But first, a quote! This is from my friend in a recent email:

ooh random fact-apparently quite a few fat stupid business types who have never done any exercise in their lives die on arrival in lima because their bodies cant cope with the changes after they get off the plane!!

So that’s good to know.

Anyway, last night was the best night out ever. We went to this little cinema/bar type arrangement, which was excellent. I think it was run by teenagers or something, cos there wasn’t a “grown up” in sight. Though they were selling alcohol, so it must have been supervised or something. Anyway, we watched Charlie and the Chocolate factory, the new version, and I think it was one of the bet films I have ever seen. Well, I say that about every film I see, but I did really enjoy it. Willy Wonka, played by Jonny Depp, as I’m sure you’ll know, was suitably sinister, and the whole film was thoroughly wonderful, directed as it was by Tim Burton (who is a genius).

Partway through, they came in with a menu, and I ate the bes cheese omelette and chips for 3 soles, which is about 60p. The film was free, but I left a nice tip cos I think it’s really rude not to leave tips if you have such an amazing experience. The bar/cinema thing was called Extrem, and it’s just off the main Plaza de Armas if you come to Cusco. Certainly worth a visit.

Afterwards, we went to a bar called Fallen Angel. Judging by the decor, it was a gay bar, but it was full of travellers just like all the other bars in Peru. It was the best decorated bar I think I have ever been in, not just in Peru. The interior was unbelievably kitsch, and they served a profusion of cocktails and highly priced food. We didn’t eat there, but we did drink…

In fact, we drank quite a bit, to the tune of 220 soles (about £44, which is still quite good for five of us). Drinking at altitude is quite a fun experience, since after three cocktails we were suitably hammered. Many embarrassing things occurred, which shall only be divulged to a select few by email, but it was the most fun I’ve had in a while. Unexpectedly being drunk is quite a surprise. One of the benefits of altitude drinking is that, because of the relatively small amount of alcohol in the bloodstream, hangovers are light and momentary, so this morning was quite painless. Hardly seems fair…