Weeee...

Sometimes I wonder how I manage to constantly look so cool.

I can see the pub from here...

..or the hotel at least. The giveaway is the friggin' great big sand dune in the back garden.

The Buggy

This was brilliant fun. This took us to the top of the dunes for some boarding. The driver had some fun on the way.

An Oasis

Looks like something from Lawrence of Arabia. Smells like his flip flops.

That's the desert just over there. I thought this was far enough but Jo thought that exploring meant leaving the hotel. 

Much more like it

Al finally gets his own way. After the delights and civilisation of Arequipa, neither of us was keen to rough it again. This was the only nice hotel in Ica, everywhere else was bloody awful, or fell over in a big earthquake a couple of years ago. What we didn't realise was that Ica and Huacachina are actually something of an oasis in the desert so after some much needed lounging we went to explore the dunes.

New Dr Seuss Book

Apparently I've inspired a new Dr Seuss Book. It's called the Twat in the Hat.

Bit close for comfort

These guys weren't interested in breadcrumbs.

Colca Canyon

The speck in the distance is a condor. Apparently.

Rarest of all Alpacas, the 'Stump Leg' is not often photographed.

The aforementioned El Misti

I think its a cloud.

The Cathedral

In common, it seems, with all Peruvian cities, the main sqaure is dominated by an enormous Cathedral. This one, like most of the buildings in Arequipa is made of Pumice from the nearby Volcano - El Misti. I know it looks pretty, but would it float in the bath?

Arequipa - Home Stretch

We only spent a single night in Puno preferring instead to jump on a bus to the beautiful city of Arequipa. This was a really nice mix of the old Spanish colonial style with a mix of the more modern influences of Lima. This was definitely my favourite city of the whole trip but it was only our base for 1 short night before we headed out to Colca Canyon to see the Condors.

Peruvian building regs...

...stipulate that no building may be completely finished.

Puno

Proof a good sunset can make anywhere look pretty.

Another reed boat