Well. After over 24 hours of travelling, including a 4 hour bus journey, a 40 minute flight to Amsterdam, a 9 hour flight to the Carribean, and a further 4 hour flight onto Quito, we have finally arrived in the Andes. Which is insane. I'm actually sitting in an internet cafe in the Andes, typing this entry, and it's not quite believable.

It's obvious, however, that we are half way round the world. Quito is so different and exciting to anywhere I've been before. Within minutes of getting out of the airport we had already encountered competely mental traffic, blasting horns, little old ladies trying to sell us sweets, children hanging out the back of pick-up trucks, and palm trees. The whole city is surrounded by mountains. Walking through Quito is a bit like walking down Egham hill: we've had honks galore, simply because we're such a novelty in this place.

The group of 12 has turned out to be far better than I had expected, partly due to the two intensely irritating girls pulling out (hurrah!) and partly due to the new people who've joined since I went along to the 'build-up' weekend. I think we'll have fun. So no longer nervous, just knackered, but also incredibly excited.

I'm actually in the Andes!

And yet still wish you were all here with me. Can't write more now, but will do so soon.