We arrived mid afternoon in Puno and hopped straight on a boat out to the floating islands for a quick trip to a couple of islands.

The islands are made of the reeds that grow in Lake Titicaca and the original inhabitants moved onto the lake to escape the Incan tribes.

The islands were spectacular and the family’s on there were selling things they had made and of course a little girl made a bee line for me and sold me a hand draw picture for 2 Soles. She saw me coming a mile away! We road on a reed boat from one island to the next while the sun was setting!

 

Next day, very early, we were off to Cusco via a day trip tour where we stopped off at various Incan ruins and a few churches.

My first impression of Cusco was that it was a dry and dusty city but upon arriving at the city centre I was pleasantly surprised by it’s cobbled streets and stunning architecture.

We went on a tour of the Sacred Valley the next day where we saw Incan Ruins up close for the first time!

 

 

The next day was Grand Final day and the day Julie and Jue arrived, so of course no plans were made outside of watching the game and awaiting the ladies!!!

The game was pretty boring to be honest!! After all the goals we’d seen in the early games this one was a bit of an anticlimax! But either way Germany won and the World Cup was over. I didn’t really know what to do with myself. I’ve let Downton Abbey fill the void but now I’ve finished that too.

However the arrival of M’Julie certainly brightened things and I threw myself at her when I saw her! Plus she had bought me my requested She-Wee as is been experiencing some of the most hideous toilets of my life!!

Two tips for using a She-Wee, maintain a constant flow and don’t laugh while using it!!

 

Up bright and early the next day for Macchu Pichu!!! It was freeeeeezing cold when we were leaving at 5:45am to get to the train! We had decided earlier on to do MP by ourselves, instead of through a tour agency. I had arranged the train and we knew where to get the bus/MP tickets once off the train, all we needed was a guide!

The train trip itself was pretty amazing! And when we arrived (after some food / coffee) we managed to find both the bus tickets and the MP
Tickets and then we found Nelly, our very patient and wonderful guide, who took us round Macchu Picchu and at one point said to us “You are very fun, yes?” Yes Nelly how’d you guess!!

Macchu Picchu was indescribable, you simply have to go there, but here’s some pictures for you anyway:

 

Next day off to Lima, and Cusco and Lima could not be more different; Cusco is seeped in culture and history and Lima is a cosmopolitan beach side city! We were only in Lima over night but we managed to go to a water park and find ourselves a cool place to eat dinner. Oh and we went to the Casino. It was no Vegas.

Next day we were off to Bogota!