5th June 2017 The Incas have not disappeared; they are still very much alive, particularly in Peru’s Sacred Valley. Their presence is most notable in the town of Ollantaytambo, which was the focus of today’s tour. After breakfast, our group gathered in the foyer and set off for the day’s adventure at 8:00 am. Our… Continue Reading

4th June 2017 Today began with yet another early start, but we knew it would be well worth the effort. We were on our way to visit one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. We were at breakfast before 5 a.m., and our coach to the train station departed promptly at 5:40 a.m.… Continue Reading

3rd June 2017 The alarm was set for 4:45 am, but like the rest of our group, we were awake by 3 am. Sleeping at altitude is not easy, breathing feels laboured, and the air is so dry that you find yourself needing regular drinks. We’ve partially acclimatised, as the headaches and random feelings of… Continue Reading

2nd June 2017 The altitude of 4,000 metres has undoubtedly taken its toll on both us and our fellow travellers. At its mildest, the symptoms include a constant dull or throbbing headache, a lack of appetite, and occasional nausea. Any physical activity results in breathlessness and overwhelming fatigue. While we’ve managed to alleviate our headaches… Continue Reading

1st June 2017 Our day began with an unearthly 2:30 am wake-up call, ushering in a rainy start to our journey. Dressed and packed, we took the lift down to the lobby, where the rest of our group was already assembled. After collecting our breakfast boxes, we boarded the coach to the airport. The check-in… Continue Reading

31st May 2017 We were advised not to eat heavily or drink too much alcohol at altitude, as digestion slows significantly in such conditions. Pisco Sour definitely falls into the latter category. At around 2 am, I woke with a hangover and a pounding headache. A couple of aspirin later, I managed to drift back… Continue Reading

30th May 2017 Our journey to Terminal 2 at Heathrow went without a hitch. The M1 and M25 were fairly quiet, probably due to it being a Bank Holiday Sunday and the fact that we left Harborough at 1 pm. Remarkably, we only saw two caravans and hardly any lorries all the way to London.… Continue Reading

27th May 2017 Since Jamie and I returned from New Zealand, the family have popped round like seagulls spotting a chip. Charlotte was first through the door, swooping in to lay claim to one of the two nearly identical Kiwi necklaces I’d brought back. A couple of days later, Sarah, Lee, and Mia appeared to… Continue Reading

18th May 2017 An amusing flight of fancy: It was a particularly stormy and miserable night, the sort where even ducks tuck their heads deep under their wings to escape the unpleasantness. The RV rocked and shook with the increasing gusts of rain-laden air. Jamie stirred for the third time and pushed open the sliding… Continue Reading

17th May 2017 Before settling in for the night in our mobile nest, we took a stroll down to the harbour, spending a few minutes watching a pair of Asian anglers fishing from the dock. The water seemed alive with fish of all sizes, and catching them appeared as effortless as “shooting fish in a… Continue Reading