Arequipa, Cusco and alcoholic dazes.

Ok this is going to be a pleasantly brief one as we have been decidedly lazy for about two weeks, never the less here goes.

We arrived in Arequipa (where there is a huge canyon, which we didn´t go to, genius!) We found our hostel which turned out to be really really lovely, hammocks no less, and settled ourselves in and met some very sweet Brits, one of whom we met two nights ago whilst very very drunk. Arequipa has a beautiful square which is surrounded by shops and cafes and that sort of thing without being quite so touristy as Cusco. We went out for a meal to an amazing Mexican place with some guys from our hostel and here began our beautiful relationship with Lars and Courtland (a Norwegian who went to university in Sunderland of course so speaks with a fantastic English accent, and a yank) who i thought were both Israeli... they weren´t ... true story! Ok to be honest that is about it, we did lots of wandering, I bought lots of useless tat, we ate really well, drank really well, and lazed about in hammocks on the roof terrace, not bad!

We had been told that the road to Cusco is unsafe to take at night from Arequipa, so we did it. We took a brand of bus that was recommended to us and were amazed when we got on as it looked like a plane twas amazing. Arriving in Cusco we got to our hostel and again were pleasantly surprised, our hostel is massive, has a huge tv room and bar, and everyone is aged between 20=30 and up for having a really good time which is what we both needed after the relative quietness of most of Bolivia and the early stages of Peru. As soon as we arrived at the hostel Lars and Courtie arrived, which was cool and we got chatting to others in our dorm. That night we went out and Nick wasn´t feeling that great so I felt it my duty to drink for the both of us... I felt terrible the next day and Nick and I sat around in the hostel garden eating the practically all day breakfast provided, with occasional moans from me. Next night was a full moon night and apparently this is a huge deal here. Every bar/ club/ and hostel had some kind of event on and our hostel had a DJ and stupid offers on drinks, we drank a reasonable amount here before heading out for the night and here nick and I along with Lars got for want of a better expression , shit faced, Nick also managed to get lost twice and find our friend Mike from our hostel in Arequipa who is a bit of a sweety. Some Peruvians have an interesting way of dancing to say the least and the guys make so much effort and look so camp it is brilliant!!Great night again felt a bit rough the next day but totally worth it, we got back to the hostel that night at about 5 and Lars and Courtie had to get a train to where I am now, the next morning at 7! miraculously they did it.

This morning we work up at quarter to 6 and caught to train to Aquas Caliente, a small town right next to Macchu Picchu, I am now writing from the town. Tomorrow we get up stupidly early to go to Machu Pichu, very exciting, might go to some hot springs this afternoon and try not to faint this time. Then we are heading back to Cusco and will probably stay there a while as we like it! despite our dorm mates having interesting sleeping habits which I won´t go in to now.

Told you I would keep it short, this from the girl who had to halve her dissertation length.