Four nights and five days in transit mode was a definite low light of the trip but it was a must in the grand plan of getting to the Inka Trail and Machu Picchu on time. The days were mainly spent on buses and the nights eating at questionable restaurants.

We spent New Year’s Eve in Chiclayo, an ugly, concrete filled town. We knew there wouldn’t be much going on there, so we booked some semi decent accomodation with a pool and gym so that we had easily accessible entertainment!

Adam took the opportunity to get his hair cut, which always results in an interesting anecdote afterwards. Usually the barbers don’t speak English so Adam often resorts to pointing to another customer and saying I’ll have what he’s having! Each hair cut has been different, and most have included a cut throat shave which has usually ended badly and bloody!

The barber had told Adam that there would definitely be a huge party atmosphere at the near by beach for NYE. However when the time came to concoct a plan for the evening, we decided to be old and bunker down in the hotel bar instead, accompanied by two for one Pisco Sours! The night actually exceeded expectations. We ended up in an hour long conversation with Gordo and Kase in Melbourne and ate bar snacks as we went!

Midnight came around and the locals went mad on the street with fire works. We watched from our hotel room six stories in the air thank goodness. Looking down onto the street, people were setting up fireworks and practically aiming them at others! There would have been thousands of fireworks from rooftops and sidewalks and the light show went on for a good thirty minutes. Adam decided that midnight was also the appropriate time to order room service so he sat and ate lasagne during the show! A NYE likely never to be repeated