(Updated) A quiet anniversary - but with some impressive birds!

Updated from earlier posting - co-editor Tina unhappy with lack of content!

Nice way to spend the anniversary morning - same cafe as Ian enjoyed a breakfast for one but this time - with company! Feeling relaxed after the Inca Trail and with no problems with the muscles or knees - just a few blisters for Tina to contend with (actually she enjoyed doing the dressings - keeps her in practice).

Thanks to everyone for the anniversary wishes - bought ourselves a rug to celebrate! Nice surprise of a great chocolate cake from the rest of the group - still being consumed!

Early afternoon flight to Arequipa - Peru's second most important city. Just time to check in to the hotel and then off to look around the city and to have dinner with the rest of the group. No special anniversary dinner but a nice bottle of wine and a low key evening (just how Ian would have wanted it - no speeches either!)

Up early the next morning for the drive to our next destination - the Colca Canyon. Long drive on a real mix of road surfaces. Still at pretty high altitude - but Ian still able to enjoy a 20 minute kickabout at a mountain top roadside cafe with Estafan - a very enthusuastic (and two footed) 4 year old.

Arrived at our next hotel early afternoon in time for lunch, a chance to relax and take a walk in the countryside before heading off to the local hot springs for an early evening soak watching the stars appear. Eventful walk with an over-friendly goat taking a fancy to Alex, the tour guide. Although the goat had a rope attached to it's neck, it was running loose until Tina saved the day and tied the rope to a fencepost - but not before sustaining a bruise as the wall she climbed over collapsed!

Tina still not missing work!

Sun still shining (although still chilly at night). Views of Chivay, a small town close to the hotel

Next morning up at 0530 to drive 2 hrs to see the condors gliding above the canyon. Not always the guarantee of seeing any of the birds but this morning, along with a fair few other tourists, we saw 8 and had the chance to take hundreds of photos of black dots in the sky - although to be fair to Tina - this was a good one!

Well worth the early start and the long drive back to Arequipa before taking the night bus to Nazca.

Before catching the bus we had the evening free to enjoy the amazing local plaza. Claimed to be one of the most scenic in South America, it certainly was picturesque - especially overlooking the Corpus Christi celebrations from a rooftop terrace as the sun set (ponchos supplied as it was getting pretty cold)

Now arrived in Nazca - a town famous for some strange ancient man made stone drawings (more of this later). Now at lower altitude and at a hotel with a nice pool so a good time to take in the sun and relax..(for a day at the most!)