Hello Peru

The ride to Arica was interesting, more desert, more sun, but some high passes and roadworks to make things interesting, Arica itself wasn't special, we got a hotel on the beach quite cheaply, we found out why later! As we prepared for the border crossing something stuck in my mind about Barcelona Pat's trip earlier in 2012, I checked his blog and yes, we needed a Relacion de Pasajeros form only available from Arica's main bus station and not at the border 20 miles up the road, so thanks Pat it saved a bit of crabbitness (bad temper) We slept little as some ars*holes were having a rave on the beach and only went home at daylight, we found this was common although sometimes the police move them on. We signed out of Chile after a long wait in the well organised queue. Into Peru, passport stamped by the immigration, stood at the Aduana to get the bike paperwork sorted and were told to go to the CIT office around the corner, 5 minute wait before the girl told us we'd have to find the CESNA official wandering about and get our form stamped by him, he checks for fruit and other banned goods, then look for the Aduana guy, get your bike checked, then back to the CIT (Don't know what it means) another while, lots of stamps on forms and eventually 2 hours later we are in Peru Met some nice Brazilians so managed to help them hopefully. Into the chaos of Tacna, police writing tickets mob handed, lucky we stuck to the speed limit. Into Moquegua for our first stop in Peru, busy place, crowded streets and crazy driving, got cash and found a hotel (much cheaper here) Nice meal and a look round before we bumped into the Brazilians again. Quiet night as the Altitude takes its toll. Today at breakfast we met some nice Americans who are helping to build an orphanage at the same time doing a bike trip from Lima to Moquenga and filming the gig for a tv series, keep in touch guys! We left to sample the stunning road between Moquegua and Puno, scenery changing now, 4500 metre passes and into Puno which is a crazy, busy town. On the road in the last 50 miles Authentic Peruvians working the fields, fantastic to see the traditional way of life but it looks hard. Its a lot colder here because of the Altitude and I wonder how warm these clothes are. Tomorrow (hopefully) we'll go to the floating islands and do the tourist thing.
Last Sunset (with the moon) in Iquiquie


If heights aren't your thing then don't come here!


Geoglyphs from long ago


Geoglyph from NOT so long ago


The queue to leave Chile


Nice church in Moquagua


Stunning scenery


Fiona speaks with a new friend


Puno & Lake Titikaka