Puno is a bit like Lima, I’ve found. It’s similar in some ways - the street sellers are less persistent than in Arequipa and Cusco (which were also very similar to each other). Well, it looks a bit the same in some places. Maybe that’s just me.

On the train from Macchupicchu back to Cusco we were treated to a traditional Inka dance performed by a guy in a flat hat and the scariest balaclava I have ever seen. I’ll try to get a photo, maybe of one of us wearing one. Might even buy one for a lucky friend! The dance was very energetic, and the dancer went up and down the carriage, madly staring at us out of the eye-slits of the balaclava.

Afterwards we were treated subjected to an alpaca wool fashion show. The models were taken from amongst the ticket collecting staff, so it was quite funny.

In Macchupicchu we were able to meet up with the people we would have trekked with if me and Alex hadn’t fallen ill. They seemed really nice; there were two Canadians, an Australian, a Brit and a Dutch… Or is that Dutchman? Anyway, we went round the ruins of Macchupicchu with them (I’m blatantly spelling Macchupicchu wrong, but never mind) and we would have gone for a drink with them but we were all dog tired from the train.

Talking of which, the train was hilarious. Partway through the engine started spurting out flames, and then we went backwards and got onto another track. Also, the driver kept blowing the horn whenever we came into contact with anything remotely looking like a settlement, be it large or small, which irked me I must admit.

On the bus over we played a nice selection of games. We started with the ordinary Name Game and 20 Questions before moving onto “I’m thinking of a famous lesbian” and “Name that fruit!”. The best one, however, was “Euphemise this!” in which participants are given a body part and are asked to think up the most long-winded way of describing it possible. So, for instance, “knee” = “Mid-perambulatory organ, cartilidge-lined, bending-pivot”. You might be able to guess that we were mindlessly bored. The driver kept blowing the horn on the bus, too, which irked me again.

Something terrible

Something terrible has happened. I keep on being unable to finish what’s on my plate. It’s getting a little ridiculous. I think my stomach has thrown its hands in the air (can stomachs do that?) and has given up, because I’m really finding that my appetite is dwindling.

Well, I think I’m blogged out. I shall leave you in peace.