The film set from Dune.

It’s the day after my walk and I’ve got a gin hangover.  I take a walk past the laundrette and deposit my walking gear, I found them earlier trying to go for a walk on their own but couldn’t manage to open the door so best I sorted that out first then head for a cup of coffee.

I’m sitting down reading my book and look up to have a day-dream when I notice that Miss Essex from San Pedro has just walked past the door – a chirp of “alright treacle” gets her attention and she plonks herself down and starts to tell me whats been going on.  Day rolls on tonight and coffee turns to red wine and I think to myself whats the worst that can happen!

The next day is a write off that’s what happens, we end up with a group of Americans from my hostel and a nightclub till three or four, it could have been five I have no clue but it was late, there was dancing and Pisco!

The following day is better it unfolds that we both have a flight leaving from Lima in a four/five days time so the plan is head to Ica first which is about 18 hours away and then its only another four hours on to Lima – tickets booked and we take off.  Landing in Ica was a shock, I didn’t sleep a wink on the bus and the usual problem of what to do is looming over us but in true SA style if you stand still for more than five minutes someone will walk up to you and they did.

So were dropped off in a hostel from Cab-Taxi man’s recommendation in Hucachina and we are surrounded by sand dunes, hang on – a minute ago I was in a city now all around me is sand and in the middle a lake – what is this place!

In the distance background I can hear cars with monster size engine notes coming from them, there are a row of snowboards propped against the wall of the hostel bar and the bar man asks me how I am in Irish and wants to know if I want breakfast or a drink!

Three days was not enough, of course I hit it off with the bar man who is learning every language going – just for one reason and that’s to pick up girls!

He is also a Sand boarder and a pretty good drinker too, Miss Essex and I end up having a blow out of activities and at the end of it are petty much dead.  I make a mental note to call back into this place before I head south for boarding season  – well why not its the perfect place to practise the only issue is they don’t have any ski lifts – only your feet!