Planning..

I love where I am staying but unfortunately didn't sleep again, think I was aware that the girls were still in the air. Now know they have arrived back safely so hopefully tonight I will sleep. Also during the night I was trying to plan my next few weeks and going round in circles.

A very warm day, so spent some time this morning lying in a hammock in the garden. I do understand why those elderly Peruvians that you see pictures of, with the dark skin and gnarled faces full of lines and character, get to be the way they are. At this altitude you burn so quickly and I think by the time I get back I will be well on the way to joining the well lined brigade!

Had a wander around, went to the local market and to a monastery that is 500 years old and is a described as a city within the city, it is huge. The main thing I discovered was that Peruvian nuns were very short, well Peruvian people are anyway, but the doorways for the nuns were tiny!

Apparently 3 days ago a new law was passed in Peru, that pedestrians have to cross roads at crossings. In Arequipa they are taking this very seriously and have police positioned at every road, blowing whistles and shouting at pedestrians constantly. Seeings there are no laws (or so it appears) for drivers, they can do whatever they want and never stop at pedestrian crossings, it all seems a bit pointless and rather amusing! It may be better to bring in a law to tell drivers to drive on the correct side of the road and drive below 80 miles an hour through towns!

I am booked up for white water rafting for tomorrow, so that will be very exciting. It was something that I wanted to do in Canada and didn't get around to it, so this will be my big opportunity!! Then the following morning I am off for the two day tour to Colca canyon.

I still have to make the decision on how to get to the salt plains in Bolivia. I've read lots of reports and I know it will be one of the most uncomfortable 3 days of my life, but something to not be missed with sensational scenery. My choice is to go to Lake Titicaca and cross over to Bolivia and try and acclimatise in Le Paz and then take a night bus to the south, or to go down to Chile and then go east to San Pedro and then cross to Bolivia. However, there is a blockade on the road to Lake Titicaca at the moment so the choice may be made for me! If I was home I would be having to choose whether to get on my bike to go to Sheringham or take the train, it would probably be just as hard a decision... it is all relevant!