Nazca

Hello again,

We have just arrived in Arequipa after travelling over night from Nazca. While in Nazca we took a flight in a small six seater plane over the Nazca lines. While concentrating holding back the vomit from the banks and turns we got to see the amazing pictures made on the desert floor.

The next day we got up at 6:30 to go sand boarding on Cerra Blanco, the highest sand dune in the world! (you can see the sand dune in the background of the first picture)
Not a lot of tourists do this and it was the first time our guide as well. A 3-4 hour excursion turned into a 6 hour hike in the sun with no shade to escape to. (the second picture is us near the beginning of the climb before our camera and legs stopped working due to sand)

We climbed for 3 hours, half of which was in sand, until we reached the top of the dune at 2070m. We were at the highest point for miles around with no civalisation in sight. The 1000m slide down to the bottom was so steep that we sat on our boards and went down it like a sledge. Matt tried standing like snow boarding but after the climb his legs were like jelly. After we reached the bottom we were told it was a 45 minute walk back to where we were to be picked up. That turned into about an hour and half in the mid day sun. It was an excruciating walk back and both of us and a couple of others in the group got a bit of sun stroke. After a rest and some food and drink we were all fine and glad we had done it. Starting to ache now though!!

Tommorrow we are going to see condors at Colca Canyon which is almost 5000m abouve sea level. If we are to get altitude sickeness while we are away then tomorrow is the most likely time.

Okay...time for lunch, Matt and Sueann

Hola Amigos!

Hi All,

We decided we would do separate entries but I don´t have much left to say and Matt has told you everything. As you can see from Matt´s photo, it´s a wee bit chilly out here. It should be a good 10 degrees hotter in the next city. We were a bit worried we hadn´t brought enough clothes so it´ll be good to move somewhere warmer.

I thought i´d upload a photo of my first meal of the trip. It was seafood with rice....delicious!!!

Right, that´s about all for now. Hope all is well with you guys!

Sx

P.S Dave and Carol - did you get my text when we arrived? Not sure I have the right number on my mobile. Can you text me to make sure I have it?

P.P.S We don´t have everyones individual e-mail addresses so it would be good if you could send us a quick mail to wee_matt@hotmail.com

Lima

Hello!

We arrived safe and sound in Lima. We managed to stay awake for 24 hours and then sleep for 11 which eliminated most of the jet lag. I watched five movies on the flight and we were given plenty of food so it was n´t too bad really. Went for a long walk yesterday to central Lima and got a feel for the place. We walked as far as Plaza de Armas (where I´m stood in the picture) and watched the changing of the gaurd. I had some ceviche (raw fish and onion swimming in lime juice with sweet potatoe and corn) which was great. Then we walked back again...15-20km in total. We were meant to be going to Pisco today but it is still in a bad way after the earthquake with an even higher crime rate so we are heading straight to Nazca. That´s it for now. Adios. from Matt

One more sleep!

Here we are testing our bags out. We are due to leave the house at about 3:30am tomorrow. ...yawn.

We will do a more exciting post from Peru soon.

m and s