then headed down to the sea front where we had booked ourselves onto a day tour. First port of call on the boat was dolphin bay…and it didn´t disappoint. We saw loads of dophins swimming through the surface of the water and saw a few mother and babies. Then our boat captain capped it off by doing circles in the water and the wake left in the water from the speeboat engine created waves which the dophins obligingly jumped over through the water and looked like they were having alot of fun. Then headed on to a beautiful snorkelling spot called Coral caye and then a had a nice lucnh of chicken rice and beans on aq restaurant built over the sea. The water was beautifully green and turqiose and transparent. Then onto another snorkelling spot then finally a couple of hours on a abeach only accessible by boat and a short walk through the jungle. Fantastic day all in all! Then back to our island and out for a very nice dinner. Cat had fresh fish in lemon with rice and I had a huge cheeseburger!

Day 92 - Up at 7am and on the boat out of Bocas islans back to the mainland at 8am. It took about an hour to get back to the mainland then a short minibus ride to the to the place where the bus which we wanted, departed! We got on the 10am bus to Costa Rica and out next country. The bus took about 7 hours ish and we got into San Jose, the capital, which had very little going for it and went straight and found a hostel. Found a good hostel with a pool and we had a dorm room for ten dollars a night each which isn´t too bad. Then got an early night as not much to do there!

Day 93 - Up at 10.30am…..bit of a lie in and then got packed up an checked out of the room! Managed to watch the first half of the Championsa League final and then had to set off to the bus station for another day of travel. Got the 2.30pm bus bound for a place in the North of Costa Rica called Monteverde. Basically it was a terrible journey, had over a two wait in a traffic jam just for a few road works that were blocking the entire road and the journey ended up taking 7 hours instead of four and a half. Anyway, got to monteverde and checked into our very nice and very cheap hostel!

Day 77 - Am I not suppose to be home now? Oh thats right I am staying out here for another 9 weeks, hehe. I got into the hostel at ridiculous o´clock, just past 5am after having to pay a whooping 75 pesos for a taxi from the airport. Obviously I went straight to bed for a bit.

Tom and Claire came to find me in the morning and we then went out for the day. Being a Buenos Aires pro I showed them a few of the hotspots. Firstly we went to Caminito in La Boca, which is where the coloured corragatedIron buildings are situated. Here also is the location of the Bombonera (aka Boca Juniors stadium), therefore we also tried to get tickets to the Boca River game. However they were completely sold out. Fortunately we met a waiter in one of the local restaurants who reckoned he could get us tickets for 250 pesos if we just came on the day. That was better than nothing but a little on the pricey side. Or so we thought until we found out that the hostel was selling them for 500 pesos.

After a wonder around we headed to Puerta Madero, which is the high class neighbourhood that has just been renovated. Here we had a late lunch and took in the sunset (see below). 

It was then nap time until we went out. We went to a local restaurant were we had the local dish called Asado. Asado is basically the restaurant´s BBQed specialality. In this case it was ribs which were ok. I didn´t have a steak because I knew were planning to go to some of the best ones in the next few days once Alice and James had arrived. We also decided to have a night on the local red wine called Malbec, which turns out to be pretty nice. After dinner the three of us hit a local club called Kika.

Day 78 - After a later start we finally left the hostel and caught the subte to Centro. Here we visited the very impressive Galaria Pacifico, which is the shopping centre with the fountain inside. Tom was being a bit of a cranky pants so we didn´t stay here for long but long enough for me to get an amazing chocolate brownie. Very very good.

We then decided to visit the Recoleta Cemetry. This is the place where Eva Peron is buried and is the location of all of Buenos Aires wealth (well the dead ones at least). Inside of the cemetry it is like its very own little town of impressive buildings and statues. A plot of land here costs more than the majority of the houses in Buenos Aires so it really is for the society elite. Also owners of the plot have to keep paying an extortionate maintanence fee and if they fail to pay this then there staute and hence tomb is ripped out, and the plot sold. Here is a picture;

Just as we were about to go out for dinner at 10pm James and Alice finally arrived at the Hostel. Therefore we all went out to a Parrilla called Desneivels. This restaurant is in San Telmo and looks very shabby inside however they serve incredible steaks and generate a very welcoming and fun atmosphere. I had a whooper of a Bife de Chorizo. After that feeling rather stuffed we went out for a couple of drinks in the trendy Palermo Viejo area.

Day 79 - Today we had a walk around the park filled area of Palermo and visited the Rose garden where there is a huge metal rose sculpture that opens up at sunrise and close at sunset. Most people believe that it actually works via light sensors but it actually works via a hydrolics system. It is impressive all the same.

We then went to one of the many craft markets there have in Buenos Aires. This time I managed to restrain myself from buying anything…

After a very nice steak dinner with fried egg, salad and chips we went back to the hostel. For a “party” hostel there wasn´t much of a vibe so we just bought some drinks and entertained ourselves in the room.

Day 80 - We had to get to Boca for 11am today so that we could get the tickets therefore we thought we had best get up at 10.15. Alice had set the alarm the night before and came and woke us all up. Turns out her phone was wrong and she actually woke us up at 9.15. I honestly could have done with that extra hour. Not impressed.

In the end we meet the waiter in Boca and he introduced us to the guy that had the tickets. It turned out that the guy didn´t have any tickets but that he knew people that would allow 2 people through the turn style on one ticket. Obviously 100% legal… We did manage to get through but all it ment was that we had no seats which didn´t matter because there are just concrete steps anyway, so the same as sitting on the stairs. The game was ok and Boca ended up winning 1-0, but the atmosphere was insane. It was so much better than any of the other games I had been too. Ridiculous. When the Boca players first came out the crowd went crazy and started throwing streamers and the like. There throw so much that the whole River goal was covered with streamers and the officials had to spend about 15minutes trying to get the pitch playable. Pretty amusing. After the game the River fans got a little upset at their lose and started ripping up the plastic backs to the seats and started throwing them down on to the Boca fans. They also started mini fires in the ground with anything they could find…

That evening feeling a little beat from the footy we just went for another steak which definitely was one of the best I have had. The meat just melted in your mouth…

Day 81 - I felt a tad ill today, I´d had a cold since Lima and I thing it finally started to catch up with me. Not much was done today as the other 4 had jobs to attend to. I just did a bit of Spanish.

That evening we all caught buses to our repective destinations. Alice and James to Iguazu, and Myself, Tom and Claire to Mendoza - the wine country.

Day 73 (Cont) - After the stresses of the Inca Trail and the mammoth climb up the overlooking mountain we left Machu Pichu and went down to the local town called Aguas Caliente or Hot Waters in English. Here we had a farewell buffer dinner with our super trekkers group and then once almightly stuffed we went to the hot springs to relax the aching muscle for the afternoon until our train back to Cusco arrived.

After catching the train the trip that had so far run smoothly hit a little snag. For the final part of the journey we were suppose to get a bus back, however no bus turned up and 40 tired people were not best pleased. In the end we just paid for a local mini bus to take us back and got the tour company to pay for it. Once back I could not have been looking forward to a bed anymore…

Day 74 - Big old lie in today but once I was up I was rather sore. I wonder what could have caused that?

Today we caught a flight to Lima. Originally we were going to get the bus but that took 20-27hrs. One what kind of estimation is that, and two no thanks. Three days left so lets spend at least one whole one on a bus. Once in Lima we paid an extortionate amount to a taxi driver to take us into the city and booked into the Loki Hostel, which has a very nice roof top terrace area with a bar and table-tennis facilities.

It was very nice to finally be back at sea level after over a month. We all felt pretty energetic being able to walk down the street without getting out of breathe. It was also nice to be back in constant heat. Lima was boiling!

That evening was the evening of truth. I was finally going to get the tickets that had caused so much agro. If only the silly air company used e-tickets as we are in the 21st century after all. I met Fr Jonathan, the priest Mick knew in Lima - as you do, who doesn`t know a priest in Lima? - and he gave me the tickets, which were correct. Very relieved! We then had a couple of beers before I went to find everyone else so that we could explore the bright lights of Mira Flores in Lima.

Day 75 - Big bad Ellis` birthday. In the morning we went to a giant market were they sold everything you could think of. All the stuff was really and bargains could be found, with time. Unfortunately I had already accumulated enough rubbish from this trip to fit anything else in my bag, and we also didn`t want to spent too long there because we wanted to watch the Man U Barca game.

After the game we went for some afternoon birthday beers and then ended up not getting back to the Hostel until around 8pm. When we had returned we met alot of people that we had encountered on our travels, all of whom had come to celebrate Ellis` birthday - arrhhh… A super super super night was had by all. Oh yes.

On my way home form the nights fun I decided to pick up a McDonalds breakfast. Outside the place was a little homeless boy sleeping, or at least trying to but the policia were moving him on. Therefore I invited `Daniel` into Maccers for a good old breakie…

Day 76 - An emotional day if ever there was one. It was the final day of the trio`s travels. For his last day Jonny had a grande pizza from Pizzahut for his breakfast. It was his little treat. On the whole we just chilled out today and watch Liverpool unfortunately lose to flucky Chelsea. Oh well.

We also had one last nice meal together and then said our goodbyes to everybody and to each other. I`m sure Ellis had a tear as Jonny and I headed off to the airport. He was joining the Irish girls in a bus trip up to Ecuador where he was flying to Panama to meet his girlfriend Catherine.

At the airport Jonny and I parted ways with him going back to England, and me heading back to Buenos Aires - wooo wooo. 

Day 85 - So Cat got here last night and I went to the airport to meet her and then had us booked into a nice hotel with a pool, overlooking the Panama canal, which was nice! Spent the day chilling by the pool and watching the boats and ships go past! Then in the evening we headed into the city and went to Casco Viejo the old part and had a walk round and got a nice nightime view of the city and then had a really nice dinner…my first steak for a while!!

Day 85 - So Cat got here last night and I went to the airport to meet her and then had us booked into a nice hotel with a pool, overlooking the Panama canal, which was nice! Spent the day chilling by the pool and watching the boats and ships go past! Then in the evening we headed into the city and went to Casco Viejo the old part and had a walk round and got a nice nightime view of the city and then had a really nice dinner…my first steak for a while!!

Day 70 - The start of the trail. A 5.30am start!!!!

The first bit was a little bus journey to the start of the trail, where we had breakfast. We then gave our stuff to the porters and kept nothing but our day bags. We then had to queue as the permitted 250 trekkers passed through the first check point and got there passport´s stamped! We then entered the land of the Inca´s, oooh…

To be honest the first day was a complete doodle. 13kms and only the last bit up hill. We also stopped at regular occasions which broke the rhythm. Lunch was incredible, three courses in a tent that the porters had already set up by the time we had arrived. Brilliant and not at all expected.

Jonny somehow got cramp on the first day, 10 mins from the campsite, haha. The campsite was between two mountains with a view of a snow topped one…

Day 71 - This was the big day. We had to scale the dead woman´s pass. It was around 4500m high and was very steep. It was also the task after walk to it for 3hrs. For this we used the Ipods to motivate us and carry us up. Obviously the album of choice for me was the Rocky soundtrack, and it worked a treat! Especially towards the end when needing another break the song playing had the lyrics - “the body says stop, but the heart crys NEVER” - brilliantly written :) This allowed us to push on and reach the summit first whilst passing numerous porters…

The next 2km - still before lunch!!!! - were downhill. Mainly large steps built by the Incas. It was a wee bit treacherous. Ellis and I decided the best option would be to let gravity be our friend and run down, and it was working perfectly until it started raining making the steps slippy. Oh well we still ran and got to the lunch camp in time to have a little nap before the food.

After lunch there was another ascent to another pass, although this one did have some impressive ruins on it. It was then a few more km until the campsite and on route there was a larger set of ruins reachable via a very narrow staircase against the cliff face.

Day 72 - After the gruelling second day where we did more than the other groups we had an easier 3rd day. Only the 9km and not too much uphill. There were also spectacular views of the mountain peaks including one named the Puma´s claw. Towards our camp we took a detour and visited a very impressive set of ruins and Inca terraces. This was made better by the fact the 3 of us were the only people there at the time.

That evening in the camp we got to use shower facilities for 8mins each. Possible the best shower I have ever had…

We also visit some other nearby ruins which were huge compaired to some others we had seen. It had once been a working farming village for around 200 Incas.

That evening we thanked are porters and had what you could call an ending ceremony…

Day 73 - Up at stupid 0´clock. 4am to be precise. We had breakfast and then left the camp at 5am. On the edge of camp is the final checkpoint before the city. This checkpoint opens at 5.30 so we had to queue. Makes sense!

Once open we walked for 2hrs until we reached the Sungate. From hear you can look down and see Macchu Pichu for the first time. Well you could if you werent in a cloud!!! We thought our luck had turn and we were going to have terrible weather on our last day. Stink.

Fortunately on the path down to the ciudad the cloud and fog started to disperse and the city slowly became visible. It was a spectacular event seeing the mist slowly unveil the mystic city in the mountains.

I must admit after seeing all the ruins we had seen already I thought that I might be a little disappointed with Macchu Pichu after all the build up. I could not have been more wrong. I was brilliant, and a lot bigger than I expected. It was huge.

Once we arrived we had a 2hr guided tour around the city. This was fantastic, it let you really appreciate all the different parts of the Inca´s world.

After the tour we had free time to do as we wished and explore. I decided to climb wynnapichu which is the mountain next to the city from which you can see a birdseye view of the whole place. Jonny and Ellis opted not to after the strenuous 4 days - bad desicion. It was one of the most difficult 30mins of my life. It was so steep and very narrow and winding. But it was certainly worth it once I reached the top. Spectacular…

I stayed up there a while trying to recover. The trip down was just as bad if not worse… 

Day 81 - Got up and went for some breakfast. Then walked and walked really. Wandered down to the banking distict. Near the waterfront, Panama City is a massive centre for international banking ad trade. There is every major bank and corporation you would have in a western city and huge 5 star sky scraper hotels. Out here they call the Paanam canal the eighth wonder of the world. Panama City is very impressive and at times you might as well be in the city of London or canary wharf.  Found somewhere for dinner and had a good lunch then walked down to the sea front which gives you great views along to all the major buildings one way and the canal and the bridges over it in the other direction!! In the evening I went to the cinema for something to do and saw 21 Blackjack which was cool. The hostel I am in is not great for meeting people really!

Day 82 - Up and out quite early and got a taxi to a part of the city called Casco Viejo which is the old and more aesthetically pleasing part of the city. It is known as little Havana with Cuban influence and cobbled streets and old buildings, alot of whih are beautiful but uninhabited and derelict! The wandered around the numerous squares and found one with a nice bar and ordered myself a drink and sat there in the sun for a few hours learning from my Spanish book. Casco Viejo has alot of history and was ransacked by pirates alot in the past and it was a pretty interesting place but also with a lot of poverty as part of the area is totally residential!

Day 83 - Did not really do alot culturally today. Had been told about the biggest shopping cenrtre in Central America and I needed a few new clothes so headed there and had lunch and then picked up a few cheap bargains. Then in the evening I got talking to a 50 year old American guy and a Norweigan guy and we went to a bar down the road for a few drinks. The American guy was really intersting and had been in the air force and had planned spcial op´s missions during the gulf war and was now in real estate in Panama. At the end of the evening h told me he had opened a hotel and said Catherine and I can go and stay there for free, two swimming pools and horses to ride. So that was nice of him!! Might take him up on that offer!!

Day 84 - Beginning to get a little bored today, run out of site to see as saving the canal for when Cat gets here. Ended up laying poker in the hostel with some Israeli guys I met. Went out for a good Italian dinner and that is about it but Cat gets here tomorrow so really looking forward to that!

Day 77 - Arrived into Quito at 7am on the never ending bus from Lima. Quito is 2850m above sea level n beautifully positioned in a huge valley between Andean mountains. We went straight for a good breakfast and then checked into the hostel. We had a litte sleep because we had not had much on the bus the night before. About 11am, we then set off in a taxi to the “middle of the world” attraction or the equator. About 20 minutes outside of Quito is the equatorial line divinding the southern and northern hemispheres so we went to see it and were jumping across from one side of the line, which is actually physically demarcated, to the other!! Quite a sensation. We then watched went to the planetarium on site to see a display about the stars etc.  Back to the hostel and out for some dinner and then an early night!!

Day 78 - Up for some breakfast and then used the tram system to navigate our way to Old Quito. The sity is divided into old and new. Th old city is beautiful with colonial architecture, cobbled streets and an abudance of plazas with cafes and restaurants, as well as loads of monasteries and churches. We went to visit Santa Catalina convent, which was full of grewsome painting depicting the crucifiction etc. Very bloody and hell like with Satan in nearly all of them. The convent is very strict with nuns having to pray eight hours a day and only allowed to speak to each other for one hour per day! We finished the tour by going up the bell tower which gave us magnificent views all over Quito in every direction! Back to the hostel and out for dinner and then watched a dvd!

Day 79 - Last day in Quito and did not do a great deal really. Had lots of internet things to sort out. Then in the evening, went out for a really good tapas all you can eat and all you can drink meal in a nice square. Went with the irish girls I was travelling with to say goodbye then we went to a few bars after and then to a club! Was not what I was really planning as had to be up ealry…oh well…when in Quito!!

Day 80 - Up at 8am to get back and I must admit I was a litle blurry eyed!!! Oh well, said my goodbyes to the girls and off to the airport!! Rolled up to check in and was immediately halted by the police and taken away by narcotics officials to have my bags searched. Even though I knew I  did not have any drugs on me, as I had dealt all my crack and heroin in Quito, haha, I was still a little anxious. Anyway, it was good in the end because he warned me about people putting things in my bag on the way to Panama because I was flying through Bogota, Colombia so I was extra vigiliant!! Flight to bogota was fine then changed planes and on to Panama City.  Arrived into Panama City about 4.30pm and headed straight to the hostel I had booked which was a bit o a dump but pretty cheap and good location.Then out for a little wander about and dinner and then off to bed!!

Day 71 - Had a bit of a lie in beacause we were pretty shattered from the Inca trail. Then checked out the hotel and got a taxi straight to Cusco airport, checked in and had some lunch. The flight was very pleasant…loads of leg room and spectacular views of the Andes all the way to Lima before dropping down to sea level for the first time in about six weeks! Went to loki hostel where we had made a booking and then met up with Alice and James who we had planned to meet there. Had a chilled evening, out for dinner and then went to the cinema to see a film called Fools Gold!

Day 72 - My birthday………..got up quite early and checked b´day messages etc on internet! Went out for lunch and then to a really nice sports bar on the main street where we watched the football and had a 3 litre tower of beer, which was fun! All of us went to the casino on the way back to the hostel for a flutter and some free drinks. Then back to the hostel for about 8 o clock and met up with some Ozzy friends from the Inca trail we had arranged to meet and about another eight people who we had met in the hostel. The drinks were flowing and ity was great banter. Then about midnight we headed down to the sea front to a really nice area of the city full of bars, clubs and restaurants. We went to an awesome place called Bartini and I got in free because it was my birthday!! The club was great, we had a crack at playing the bongo drums which was fun….we kept trying to do this when the actual bongo player turned round. Eventually got to bed about 6am….great day!!

Day 73 - A black armband day…the three amigos were being separated after three months together. Went out for a pizza hut lunch and then the boys got packed up. Didn´t do a great deal really. Jonny was flying home and Col was heading back to Buenos Aires for another nine weeks! And off they went about 6pm. Howevere, I was still with james and Alice ad the Irish girls we had travelled with, Meabh and Ally. The James and I went to the cinema to see Ironman then bed!

Day 74 - Got up and booked ourselevs onto a Lima city open top bus tour which was good. Went round all the main squares and old archaelogical sites that are still being excavated. Then went to the cathedral which was really interesting. Firstly, they had a Latin American depiction of the Last Supper, with guinea pig as the main meal and also the devil is present leaning over one of the disciples, which is a little eerie!! Then went into the catacombs where over 25,000 pèople from Lima were buried in the 17 and 1800,s and today all that is left is there bones. The bones have been divided up and there is a section for skulls, leg bones etc…vey weird. There bodies were decomposed with lime juice. The we all had a very cultural eveing and went to the world famous Hooters for dinner, which was fun!!

Day 75 - I got up early and went to the bus station to try and get a ticket so I could go to Quito with Meabh and Ally. managed to get myself booked onto the 36 hour marathon to Quito. Then came back to the hostel and said goodbye to Alice and James who were flying to Buenos Aires and meeting up with Col. Got some food and got packed up and then off to the bus station for our bus which left at 5 but had to be there at 4pm for a plane style check in of luggage and ID checks. On the bus…long…watched a few films then off to sleep.

Day 76 - Still on the bus, slept all morning, not the comfiest although the seat did recline a fair bit and I had two seats to myself most of the night. Then stopped for a terrible lunch at the border town of Peru and Ecuador. It was chicken and pasta but wasn´t the best. Then back on the bus and films in Spanish!! Then crossed the border into Ecuador. Loads of narcotics checks coming over the border because the bus´s final destination was Bogota in Colombia. The Colombians on the bus were singled out for fairly prejudiced treament and “random” checks of their bags by the Ecuadorian narcotics officials. Then off to sleep again on the bus with someone next to me this time which was rather annoying because he was a bit of a fatty!!!