I would loike to thank all who have read our blog and who have sent us messages and reactions to our blog.

I hope you have all enjoyed reading over our experiences and much as we have enjoyed this fantastic trip.

I hope to speak and see you all in the very near future.

Thank you all very much, it has been much appreciated!!!

In the evening we went to Siga La Vaca (Follow the cow) which was very nice. All was included even the wine and water etc. At the Parrillada you could choose what piece of meat you wanted, the salad bar was extensive which different dishes all the time. Somewhere I would recommend to anyone.

The last day we returned to la Boca to do our last shopping of souvenirs (Ineke). We had our last lunch of a good steak, Ineke with mushroom sauce and I had a mustard sauce. It was really enjoyable again.

We wanted to blog and email at the hotel but the server was down due to the bad earthquake in Chile, where their server is based. Apparently and unfortunately there are 150 casualties. Hence we could not blog. So here in Madrid airport, we have some time to complete out story.

We ate at a restaurant with a brilliant view, unfortunately the food did not match the view, it was revolting at an extortionate price – we were not aware of the value of the their money yet.

We askes a woman to take our photo and she duely explained that there was a rally that evening of all the old cars as Uruguay is the country with most old cars in the world.

We did go to the rally and it was very cute, a number of people wore clothes out of the 20´s walking up and down. The cars were mostly classic such as Ford Escorts but there were some vintage cars too. There were lots. Apparently they left Montevideo at 7pm arriving in Colonia at 10pm.

This woman also said that the new president will be inaugurated on monday and showed a book about his life. Apparently he is a controversial figure being in prison as well as in hiding for 5 years in a hole!?!

The following day we took the local bus to Montevideo. A city which could have been any city, nothing special. There were huge buildings with doorways and rounded steeples but the streets were so narrow it was difficult to take some good pictures.

The countryside looked wealthier than what we have seen but there was nothing special that you could say ´this is Uruguayan´. In Montevideo you could see the preparations being made for the inaugurations on the Plaza de Indepencia. Just inside the old town there was a huge murial high up and this could later be seen in t-shirts etc. There was nothing we could buy to commemorate our visit. Never mind!

We took the ferry back from Montevideo to Buenos Aires which took 3 hours. On the ferry we met a Frenchman who offered us some French
apperitive as he did not like to drink on his own. He collected some cups with ice from the cafetaria as it needed to be drunk very cold. We photographed the label. He was telling us that Punte del Este is a lovely city and showed us some video footage on his laptop. Unfortunately it was taken from a car so all we could see was traffic and some buildings. It appeared very wealthy though. When he had finished using the laptop he and his partner went elsewhere.

The customs were a formality and the Argentinian official made a point of saying that we had a 3 month visa. Unfortunately, our holiday was coming to an end and did not need it.

On return to Buenos Aires, we collected my National Cortume dolls which I had put away before we left for Uruguay.

On arrival at Lima, we knew that we had to wlak past the green airport taxis as there were frightfully expensibe. Where there is parking we could get an official or unofficial taxi. We had decided on an official taxi only. However, on leaving Lima airport we were surrounded by at least 10 taxi drivers offering their fares.

When we had decided on which one to take, we told the driver where we needed to be set off – a hotel we had seen on the internet but could not book as there was not Mastercard listed on the credit cards.

owever, the driver had other ideas and was telling us that the hotel was not in thye centre of Mraflores, the seaside area of Lima. he also knew of cheaper and better located hostels in the area.

On arrival st our chosen hotel, the driver spoke to someone from the hostel and suddely there were no vacancies. Then the driver said he could take to another hostel and he gave us some brochures. He also made some phonecalls and in the end dropped us off at a hostel. We cecked it out and decided to remain there.

Of course this is not the ned of it. We were given a price for two nights, paid some of it and agreed to pay the remainder the following day. When we did so, the fee of the hostel which we thought was for two days, suddently was only for one night. We start our arguments and said to call the English speaking receptionist back. Of course this was not forthcoming and we made it clar we were not going to pay. The receptionist also entioned the taxi driver`s commission but we would not budge. Even yeaterday when we were pascking our bags, did he knock on the door staing that we owed him money. ut we stood our gtounds an said that we know the prices of hotels and hos hostel was niot worth the money he was now requsting. We even threatened the police and this did the trick and he backed off stating we had paid. We did leave our luggage there till last nightand when we opicked it up, he was very ameanable. maybe he thought that he could scam us but in the end he got more than he had bargained for!!

Lima itself is a huge city, far larger than I had expected. It had veruy large collonial buildings and many churches. Soe of te collonal houses are in a bad state of repair unfortunately. However, we found our way around by bus very quickly and used this more of transport to get aroung. I must say, our hostel was in a prime location for the seafront and (expensive) shops and the city centre. On the frirst day back we stopped off at Kennedy park where there were artists showing off their ware, we could just take photos of some of the better paintings. It had a really lovely atmosphere and we had some Pollo Saltada, the local speciality. Earlier on we had a lunch when we tasted guinnea pigm it is something like chicken in textureand colour. It had a srong sauce so this masked the tast somewhat. It was still nice although quite boney.

Yesterday we visited the Gold Museum which was quite expensive as it is privately owned. Then on to an ercheological site which was closed on monday – I am sure the taxi driver must have known this!1 but this would give him another fare. Hence we went to an Inca market instead.I was looking for a bracelet and I asked one o the stall holders. She showed me exactly where I could get one and it would be genuine gold (unlike some other shops) as she had bought he wedding ring there. Whe we went there eventually I was able go get this for less than half the price than the shop I had seen it the day before in Miraflores.

The busses are als something else. The conductor shouts at each stop where s/he is going, whcu is something not understandable and something you hear shoutring sfom a market stall. He añso bangs in the side of the bus and points to all those are waiting to come inside his bus. The busses are clapped out large vans and the fares cost next to nothing. We found our way around these very quickly.

Last night we took a taxi to the airport for a fare that is 5 Euro / pond for a ride of 45 min. The taxi driver in his clapped out vehicle was very happy with the fare. At the airport he needed to show 3 documents, one of which was his driving licence. I am sure it was not an MOT!!! So we were at the airoport early for our night flight to BA again.

Tomorrow, returning ion friday we will be going to Montevideo in Uruquay, our last trip and 5th capital city of our trip. We have booked this hotel again for the last night. So we will be back home on Sunday.

We may blog again befiore our flight, but cannot be sure.

Yesterday we were picked up from our hotel and taken to the port and boat. First we visited one of the reed islands of the Uros communuty. Here we were shown how the reed islands are made and upkept. We were shown their customs and way of life etc. Each family took some of us to their houses and the one we were shown proudly showed us their tv and radio (all in one system!). This community now live of tourism. We took a reed boat ride to another island and these fares goes straight to the community. On the boat, a small girl was selling postcards and she came curling up next to me.

We then went to another island whare we were staying the night with a local family in their house. There was no water or light, our headlamps came of good use!!!

We were given lunch there and then we had a walk to the top of the island for a sunset. However before the walk up, there was a foortball match with the locals. But the pitch was full of water and in no time local men came with their brooms and also the women in their fineries with brushes made out od branches with lots of leaves to get rid of the water. All this happened at the same time as the football was going on!!. When we eventually left for the top, there was not enough time to walk in a leisurely manner. Also the higher we got the colder it got. I just managed to get to the top but there was not the ruins to see or the hoped for sunset, only cold, thunder and later on rain. The thin ponchos we had bought in La Paz agains the water bombes, water pistols and foam spray came to goog use!!

On return to the main square, we thought there would be shops and some cafes but no, only some local women trying to sell some meat and potatoes on a skewer. But the way they handled the food was not very appetising. One of the girls in the family came to pick us up and took us back in the poring rain to their house. We asked to have dinner in our room as we did not fancy going outside through the pooring rain.

There was an organised dance with the locals on the football field but we decided to give it a miss as the rain was tipping it down. We went to be very early ans unexpectedly we had a very good night sleep. We used our towel as pillow case as ther was none. There was only a bottom sheet which looked clean but grey. No top sheet and 3 heavy blankets and a light top cover. We had a bedpan in our room – fortunately we did not need to use it. The toilet was outside and this was something else yet again. Lets say, it was an experience. It was very difficult to communicate as we could only speak a few worrds of Spanish and I had left my Point-it and dictionery in the hotel. So we only had Ineke´s booklet. The family spoke in one of their languages but could read Spanish slowly. This morning we were woken up at 5.30 as the family were already up and about. We took a number of photograps and were then taken to the harbour again for our next island today.

We had a long trek over this island and were explained about their customs and costumes. There are 6 communities, each have 2 presidents. Three communities work for three years in agriculture whilst the other three rest and tend to the animals – a very good idea!!! There are three rules, not to be lazy, not to steal and not to lie – it seems to work. All the married men wear read hats (woolen bonnets) and the unmarried men and boys wear red and white. If a boy wishes to get married he will have to show his hat and the girls father poors water in it, if the water seeps through he is sent away to knit / make another hat that does not seep through. hence all the weaving / knitting is very tight.

We saw groups of locals in their fineries with musical instruments going to lunch elsewhere. This was quite a spectacle and lovely to see. Towards the end of the walk from one end of the island to the other we had luncj of quinoa soup – yet again and again different and trout, which was lovely.

the whole walk was a bit of a hurry and hence very strenuous as a youngf Australian couple had left his camera with the family and we had to turn the boat round to pick this up. So we were already last and this time had to be made up. This made what could have been a relaxed time more of an exhausted trip. We were both very tired on return to the boat.

This evening we went to have something to eat and get some money. Fortunately the bank was next to our chosen restaurant as the presinct was filling up with carnival makers and all the youth were spraying each other with foam, it was complete mayhem. Ineke got a lot on her face and galses but I managed to avoid the worst. Luckily the main square was not too far away where it became easier. Hopefully this stupidity is soon finished when we get to Lima later tomorrow.

We will have a bit of a lie-in tomorrow as we are bot quite tired of our heavy day today. We have not booked a hotel in Lima yet but have been given a list by I Peru, the Tourist Information that is very well organised here.

We will report from Lima hopefully, depending on whether we can make use of a PC in the hotel.

Our first impression of Peru is that there is more activity and people can be seen working on the land, they are growing crops of various sorts, the environment is cleaner and it does not appear as poor as Bolivia. It seems that the people are more proud of their surroundings.

When we were nearing Puno, a guide on the bus offered all a hostel two blocks from the city centre with en-suite facilities. If it was not to our liking we could seek somewhere else ourselves. A taxi would take us to the hostel for free. Two Chinese girls and us took up the offer and the hostel is reasonable ok. It is clean, central to everything and cheap.

At the hostel we were able to book our two day trip to reed islands, starting tomorrow. We will be staying with a family overnight on one of them. We can keep our main luggage at this hostel as we will be staing there again when we return.

We have also booked our flight to Lima for the 20th in the afternoon. Also a transfer bus who will pick up up from our hostel and take us to the airport in Juliaca.

So as you can see we are well sorted.

The hostel could direct is to the tourist information I-Peru and they provided us with lots of info. So all is very much easier here.

Tonight we had a lovely dinner of Alpaca, something we had never tasted before, it was lovely. I cannot describe the taste really and a bottle of Peruvian rose. But we need to get up early for our trip tomorrow, again we will be picked up from the hostel.

As this hostel has a PC and internet, we will let you know how we have enjoyed our trip on the lake again.

Whilst in Copacabana, we have also tried a new fish Pejerrey, it was lovely but need to find out what fish it is exactly. The trout was delicious but the Bolivian dish was mostly grissle and sliced frankfurters. Never mind.

Yesterday we went to Isla del Sol. The organisation of the operator left a lot to be desired, we had to change boats and left an hour late. This meant that out time on the north part was extended, we had a type of Spanish speaking guide and as long as we knoew where the group was, we would know that the boat would not leave – far too late of course. The Inca trail to the ruins was quite strenuous bur very intersting. The rocks had many colours.

We then had not enough time on the south side to go to the look-out point which was again a difficult 30 minute walk up the mountain ad we were given only an hour there. So we admired the view with a drink instead after walking around the harbour.

It appears that this island is full of hippies who camp along the shores playing their instruments.

On the way back we stopped of at a ready made reed island for the purpose of tourists. There was a charge to get off the boat so not many decided to do this, all taking pictures of their carnival festivities. When standing at the top of the boat, there was a sudden crack and the floor moved down some inches. Later it appreared that the pole which held up the roof had broken through the floor at the bottom of the boat.

The boats itself was something else as well. On the way to the island there were no lifejackets and on the way back there were some but not enough for all. there were some 60+ people on the small boat. Never mind, this is the way it is here.

It was a most enjoyable and interesting day though!!

On return to Copacabana, the main square was full of busses and vans with a smell of beer everywhere. Music blaring and some local women worst for ware with filthy skirts. I wonder how they get these clean after some of their washing sessions which we have seen.

The weather was ok, luckily not very hot otherwise the walk would have been more difficult. The altidude 3936mtr. We habve now got used to the altitude and it becomes easier to move around – although today for some reason I have been a bit out of breath.