Why Peru? I've been asked that a few times, most people get half an answer. Here's why:

1. It was my 40th birthday; I didn't want to spend it at home and I wanted to splash out.
2. I've always had an urge to go to the Amazon, I was just too chicken (long flight) and too poor to do it.
3. I read an article in a discarded travel section from one of the weekend broadsheets about the train journey from Cuzco to Macchu Pichu. I wanted to make that journey.
4. I'd worked my ***** off, why the hell not?

This was to be, however, my first major overseas trek, so I pushed the boat out a bit and spent probably more than twice what i would spend if I was doing it now. I booked with Kuoni; that they had an office round the corner from mine and I used to read their brochure whilst wolfing down a sandwich at lunchtime. You could also add on an extension to the trip, I decided to spend a few days in Aruba on the way back. Where the hell was Aruba?

Time passed quickly between booking and packing. I quit my job a few days before I went. I'd grown to hate it and thought "Why not have a total break and really start life at 40?" I wasn't looking forward to the 15 hours I would have to spend in the air, but having done 8 hours to Dubai and with books and a new MP3 player to accompany me, it was something that had to be done.

So, I packed more than twice what I would need, took a record 23 minutes in a cab door-to-door to Heathrow (roads rather clear at 4am) and set off for the trip of a lifetime.

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