Can´t breath again

Now we are in the Andes again we are getting Mate de Cocoa. A herbal tea made out of cocoa leaves that is meant to help with altitude problems. We have also been shown how to chew it by wrapping it in a bit of lime rock. Its horrible like this and makes your mouth numb. Apparently if you chewed 5Kg of leaves you might get a mild buzz

Went to Canon del Colca a beautiful area full of canyons and the Cruz del Condor - A viewpoint where you can sit and watch condors soar below you, magic. This is such a beautiful area, dotted with lovely villages, that I wish we had spent longer than 3 days.

Wherever you go in Peru you stumble upon festivals. Some might just be a few school children dressed up and stopping the traffic. Others are massive affairs. Puno has a 5 day festival celebrating the rising of the Inca god out of the Lake Titicaca. Sunday consisted of 12 hours of processions representing various gods . All accompanied by loud unmusical brass music (with pan pipes of course). The highlight was the sacrificing of an alpaca and offering its heart to the Inca gods. Nice to see the Catholics haven't got it all their own way.

We were on a trek (traveler for country walk) and came across a walled cemetery filled with people. It was the Day of the Dead. Whole extended families come to have share a picnic with a dead loved one. They put food and drink on the grave so they can all share. Musicians are hired to play music and sing songs with the dead. It all involves a lot of beer and spirit drinking. Great fun way to remember your relatives. All the graves had crosses on them but the Andean people pick and mix religion as they feel fit
















Stayed with a family on an island on Lake Titicaca. No motorised transport, electricity or plumbing. The family cooked all our meals in a tiny thatched hut on dung fires. Their children took us to the top of a mountain to see the view and Inca remains. On the way back we found a store that sold rum and acted as the local bar. We took the chidlren in with us for an Inka Cola. Climbing back down to the house was fun in the dark but they took complete control holding our hands and guiding our steps. They where only 8 and 9

Englishman with another new hat on floating Island in lake Titicacca

PS Isnt the news from USA great. I know in the big picture it doesnt make much difference but I feel it is a little bit of justice to Bush and his cronie