Sun 2nd Nov
Up very early to leave jungle. The night sounds in the jungle are very loud and sound more like a cd turned up high than real. At about 2.30am something got murdered (or was nighttime snack for something else) An unbelievable noise went up really really loud and then silence for a few seconds, then back to normal.
Would have liked more time in the jungle and less people on walk as if you were at the back you missed the animals at front as the noise scared them away by the time you got there (good job we were at front hey)

Mon 3rd Nov
Got on coach in Cusco at 8am and travelled to Puno. Arrived about 2.30pm and there was a festival going on so we had to grab our bags and walk a few blocks to hotel as taxi could not get through the masses. Punoseems like a lovely place but we do not get a lot of time here. Went for a walk and enjoyed the parades, very colourful and the dancing (they never stop) but after dinner had to pack to be ready for an early start to Lake Titicaca tomorrow.

Tuesday 4thNov
Amatani Island. Left Puno hotel to go to the docks in a local limo.. a man on a byclcle at the back and 2 people under colourful canopies and on a colourful seat at front. It was good fun as we went in convoy and were egging on our men to win race.

Docks were good but boarded snmall boat quite quickly and went to first island where the men knit. Some beautiful views and a long walk at high altitude. Lake Titcaca where these island are is the highest navigable lake in the world. After luch we left that island to go to Amatani to stay with local families. Met ours, a nice coupld with four daughters from two to eleven and saw where we would be staying. Never mind. Then went and played footie with locals. Robin was a star and a great time was had by all. Lots of cheating mind so I felt quite a home. Then ourfamily came to get us for dinner then we dressed as locals and went to a dance. a very colourful dance and very tiring dance Robins was tired and ratty and wouldnt dance though the girls kept asking. Said to him one day you will ask a girl and she wont dance and you will feel like these girls feel now. Saying no for a dance not good.

We had outside toilet but lovely views and sounds on island. These families may be poor but they are happy and stress free. The kids never bath so they must be happy..(according to robin)
I was up really early as the bed was so uncomfortable and sat in the sunshine playing with the four girls and had a nice time. Then it was breakfast and time to go. We were told not to tip the families but our family were in need so we did anyway. How they survive on the food they gave us i will never know

Weds 5th Nov
Then the boat to visit some of the man made floating islands on Lake Titicaca which was interesting. These islands are made from reeds and anchored to living reeds and there are hundreds of them and loads of people living on them. Kids get boats to school and sometimes their houses (made from reeds) have to be remade 5 times a year. Went from one island to another on a reed boat. You can feel bits of the island sinking depending where you tread but they just put down more reeds. Then back to Puno for the evening to pack again and go and watch the continuing festival.

Thursday 6th Nov
Left Puno at 7am on bus and made our way through some lovely scenery to the border with Bolivia and crossed on foot and then got back on bus. Got delivered to Copacabana for lunch. I would be a lovely holiday destination one day when its finished. Then back on the bus to the ferry crossing.
Well I cannot describe the ferries, the bus went on one and we went on another. Thought we were going to sink then looked at the bus which was on a raft and very lopsided in the wated and felt luckly i was in the boat...Took some pictures as it was quite unbelievable andd impossible to describe. Arrived safe on other side then back on bus and into La Paz about 5.30pm. Went out for a group dinner as some of group leaving next days. Jim down with tummy bug so he couldnt eat but robin had a lovely juicy steak (good food hard to find here)

Fri 7th
Walk round La Paz. dirty, smells of piss everywhere, beggars and markets.

Sat 8th Nov
Chilled during day. Robin crying in the night with an earache. I was out looking for a chemist at 7am on Sunday 9th
Sun 9th
Had to wake the rep at 8am to call a doctor for Robins ear infection and the doctor was with us by 8.30the medicines he prescribed were delivered by 9.30. He is really ill. Supposed to take medicine with food but Robin is not eating. Lunchtime we took Robin who ate a few chips and threw up in the restaurant, from top floor to bottom...Had to meet everyone at 1pm to leave La Paz and Robin was very weak. Spent 31/2 hours on bus and then 9 hours on train. Robin looked a little better when we got to our hotel at 3.30am andslept until 8.30am. Looks much better and eats some breakfast.

Monday 10th Nov
Got into 4 wheel drive jeeps to go to the Salt Flats and Salt hotel at Uuini. our first stop was a train graveyard. Loats of trains just left to rot as mining stopped. Jim wanted to take it all and sell for scrap... Then off to a salt factory. The salt flats are endless as far as you can see and you have to wear sunglasses or you would not be able to see cause its so bright. We went to a salt factory and saw how they dried, grinded and packaged the salt. Then drove to the middle of the flats to take some amazing photo and have lunch. We then went to our hotel made out of salt. Bit basicbut never mind only one night here. Robin much better antibiotics working.
In the afternoon went to visit a cave. It was only discovered in 2003 and we met the man who found it and it was amazing. Where years ago the salt flat area was a sea the cave was coral and looked like it should be under the sear for the fish to swim in and out of and brightly coloured plants to grow on and the ceiling looked like spiders webs, all fragile and delicate. It was unlike any cave Ive seen before but it needs protecting as people were allowed to touch, break off bits and use flash photography.
We then went to a pre inca burial site which was also interesting. The day was educational but the hotel is dire and lights out is a 9pm. I feel like i am back at school. Robin is so so much better, glad i got doctor when i did as he is eating againthough not very much as the food here is bloody awful.

Tues 11th Nov
Left salt hotel. Jim got up to go see sunrise on salt flat but i stayed with robin as he has been quite poorly and did not want to get up at 5am. We were driving to Fish Island when we saw a 4x4 that had gone off the path and was sinking in the salt/marsh. Of course Jim took charge and my hero tried his best to get that vehicle out but after an hour and 1/2 we had togo on.
Saw an amazing volcan and cactai 1.000 years old. Have also seen quite a bit of furniture made from cactus over here and its not a bit prickly.... (they have no exclaimation marks on their computers)
One of our vehicles then ran out of petrol so all our lot had to cram in the other 2 4x4s a bit of a squash to say the least. and for 2 hours. Jim made his car stop so he could 'go' What an embarassment... Am going out for pizza now but just looked at some photos taken today and yesterday and they are great.

Weds 12th Nov
Long bus ride along a very steep and thin road with a very sheer drop. 8 hours on bus, felt ill. Scenery great but quite frightening looking out of window to see pervious busses at bottom of ravine. (you would think they would remove so as not to frighten tourists....)
Arrived Potosi, seems nice town - had to choose from Spanish menu and got a bit wrong.

Thurs 13th Nov
Ill all night and day. Jim took Robin for food and to see the mint in Potosi. Robin told me all about it when he got back. I am glad they did not go on the silver mine tour as health and safety is not known of over here and there is probably asbestos in there too. Potosi was once the richest city in the world cause of the silver mines but it all went to spain in the 1500s.

Friday 14th Nov
Jim went karoke last night and had a blast he is looking much better. Back on a bus to Sucre. Still feeling crook but most of the tour is down sick and must look on bright side, I might even lose some weight. Went to dinner as a group and had a great time. I brought robin home about 10 and Jim went clubbing.

Sat 15th Nov
Jim wants more karoke and less discos.. We went rock climbing at 8.30 this morning and robin was fantastic. I took 3 immodium and ate something thinking it would give me energy to climb.
Was sick on the way up to the climbing place. Jim did one climb, i did 1/2 a climb twice, and robin was a star. The first climb he did was slow but after that there was not stopping him and he was so flexible its untrue. He loved it and it was good to see by the end he was absailing down quickly with big jumps, fantastic.
This hotel is nice and we are going on a city tour this evening Sucre is the capital city of Bolivia and its nice, not smelly like the others. Talking to Robin today he said if he goes round the world with his kids he is going to miss out Bolivia and i think that means he has learned something. Hope we all feel better soon