Six months later!

Summer at home. Summer?!!! It pissed down pretty much the whole time I was there. One of the worst England has seen for maybe 250 years. And the one I decided to go home for. It didn´t stop me enjoying it for the most part and getting out to a few obligatory festivals, summer´s not summer without them. Sunrise was a great one to start the season off with, and finished with Beautiful Days, the wettest festival I´ve yet to experience, nothing that a few ciders and a lively band can´t improve. Anyway, all that has passed way now, to my next trip, the place where Paddington Bear himself is from.... Peru!

I arrived after 14 hours of flight. Before which Matt drove me to Gatwick in the middle of the night, taking about 4 hours, then after arriving here I waited for my friend Rach for 6 hours in the airport. Oh the joys of travel can leave you exhausted before you´ve even seen anything.

Lima is large and diverse, capturing affluence and poverty, fresh sea breeze of the Pacific and thick spluttering pollution. This is the city the Spaniards founded on the shore of the dessert in 1535.

Some of the first things I notice, Volkswagen's are everywhere, driven down the streets by all ages. The streets are lined with buildings also reflecting a colourful retro style, with massive cacti out front.

Another common sighting here is the amount of couples, young to elderly, openly demonstrating their love. In parks holding hands, leaning heads on shoulders, or on cliff tops embracing.

But it´s not all easy going. Yesterday we left the capital heading north. As our bus weaved its way out of the city we observed what masses of people call their home. In the distance was a small mountain scattered with houses clutching to the side for dear life, lacking water and electricity. This scene was repeated for miles as we left the city behind us.

After a little snooze I woke, looked out the window to find the complete opposite to what I saw before I slept. What was chockablock with people, cars, homes, noise and exhaust fumes was now replaced with nothing but sand dunes. Quite a capturing view when there´s not really much to focus on, and reminded me of Mars!

The 9 hours on the top deck of our luxury bus passed quickly and comfortably, putting the National Express to shame. We drove in and out of colourful towns and cities dotted through the dessert, dogs barking, children playing. Day turned to night, shadows grew longer, the sky went bright red and the landscape turned more mountainous.

This morning we awoke in Trujillo a colonial city, a real treat for anyone who likes to take photos, if you feel relaxed enough to take your camera out that is. We have been warned so many times by locals to be careful of thieves, it can really make you feel uncomfortable, but that aside, it´s been a great day of walking and taking photos. Tomorrow we´ll do the same until we get round to seeing the pyramids, ruins and beaches.