Hot August to early September Nights.

As I have been told - oh so many times... get a new interesting tidbit to share with foreigners, people! - in the last few months, Peru has 3 major constituant regions. La Costa (the coast), La Sierra (the mountains) and La Selva (the Jungle). And if you want to know Peru, really really know Peru, to the extent that you would feel comfortable to play no holds barred truth or dare with it, then you have to visit each of these 3 regions.

So here I am, in the river town of Pucallpa, sitting in a pool of my own sweat, all bright eyed and bushy tailed ready to take a 4 day river boat up to the frontier town of Iquitos, which is by the way, the largest human settlement that is not accessible by road. (C´mon, you know you are impressed). Yahoo! Except of course, in classic Paddyesque timing, I arrive early on a Saturday morning( with, I might add, absolutely no concrete concept of the actual day of the week) only to be informed that boats do not leave on the weekend and that I would have to stay in town until the coming Monday. And Pucallpa, let me say, is not what you would call a party town, unless you consider comparing personal brands of body odour with the populace your idea of a good time.

Ah well, at least it gives me time to buy a hammock (Yes! Hammock!) and stock up on super duper insect repellent. And sweat some more. Did I mention it was quite hot?

Hmm, what else to tell you? That the Peruvian attitude to time is not flexible, but rather inexplicable. It appears to be that to be held waiting at a bus terminal 3 and a half hours after the stated time without any form of explanation is entirely acceptable, however to be stoped at road construction for over 21 seconds is sufficient grounds to declare a coup d´etat, dress the bus driver in drag, hang him from the ceiling and use him as an impromptu pinata.

Oh and I have now seen Machu Pichu, knocking another item off my list of important things to do before the onset of senility. One of the more interesting aspects of the site was the small group of young boys dressed in what appeared to be modified table clothes. They are actually imitating the Chispees, who were apparently the Inca´s empire messanger network. These boys make their living by racing the buses from the heights of Machu Pichu down to the train station back to Cusco. No mean feat I can tell you. Especially when you have to stop everytime the foot track crosses the road and do a tribal dance while screaming ´Inti Inti Inti Inti´ I wanted to give it a go, but the table cloth wouldn´t fit me.

Now if you´ll excuse me, I am off to have my 6th shower of the day .

Rock and Roll.

Paddy.