Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia Later

Hey guys,
Sorry Its been so long again, ive been pretty sick lately so i havent had the urge or long enough away from the toilet to write in a while. Now a lot has happened so im gunna have to go chronological again.

There are some new photos here http://www.flickr.com/photos/8075577@N02/ but they may not be in chronological order.

Ecuador

From Quito we made our way down to a place called Baños on a 5 hour bus. This place is know for its hot baths and hot they were. Firstly we went to the supermarket to see what US$6 could buy. actually it can buy quite a lot in Ecuador. We decided on a bottle of bicardi, two cans of coke, 3 limes, 1 lemon and 3 bananas. a well rounded dinner before heading off to the hot baths. The hottest being 48 degres was awesome but generally we had a pretty awesome time lounging around in the mineral rich waters before hitting the hay.

The next day we decided to hike up one of the surrounding hills. We did just that and let me tell you, it was freaken hard at altitude but the views were well worth it. and when I got to the top i did have just enough lung capacity left to hum the rocky theme and dance around with my arms up.

Next was to board a bus to guayaquil. We arrived at night and passed out fairly quickly. The next day we walked around the city enjoying the sights and hitting the markets. A long day but on the way home we stumbled apon a wicked plaze where iguanas just chill out. in the middle of the city! So that was freaken cool. on the way home we bought a bottle of appletons jamaican rum for 5 bucks and some coke to mix it. Some more beers and we were having a fun night.

Mildly hung and fairly tired we boarded our 26 hour bus to Lima. I have never been on such a sweet bus before. good thing too seeing as 26 hours is quite a time to sit in one place. suffice to say the ipod was flat by the end.

Peru

We got into Lima in the morning and immediately caught a taxi to our accomadation. Grabbed some awesome seafood lunch and walked around the main drag. I dunno if ive mentioned yet but in south america, james and i are very tall. at least a head above everyone else. so we stand out a fair bit and the blonde hair gets us a few whistles here and there.

I´m not boasting im just explaining why a big group of 13 yr old girls asked for photos and msn addresses from us and have now added us. Anyway other than being accosted by chickas we just grabbed some beers with the columbians we have been hanging out with and hit the hay.

Then it was bus time to Cusco. 18 hours later we get there after winding and being uncomfortable. this bus was nothing compared to the last one. We grabbed a taxi to plum´s hostel and while asking about him he walks in! Yay!

Chilled out all day then hit the town for some happy hour cusco drinks. it has quite a night life and we had a pretty crazy night. the next day we tried to plan our machu piccu visit and chilled some more.

Now, the next day we started our journey. mine with a tuna sandwich. we caught the bus to maras then to moray to see the wicked ruins from my flickr site. from here a taxi to the salt flats and we walked down to the road from there. an awesome walk through the hills for about 2 hours. then we hitched to the town where u train to machu piccu from. Instead of consuming food.... (Sam you´ll be happy to know i spewed again) I began to expell the food. and did so all night. from both ends. (to make it easier i will just say that this is still occuring from one end).

Anyway, tired and weak we trained and bused to the top and saw machu piccu. freaken awesome. check the photos out. James and Plum were able to do the hike but i was too tired and had a 2 hour nap in the freaken coolest place i think i have ever slept. It sucks because one of the mountains they hiked was called huchuypiccu. anyway, back down to the town at the base for more hot baths. these were not nearly as hot as ecuador but still worth the visit. Sick again that night with little sleep and many toilet visits.

Back to cusco for the winter solstice festival. fireworks and crazy festivities were skipped by me as i lay in bed powering down antibiotics and gastrolyte. i was/am VERY sick, worst i have ever been. not so much any more but only just starting to get better.

After not eating for a few days and sleepìng a lot i was quite weak and chilled all day until getting on the bus to Copacabana at 10pm. WORST BUS EVER!!!! I was in so much stomach pain and the toilets said URINADO SOLO. which as u can guess meant only number ones. and there was no lock on the door. well it got basically number one as i assaulted it all night ignoring the sign.

Bolivia

Ok so we got to copacabana in bolivia and i couldnt stand up any longer. so i slept until dinner, ate some pizza with no cheese and just ham and pineapple on it. then went back to bed. TO AWAKE FEELING GOOD AND IN THE MORNING WITHOUT VISITING THE TOILET ONCE!! oh yeah, plummers high fived me from his bed and it was the start of a new brighter day.

We decided seeing as we were on the beautiful lake titicaca (the highest navigatable lake in the world) we should do some navigating of our own. so we hired a sailboat. After fighting the wind for an hour we named our grand vessel the SS CRAPSACK. Many a pirate joke and sea shanty were sung as we expertly steered crapsack well out into the vast lake. Soon it was time to return. But the wind had turned. Coming straight at us as we tried to come out and straight at us trying to go back in.

Then the oar broke. and the waves were taking us to shore well away from the harbour. in fact we couldnt even see the harbour! We struggled, zig zagging back and forth, and even some rowing. until we broke an oar and we cracked it with the crapsack. Steering at the shore we beached the bastard and hauled it up onto the rocks. Then we walked home. The man we hired it from charged us for the time we had the boat, grabbed a spare oar and rode off on his bike to row the boat back. in the dark. on his own. it must have taken him 2 hours. poor guy. crazy day. worst pirates ever.

The next day we took a bus to la paz which is where we are now. Trying to work out annoying flights and we are planning to ride mountain bikes down the worlds most dangerous road on friday. should be good, not that dangerous really. wicked views though. Im going to have to leave it there, as is my style, the juicy dangler. Thanks for reading but thats all the word nourishment you can handle for now. Post again soon.

Hutch