Midnight at the oasis

You guys are going to wish you were me. So badly. I´m in the desert. But like a proper, kick-ass desert. You know like in The Cell, when Jennifer Lopez goes into the mind of that weirdo and she´s stood on the top of those MASSIVE, sculpted desert sand dunes? The type that that´s all you can see for miles? That´s where I am. I know. Me. I just don´t get it.

So, we arrived in Lima fine (with bites, as already discussed) and stayed at The Point for a couple of days (really lively, party hostel.) Checked out the town with Duncan and Canadian Mark. Then that night I certainly didn´t drink a lot of Cuba Libres with Mark in the hostel bar, I certainly didn´t go out with him and a group of others to a club and drink quite a bit more - and that certainly wasn´t me rocking back up at the hostel at 6.30am (fond - slightly sketchy - memories of walking back accompanied by `Ribs and Ears´ the stray dog who befriended us.) Watched the football, hung at the hostel, ran in to a girl who did work experience for me at Sugar 3 years ago (she´s still got the glowing reference I gave her - nuts) and then yesterday (Friday) we headed off with Australian Suzie to Ica, in the desert.

We´re staying at a small oasis 4k outside of the town. There´s nothing here but a couple of bright hostels around the oasis (all with swimming pools - get in. I haven´t yet. Got in. But I´ve been sat with my legs in it all morning in the ROASTING sun) and the backdrop for everything is the huge dunes. It´s the most incredible thing I´ve seen yet. Ever.

In an hour we´re taking a dune buggy tour. They whizz. And they look SO scary. I´m literally wetting myself with fear. It´s been compared to a rollercoaster too many times for my liking. I hate rollercoasters. I always hold the bags, you know that. Then when you get to the top of the dunes you can sandboard (just like snowboarding) which I´m looking forward to as I´m practically a surfer and stuff these days (eh, Cai?) but am again pretty freaked about. We saw some poor girl return on a stretcher yesterday. You just know who that´s going to be in a couple of hours...

As much as I´m having a great time here, my thoughts are with you Paula. I´m so sorry I can´t be there with you right now, my darling, and the shock news about your dad (lovely Uncle Brian) has been really awful. I can´t believe I´m so far away right now, when I should be there. All my love to you.