Top Ten (or so!) lists

Highlights of the holiday so far (in no particular order)

1. Galapagos Islands (Ecuador) for the animals, interestingly geologically different islands, fab weather and the people in our tour group
2. Northern Peru (Chiclayo and Trujillo) for the great archeological sites and nice climate and for not being too cynical towards tourists (unlike the rest of Peru)
3. Salar de Uyuni tour (Bolivia) for being the most beautiful and bizarre landscape we have ever seen in our lives
4. Machu Picchu (Peru) for, well, being Machu Picchu. What more to you need to say?
5. Lake Titicaca (Peru) for being beautiful and for a lovely day out
6. La Paz (Bolivia) for being civilised, not ripping us off, the wonderful Ketal supermarket and well mannered citizens
7. The La Cumbre to Coroico bike ride down the most dangerous road in the world (Bolivia) for giving us the thrill of our life and for hours of sheer adrenalin rush
8. The Iguazu Falls (Argentina/Brazil) for being magnificent. Once again Mother Nature provides the best show around for miles New Entry

Lowlights of the holiday so far (in no particular order)

1. Riobamba generally (Ecuador) for having two dead dogs on the main street and generally being a dump
2. Sangay National Park (Ecaudor) for the near death experience and sheer feeling of misery and hopelessness
3. One attraction towns (Nazca - Peru, Puno - Peru, Riobamba - Ecaudor, Uyuni - Bolivia) for making you stay in them for at least one day with low quality restaurants, hotels and bars at rip off prices. But you have to visit them to see the attraction....
4. An occurrance in the toilet at Loja bus station for, well if you really want to know email and ask. Quite vile.
5. Cockroaches in the room (Trujillo, Northern Peru) for giving us the creeps and refusing to disappear
6. Salar tour accommodation night three (Bolivia) for being the worst place that we have ever laid our heads
7. Toilets in Bolivia for being very unhygienic. One would rather go outside but if there is a toilet there then you feel obliged to use it (good manners and all that)

Top Ten Food Fantasies (in no particular order)

1. New Entry Cheese - Roquefort, Brie, Camenbert, Chaumes....
2. Baked potato with lots of butter and a cheese and baked beans filling with some coleslaw on the side
3. Proper toast with lots of butter (and maybe baked beans on top)
4. Indian takeaway (the whole works)
5. English breakfast (with lots of bacon)
6. Su's (works on Steve's old project team) samosas and veggie burgers
7. Lamb pattie (heated up) from Treats in London opposite Monument tube station
8. Steak sandwich with medium/rare steak on baguette with lashings of mayo and dijon mustard
9. Rice and beans (a homemade dish that Steve and I love)
10. Roast dinner (yorkshire pud, roast potato, mashed potato, peas, gravy and one of pork, lamb or beef
11. Egg and bacon roll with brown sauce from The Wee Shop on Gorgie Road in Edinburgh
12. Fish supper/Sausage supper from the chip shop around the corner from Gayfield Square in Edinburgh
13. Pie and peas (with mint sauce) from Reggies stall on Norwich market

Top Ten Tips for travelling in South America (in no particular order)

1. Never expect anything to start on time except public transport departure times (known to leave five minutes early in Ecuador)
2. Try not to get frustrated at the lack of problem solving ability. Logic just doesn't come into the equation.
3. When one person could do the job expect at least a five person team (for no obvious reason)
4. Have lots of spare change and low denomination notes - big notes just don't go
5. Make the most of the great laundry services. The best in the world. Cheap and fab - a real treat
6. Be prepared to negociate prices on everything. Gringo tax is so common. Whatever price is said to you, you must look shocked and protest loudly even if it is the bargain of the century.
7. Before embarking on a long distance bus journey pay a visit to the local pharmacy and get some valium. You might have a glimmer of a chance at getting some sleep then
8. If you are feeling homesick go and visit a supermarket. It cheers you up no end.
9. Beware the hot water mechanism in some of the cheaper hotels. Make sure you have asked the owner in which order the water and hot plate must be switched on. If it is not a switch on/off hotplate job don't touch any of the wires that are hanging down above the shower head
10. Harden your heart - else you will have no money due to having given money to every beggar who sees you as a soft touch
11. And if you are feeling really hard done by, splash out for a night in a nice hotel : it will really cheer you up

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