Congratulations to The Currans

Congratulations to Brian and Kimm.

Baby Max was born on 28th May, weighing 6lbs 4oz. All the Currans are doing fine and we just wish we were there to see them all.

Love The Bluesxx

From Santiago to Puerto Montt

We left Santiago, on the 28th, and headed south to Puerto Montt. It´s pretty cold here at the moment, but dry and the hostal we are staying in, is super warm.....so we don´t feel like leaving for now. We were wanting to go further south and see some of the glaciers, but it looks like it is a 4 day boat trip, which costs a fair bit......and it´s 4 days on a boat - which Debo is not into. So we´ll see what we decide in the next couple of days and, of course, keep you all updated.

Love

The Blues x

p.s. saw the new pirates of the carribean movie (in english luckily), the other day. It´s OK but not great....just in case you were thinking of going to see it

The great Chilean fruit Smuggler.....CAUGHT

My secret is out. After several years of travelling, with various items of fruit, on my person, the Chilean customs officials finally caught me out.

In my bag was 2 Bolivian bananas and 1 Bolivian mandarin. These are a no-no, if you try to get into Chile. My bag went through the X-ray machine and the game was up. I was pulled aside, the fruit was weighed, and a customs report was filled out, which I had to sign.

What can I say.....caught red handed, and I promised, to the customs officials, never to try and bring fruit into Chile again - my fruit smuggling days are over.

NOTE : It was actually Debo that bought the fruit.....I was just the fruit trafficer

We´ve never laughed so much in our life....and, after the contraband was seized, I was free to go

What are we doing today ???... oh great, looking for anacondas

10 Bolivianos...or NO PICTURE!!

And so the hunt begins

(why I´m smiling...knee deep in swamp, looking for snakes..I´ll never know)

Nice scarf...."thanks....it´s snakeskin"

(and the rest of the snake too!!)

Next day....Angelo announced that we were going anaconda hunting. Aren´t they BIG snakes we all thought.....eh....yes. We sailed up river a bit to a swamp (or the Pampas as it is known). We were given wellie boots to wear, which worked for the first hour, but then the swamp got a bit deeper and before we knew it, we were waist deep. No snakes though......just a billion mozzies (and hungry ones at that). Angelo decided we should press on (great !) and after another hour, he found one. Everyone rushed over to take photos. Only a 2 hour trudge, through reeds and swampy water, back to the boat then!! - great!! (and we paid for this). After, we sailed back to camp, emptied the water out our wellies and got washed off. In the afternoon we had swimming with dolphins lined up (in the same river at the alligators, caymen, snakes etc.). Angelo assured us it was safe as the dolphins chased off any alligators. We sailed up river until we saw some and some of us dived in. Debo decided to stay in the boat to "take photos" and this was a good move as the dolphins swam away (we, the ones swimming in the river, remembered that the dolphins chased off the alligators etc.....but they had just swam away - time to get out I think!!). In the evening, we sailed up to a bar, on stilts, to watch the sunset (and had a couple of cervezas). The next day we had a boring day of pirahna fishing!!!! IB caught one (but threw it back becasue it wasn´t very big), Angelo (of course) caught 7.... which were fried up as part of lunch. We´ll tell you this....there is not much eating on a piranha!!. In the afternoon we were taken back to Santa Rosa, then driven back to Rurrenabaque.

The next day we had a nightmare trip trying to get back to La Paz, since it had rained all night and the grass runway, at Rurrenabaque,m was out of commission. After waiting around, from 7am til 4pm we eventually got a military flight from Reyes to La Paz.....this still beats the 22 hour bus journey - which is the other alternative.

We´ve got a couple of days left in La Paz....before heading off to Santiago on Friday

Trip to the Pampas

Home Sweet Home

(It´s on stilts for a reason....water, and reptile protection)

"How did you convince me to come here IB?"

"What´s that Debo??....insurance....Yeah it´s all up to date....Why?"

Yumm....I smell a Scotsman - I love foreign food!!!

We went on a 3 day (2 night) trip to the Pampas - which is a kind of swampy, jungle-y region in Bolivia. We had another small plane trip to get there (much to Debo´s delight), which took about an hour. On arrival we met another 3 people, on our trip, and piled into a 4x4 for a 3 hour drive from Rurrenabaque to Santa Rosa (stopping for lunch on the way). We then loaded our gear into a long canoe type boat and went for a 2 hour sail up the Yakuma river to our camp (3 huts on stilts, with no glass windows...only mozzie screens). It was about 6pm when we arrived at camp, so we unloaded our stuff, had dinner and then went back out on the river (in pitch black) to look for alligators. Before we even got into the boat, Angelo (our guide), took us round the back of our sleeping hut, shone his torch...and we saw a pair of big red eyes staring back......that will be alligator number 1 then....and a bit too close too home (this is when we realised why the huts were on stilts). We then went out onto the pitch black river, with our torches, to find some more (why are we doing this when the engine on the boat kept stalling). We saw a few more (one a bit too close to the boat for comfort) and then back to camp. Luckily our beds had mozzie nets round them too and, with the aid of earplugs, we slept suprisingly well.

From Puno, to La Paz

Our bus on a wee boat across Lake Titicaca

La Paz city

Yesterday (the 16th) we travelled from Puno, in Peru, across the border to La Paz, in Bolivia. This was quite a long journey (10 hours), which involved changing buses, having to get a boat across Lake Titicaca - while our bus took a different boat (which we were glad of as it was a bit on the choppy side and the bus was rocking heavily), and then travelling to La Paz city (3600 metres above sea level). La Paz was a bit chaotic at first, but luckily our hostel is tranquile and quiet. In the next couple of days we are heading off to the Bolivian jungle for a 3 day and night trek. We have a good guide, so hopefully none of the anacondas, crocodiles or pirahnnas will get us - after all we are staying in a hut - much to Debo´s delight, but we are both looking forward to it.

Will update when we get back

Love

The Blues x

Beni, Jeni and Pee-sac on Taquile island

Are you sure we are not in Greece ?!?

Beni, Jeni and their new found friend...enjoying the Peruvian sunshine

Uros Islands on Lake Titicaca

One of the Floating islands

A right ugly mug....and a reed boat figurehead

A floating reed boat in front of a floating reed island

We travelled from Cusco to Puno, on the 14th, and on the 15th went out onto Lake Titicaca. Our first stop was the floating Uros Islands. There are 40 little islands, which are constructed from totora reeds - which have to be replaced every 2 - 5 months, are home to the Uros tribe. We thought it was a bit bizarre, before we went, but once we were welcomed onto one of the islands we realised what a beatiful setting and very tranquile way of life they had (although the climate can be pretty extreme). There are about 2000 people who stay on these islands. click here for more details.

After we went onto Taquile island (made of rock) and had lunch and met some more locals who were celebrating the end of the harvest with a street party. The trip took the whole day, and was also really hot and this was the coolest time of the year and is just coming into the dry season. We got some colour on our bones although Debo was pink and has gone back to being cream.

Introducing Pee-sac

Hello there!!! I´m Pee-sac the Peruvian Tiger. IB and Debo saved me from Pisaq market (from which I´m named after) and am now enjoying travelling with them, and my new friends Beni and Jeni - who are like a brother and sister to me. I´m hoping to be smuggled over the border and eventually back to bonnie Scotland.

See you soon !!

Pee-sac

Beni and Jeni at Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu

The Lost Inca City, with Wayna Picchu in the background

IB and Debo in the Inca City

Got the (4 hour) backpackers train from Cusco, at 7 in the morning, which snaked up the mountain to Aguas Calientes. The weather was great which made the journey through the valleys and mountains, spectacular. Then we jumped on a bus up to Machu Picchu.

WWWWOOOOOOWWWWWWWW !!!

Again, the pictures don't do it justice, but it is an amazing place, with more spectacular views. The whole place felt magical, and a trip here would be recommended. We came back down at about 17:00, with aching legs, but it was all worth it. After a few beers and ten hours sleep, we felt much better. We are off to the hot springs today, to chill out, then back to Cusco tonight (tomorrow we are exploring Cusco and the Sacred valley, so more pictures to come)

love, The Blues xx

Wee Cutie

This wee cutie was at the side of the road, with her mum, selling Peruvian goods. We bought some Cactus fruit from them and gave the wee girl 1 sole (about 17p) for taking her picture. You´d have thought we'd given her a million pounds......wee soul

Colca Canyon

The Blues at Colca Canyon...(thank god for shades!!)

Colca Valley .....and......a Condor over Colca Canyon

We went from Arequipa over the mountains (4,910m at the highest point) to Colca Canyon. We felt a bit breathless and light headed with the altitude, but we were given the old Inca remedy of coca leaf tea and also coca leaves to chew on (you can buy them from the newsagents !!). We don´t know if it worked or if it was psycho sematic, but we felt better, so that´s the main thing. We stayed over, in a town called Chivay...which was bloody freezing !!! Luckily our bed had about 10 Llama hair blankets which kept us warm, but also kept us pinned to the bed, because they were so heavy. We both woke up, at about 3am, with pressure on our chest...it felt like Beni (our old cat) had come back from the grave and was sitting on us...but it was a combination of the altitude and the blankets. We felt a bit better after some deep breaths.

Next morning (at 6am) we went to Colca Valley which is an amazing sight, with terracing right down the valley and then onto Colca Canyon to see the condors which nest in the canyon. We were very lucky as we were told we might only see one or two (if any), but in fact saw about 20 in total, along with some eagles. Conditions must have perfect

Beni and Jeni hit Arequipa

Beni and Jeni at the Plaza Mayor, Arequipa

The Nazca Lines

The Astronaut

The Monkey

The Spider

The Hummingbird

We went to Nasca to see the Nasca lines. These are HUGE pictures drawn in the desert dating back to Inca times. We had a flight booked (in a plane that was like a car with wings - 4 seats including the pilots), and flew out over the desert. Debo did not feel too good as the plane keep banking to the left and right, but was okay after it touched back down, or we should say bounced down. Nobody knows exactly how they were drawn to such details, but they were pretty amazing and the pictures don´t really do them justice.

Forbidden land

The forbidden land....enticing tourists with its coloured houses and mystical cross on top of the hill

We went down to the river and saw a big cross in the distance. When we looked over, we saw this hill (with the cross on top) with loads of coloured houses on it. It all looked very pretty. We were warned though, by the guy in the hostel, not to cross over the river though, or if we did, not to take anything valuable. We heeded his advice (especially with our track record) and took pictures from afar.

(See....we are learning)

Cambio de Guardar

Main Square in Lima

(with a slight police presence...so there is no funny business)

Went into Lima central today (in a little crazy minibus, that you have to jump on - and off!!). Went to the main square and saw a few of the sights in and around. We were wondering why there were police armoured cars there....and then saw some riot police going up the street. Oh oh....it´s all goin to kick off, we thought. But no, at 12 noon every day, there is the changing of the guards at the government palace. What a waste of money: Riot police, water cannons, security guards and all for a couple of bands coming out and playing "El Condor Pasa (If I could) - by Simon and Garfunkel.....then some guards doing some weird lunge style ,marching. All very strange. Got the tourists attention though !!

We only stayed for a wee bit, then braved the crazy minibus back to Miraflores (it´s a bargain at 1.60 soles - about 20p for a 30 minute white knuckle ride!!!)

Landed in Peru

Walk 4 blocks and this is our view!!

Our exit out of Argentina went very smoothly. When we checked in the girl at check-in told us to go and see immigrations, who simply stamped our departure tax form. We paid the cashola and that was it. The flight was very good. Great food and we got to watch Happy Feet. On arriving in Peru, we showed the police report as we did not have an entrance or exit stamp for Argentina, all okay. We left customs to a see of people all waving cards with peoples names on them and we finally found our guy....Debora (h missing) Blue in huge black letters. He took us to his car and we drove through the streets of Lima in the pitch black at 100 miles per hour. He went down this really windy road to the beach, and that is when we thought we were for the broth pot, but this was the road to Miraflores (district of Lima). We passed loads of police and a hugh black van with all the police officers in black with only their eyes showing.....Yikkeeesss. Not sure what or who they were looking for but in a strange kind of way it was re-assuring. Miraflores is beautiful and we are 4 blocks away from the beach...Again loads of police, so I think there may be a personal secruity problem. They all have big guns too. We have booked a trip that will take us 2 weeks. Leaving Lima tomorrow to Nazca, then Arquipa, then onto Cusco to see Machu Piccu, then Lake Titicaca, then onto La Paz Bolivia. The price includes our accomodation and tours. It was a bit more expensive than we thought, but the chances of us coming back to Peru are slim, so it will all be worth it.

Mozie.....it is so full of blue blood.......

It´s almost royalty !!!

This little so and so had a nice feast - as you can see. The Blue blood did it no good though, it was too heavy to fly away when the "swat of doom" hit it. At least it had a quality last meal !!

We´re sick of mozzies !!