Peru - far more than just the Inca Trail!

Our Peruvian adventure is under way and it's amazing what you can squeeze into a week!

Trying to avoid commercial tour packages, we'ved followed the unbeaten (and some beaten) tracks in a week that's included multiple adventures, a bit of watching the world go by and time spent mingling with the locals and fellow travellers alike!

After flying into Lima and spending a day/night looking around the city, we've spent the last week working our way down to Arequipa located in southern Peru.

It's truly an adventure. Even the most trivial activities, such as going to the bank, buying bananas or booking our next trip can be challenging due to the language barrier. Fortunately the years spent studying Spanish in high school were not done in vain! Shane's Spanish however is proving to be of very little assistance (although that doesn't stop him trying to negotiate anything and everything!) It is also great to meet other travellers along the way. People seem rather adventurous, open minded and ready to experience the local culture.

First stop as we headed Sth from Lima was Paracas to visit Ballestas Islands. We met two self-reliant blond Dutch girls on our way and jumped on a local speed boat out to the islands. Shane couldn't wipe his smile off of his face. Probably because he was mesmerised by the thousands of animals living on the islands, chilled out sea lions, curious penguins, enormous pelicans, clumsy crabs, colourful sea stars, giant jelly fish...great start to the trip!

Sea Lion soaking up the attention on Ballestas Islands

Next stop was Huacachina where we ventured out to a beautiful Oasis in the middle of the desert. Surrounding the Oasis were giant sand dunes (the worlds biggest apparently) where we jumped in Sand Dune buggies (which literally fly!) for a wild ride up to the top of the dunes. With Sand Boards in hand we joined a couple of snowboard experts from Colorado. We had no choice but try to impress them by ripping up the dunes for a couple of hours. I think they had a good laugh at some of the 'awkward' maneuvers that we tried to pull off (generally unsuccessfully although we did have our moments).

Probably the highlight of the week this. Brilliant couple of hours!

The following day we headed further south to World Heritage listed Nazca Lines. We were joined by a couple of German photographers on our 6 seater airplane (smallest plane flight either of us had been on!)  for a 'joy' flight over the lines of Nazca. Whilst the Germans were in their element taking a thousand photos, we kept quiet at the back trying to manage our churning stomachs. Unfortunately for one of us, effort was not successful...!

Putting on a brave face after the Nazca Lines 'joy' flight

From Nasca we took an overnight bus to Arequipa which sits in Southern Peru at the base of the Andes Mountain Range. Great spot where we spent a day touring the city and exploring various vantage points to capture the phenomenal landscape and surrounding mountains.

Hanging out in Arequipa

If possible, the itinerary for the coming week looks even better.

3 day trekking tour around the Colca Canyon starting tomorrow and then up to Cusco to commence the much anticipated Inca Trail.

LG - Life's Good!!

France - Melbourne to Mazan

Bikes, backpacks, sleeping bags and whatever else we can carry have been packed...hopefully this will be enough to get us through the next 12 months!

Final leg: Train from Nice - Avignon (France)

The first week of our adventure flew by but it honestly could not have kicked off in any better fashion!

We started with a weekend down in Melbourne for the Melbourne marathon. For the marathon, we were greeted with perfect conditions. Fortunately Aurelie's ongoing knee soreness leading up to the race had no impact and she subsequently she ran a Personal Best time for the marathon of 3 hrs 8 mins.

The afternoon was spent celebrating at the Belgium Beer Cafe with the sun still shining brightly, a quality crew turned out for the afternoon....happy days!

After a couple of days catching up with family and scrambling to get organised, we were on our way.

First stop - Dubai.

Throwing on the suit and tie and drinking Veuve Cliquot champagne ($30 a glass) at the top of the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa (829m or 123 Levels) was not exactly how we pictured our initiation to 'back packing', but this was how things turned out!

Base of the Burj Khalifa (Dubai, UAE)

For anyone thinking of a trip to Dubai, make a reservation well in advance (we managed to scam our way up - no real surprise to most I'm sure!) at the rooftop bar called Atmosphere for the opportunity to feel like you're sitting on top of the world.

Second stop - France.

As it is commonly known and of which Aurelie has no hesitation in reminding all and sundry, the South of France is 'God's country'. Given it's been just over 2 years since we were here, it is great to  be back!

After landing in Nice, and spending a couple of hours on the train to Avignon, Aurelie's parents greeted us and wasted no time spoiling us with some local hospitality, quality food, beer and wine made for a grand 'welcome home' welcoming.

After sleeping till 9, we awoke to a breakfast of croissants, brioche and coffee. We then headed out on the bikes for a couple of hours to blow out the cobwebs of the long flight the previous day.

Summit of the Col de la Madeleine (Bedoin, France)

As Aurelie proudly displays, our ride included our first Col (Mountain climb) of the trip. 448m is a mini climb over here but don't tell anyone, we were still happy with our efforts! Unfortunately after descending we lost our bearings so we had to climb it again on our return home. The smile wasn't quite so large second time around!

We arrived home just in time for a typically provencale lunch (2 hours of food, beer & wine), followed by a customary afternoon siesta. It was here when we realised, it is not going to take long to get out of the 9 to 5 routine! Our holiday is officially under way!!

A great weekend was then spent catching up with Aurelie's parents, Jean-Paul & Annick, and sister Claire, in the little Provencale village of Mazan.

Before we know it's time to re-pack the back packs and we're off again. This time we're definitely travelling light!

Click on the link for a map of where we've been.

Next Stop - Peru, South America - Monday 22nd Oct.

Bags are packed....

...and we're ready to go!

House is packed up, car's gone, work's already seemingly a distant memory and after 5 years in Sydney, we have once again found the urge to throw the backpacks on and explore what the world has to offer.

Our round the world adventure is now only a matter of days away and we're very much feeling a sense of excitement and anticipation as to what awaits us over the next 12 months.

Here's a high level overview of what it will entail:

Duration: 11 months (Oct 2012 - Sept 2013)

Itinerary:

- Sydney to Melbourne 13th Oct '12 (Aurelie running Melb marathon 14th Oct)
- Depart Melbourne 17th October '12
- 1 night in Dubai - 17th Oct '12
- 5 days in France (18th - 22nd Oct '12)
- 2 months in Sth America (22nd Oct - 22nd Dec)
Countries include: Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru
- 3 weeks in France for Xmas & NY (23rd Dec - 14th Jan)
- 3 1/2 months in Africa (15th Jan - 23rd Apr '13)
Countries include: Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa

23rd April: Return to France for the European summer.

Plan of attack for the european summer is still to be confirmed but the primary intentions are for Aurelie to see as much of her homeland as possible given she's now been abroad for the majority of the last 12 years, and for Shane it's pure French immersion to ensure that the goal of being 'fluent' in French is achieved!

What will definitely be included during the 4 - 5 months in Europe will be a couple of months cycling around France (our own version of the tour de France), trip to London & a wedding in Scotland.

Game on!!