LIBBY GREENHALGH

There haven't been many things that have really stopped me in my tracks but today we went to the Sacred Valley ahead of our Lares Trek, which starts tomorrow, and it did. The Andes are incredible huge amazing and incredibly lush. E'er may be here in the rainy season but so far we have only had a few spots and hoping it stays that way! The Sacred Valley is where the Inca people first really settled how they got there and where from remains a bit of a mystery as there are no historical records. Just what the Spanish happened to ask them when they invaded.around 28th July 1528 or was it 9 or is that wrong. Sadly they destroyed a lot of the INCA settlements but the Inca people were smart enough to block the way to Machu Picchu which is why it is so popular add it remains intact. Today we visit some other inca ruins that are really write incredible and who knows how they managed to build them. We have a lovely group of people though I am sure I will be slowing them down with my...

Things are looking up I have located my friends, welcome along for the ride Sarah and Lindsey, I have located my bag but I have lost my camera….or I thought I had but they have found it at the last hotel I was now to get that back! So my luck had kind of turned I am currently in my amigos room watching them pack. We have to decant our bags to a smaller bag that can only weigh 7kg and that includes sleeping bag and mattress- which weigh 3kg. I think anyone would chuckle at some of the comments being said here are a few for your amusement ‘Socks how many pairs of socks should I take- should I wear my cool socks tomorrow? You can never have enough pairs of socks!’ ‘Penknife should I take my penknife?’ ‘Are you taking your whole wash bag…what about a towel’ 'I'm taking all of shoes with me' This can probably be forgiveable because as Sarah said earlier ‘My oxygen is deprived of brain!’ You can guess who is saying most of the comedy comments After a day in ...

I am now in Lima waiting for my 'dos amigos' (as well as my bag) to arrive and join me ready for our trek to Machu Picchu. The knee hasn't given way for a few days, though I did just try and cross my legs and that is a no no, and while there is a dull ache in shoulder providing I have some clothes to wear this is going to be awesome My last day in Easter Island was spent in a more relaxed attempting to do nothing atmosphere. I moved from the hotel I was in to a hostel nearer the airport but to be fair there was no need everything is walking distance. But it was considerably cheaper- funnily enough when you are on a very remote island and lots of things have to be imported, nothing is cheap. My hostel cost $35 US and was a 4 bed room all to myself in the end. But dinner out generally costs between 40-60 USD. The local gym My swimming pool Having moved accommodation I strolled into town visited the local gym and then sat down by one of the enclosed pool...

After a minor number two incident this morning (which will never be spoken of again!) my second full day on Easter Island (which is about half the size of the Isle of Wight- but I don’t think the tandem would make it round!!!)  proceeded in glorious sunshine and no sign of the torrential rain of yesterday….almost paradise. The kneeling Moai similar to Polynesian ones Easter Island is famous for its massive monoliths. Much like the terracotta army there are more of these statues (moai)  buried under the ground here at Easter Island and will remain so. Not quite on the scale of the terracotta army in numbers but in size phenomenal. There 400-500 statues still buried of various sizes 2,3,6 and 10 M in height possibly taller.   The largest Moai is 22 M high but is unfinished and is at the quarry where they were all made. In terms of weight they weigh anywhere between 6 and 100 plus tonnes so to move them was no mean feat The Moai statues are believed to have fi...

      As we looked at her world map with me pointing out Easter Island to her, Jemima said “You’ll never fit on there you are too big, silly Libby.”  (Or words to that effect!) Well Jemima I have and I am here, on Easter Island. Though disappointing no Easter Bunnies or Eggs!!! The name is actually the second name given to the island by the Dutch because they landed on Easter Sunday- previously it was called something that translated to the navel of the earth! Santiago was a whirlwind and the trip here to Easter Island essentially felt like I was in a queue or going to a queue in between short naps over a period of 24 hours!!! Santiago is like London a bit more polluted and less people but still a big city and bustling. As you walked around the city it into different cultural influences and clearly different classes as with any city. I didn’t fall in love with it – though my hostel was amazing if you were to stay a while.  I see it more as a tran...

Marty McFly never eluded how tiring time travel is- but I guess watching him sleep would make for a fairly rubbish film! For only the second time on my life I did the closest thing you can do to time travel and crossed the date line from Auckland to Santiago. The 28th January is officially the longest day of the year sorry 21st of June you have nothing! Having returned from Queenstown to Auckland I have been staying with Chris, H, Harry and their newest addition Lily Belle - who I think is the spitting image of Chris and is super tall already! If you wonder what I have been up to - probably what I enjoy spending time with a very very good friend. My first day back was a trip to the hospital and my first view of exactly how big a break I had in my collar bone- its big! So nowt to be done there but wait and see. Anyway we have been busy getting up early (in my mind) to go down and see the Prada 72 cat launched that is no mean feat seeing that swing around on a crane and then man...

So the highlight of today was finding my sunnies at a hostel in Queenstown that I returned to- need not to have bought that slightly expensive pair of Oakleys doh! So I had an eventful trip to Queenstown. Left my hostel at 0630 with the alarm blaring after opening the wrong door....oops. Then ran to the bus stop...no bus...Ahhh bus goes from somewhere else. Got online and started running again. Then a car passes saying what bus are you catching, they are catching the same one but can't find it! I get a lift with them as trade for my knowledge. Catch bus pull out super duper pillow sleep for the whole trip. So I get to Queenstown and drop my bags off and decide to walk  to the top of the gondola. Stick in hand and over an hour later I was broken sweaty probably sunburnt but at the top! The rest of the day.....I was asleep....Machu pichu might break me! Also check out Mario the piano man. Amazing.