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Stay tuned as we hope to keep you up to date with live updates from our expedition in PERU................

	20/07/2004	We're Back What a Fantastic trip. We're all back now and on the most part in full health or almost full health after our lil bouts of upset tummy's and the like. Speaking of health, a big fair play, well done and congratulations to Ann-Marie, what a great patient. She hasnt had the most comfortable of three weeks with her sickness. It was sad to see her at times in so much pain and I think we probably all felt some of her pain at one time or other, throughout her sickness, she was great, when she was feeling well she gave it her all and when she was ill she gave it her all too. She never seemed to let it get her down and she fought hard to get on top of it, her determination and strength was amazing, any chance she got she smiled and made us all realise how lucky we were. Well done. I had an amazing trip, it was one of my biggest dreams come through and its great that it came this early in life, I had thought it was some years down the line. I will never forget this experience. I/We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Darragh, Stephen, Susie, Isabell and Therese who led us to and around Peru. Without their hard work, determination, organisation and willingness this trip would not have happened, thanks so much. The Parents, ye were brilliant in helping so much in whatever way you could and in your fundraising efforts. To everyone else who played a part in getting us to Peru, Thank You very much, theres too many for me to mention here, but you all know who you are. Not to forget Charlie, in Cusco, whos help was invaluable, a hell of a lot of work went in on his part before and during our trip. We did so much in Peru, the best way to descibe what we did is through the comments posted on the site and through the photographs, they'll keep coming, so keep your eyes peeled and maybe even make Donnybrookscouts.org your homepage for a while at least to keep up with any further comments and new photos. I and I think I can speak for everyone who travelled to Peru and back, have had a wonderful trip and an amazing experience. I'm sure all of us got something out of working on the house, playing with the kids, and painting the mural that goes far deeper than the great fun, the smiles and the laughter that we had, something deeper than you might find in the comments or see in the photos. This was surely an experience that we will not be forgetting, for me the most gripping of moments was seeing the joy and the tears of happiness coming from the mothers of Mantay when they saw how their new house was looking when we finished and most of all for me when they each received the framed portrait of themselves with their precious sons/daughters, they were sooo happy and grateful, I had a huge lump in my throat seeing their joy and excitement then. There were even a few tears spilled by some of us. The trip has ended too soon!!, I have seen, felt and learned things that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Thank You everyone who made it happen and everyone who went and made it such a wonderful and unforgettable and VALUABLE trip to Peru. I could go on forever talking about the trip, but I'm going to leave it at that for the moment anyway. Slán, Ray or Raymondo or Razzie or Rayo or even Raymond (as my mother keeps giving out)
		by Raymond Dowling

	19/07/2004	Sad....... Hey just writing this from Lima. not sure if you are still in work but thought you might be so I thought id drop you a line. We arrived in Lima on Saturday morning and have gone bowling and done loads of other stuff. we are leaving for our long flight in about three hours, our flight is at five o clock and we should arrive in Madrid early in the morning or some time around that, at the moment I'm running around looking for presents for you all. you're all too hard to buy for! We went out for dinner last night! I've had a great time kinda sad to be coñming home but looking forward to it for some things !!!!
		by The Fat Lady Sings

	14/07/2004	Traditional Dress Hey everyone. Rafting was really good bit scared at times but it was grand. A few of us just looked at photos of it on a dvd player and they were brilliant although there were a bit too many of them. The weather here is great the sun is shining all the time but it gets a bit cold at night. Today there is a strike on all over Peru and some people slept in the charity house last night so they could work in it today because they wouldnt have been able to get out there this morning. Tonight we are meeting up with the Cuscan venturer group. This week we are just decorating the house and painting the wall by the train station. we stayed in Lake Titticaca the other night it was so mich fun we had to dress in their traditional clothes and go to a festival you should see the photos! Anyway Ill see you all next week tell everyone I say Hi
		by

	13/07/2004	Another Birthday Can you wish happy birthday to Andrew Swanton 14 July 16 years old
		by Swanton Family

	13/07/2004	HOLA FROM CONOR Few days ago, we went rafting on the Urumbamba River. It started off with a really, really, really long bus journey, when we got there, there was a complete lack of any national disaters, not even any horses to scarper. After the traditional smelly wetsuits n dodgy stretchin exercises we were on our way. Day one was pretty tame except for the auld bridge jumpin and Conor's bizzare bout of dislexia during YMCA, then to lunch tea and dinner in the space of 2 hours. Couldn't have been warmer at night, double matresses all round. The next mornin, if breakfasts were kings this one would have at least been thane of cawdor, ie. it was deadly. All the sickies arrived (well, most of them) to join in our random pirate adventure, much stroking ensued and after a strong start by Cambridge (Mamaruntu), Oxford(Huitoto) managed to take the lead and stroked their way to the finish line in a spectacular climax. Then lunch and one of the funniest toilet incidents of all time(ask us when we get home). Thats all for now. Huitoto en copus mentis.
		by Dyslexic

	12/07/2004	Welease Woger........ After emptying our chamber pots (stef´s being full of his 9 pint puke , very tasty) from the previous night we enjoyed a nice brekky. We left notes for the families thanking them for their hospitality ad then said a tear jerking goodbye. I thought this part of the trip was the best, we got to come into close contact with the Peruvian community and even experience many of their traditions.Onto the boats again and another Monthy Pyhtonesque voyage to Isla de Tequile. Arrived there and took a small walk ( feckn big if your me - ray and sick!! )(moaner)to the other side of the island, had lunch at eleven then took a dip in the highest navigable lake in the world, buzz deadly. Onto the boat again and back to Puno. Forget to mention numerous jockings and what not. Arrived at the hotel got washed and changed and ready for Din-dins. Nice big pizza and garlic bread then here i am wriring to you. I think its time for a nice relaxing pint now so adios y hasta luego
		by The 3 degrees.

	11/07/2004	Noice..... Another fine and early breakfast and with the six or so sick heads could not take advantage of the delicious buffet (says Ray cos hes one of those bent sick people, you're only sick if you're bent) and then off to the docks. We got some pressies for our host families. Entonces we started our marine voyage. Stopped off in the floating islands , plenty of photo opportunities and deadly buzz rapi' kids. Mad out of it. Caught some smyad out of it reed boats and set off for one of the real islands where we were gonna stay. After a voyage which reminded me of a scene from the holy grail where John Clees is running towards a castle and just seems to get further and further away then suddenly arrives ata his destination and slaughters everyone in sight. (longest sentence ever) The families were smyad cool. the houses were a lot better than i expected. I imagined mud huts but it was more like living in the lap of luxury. Myself and Deeny stayed with the same family: Paula, Simon and Rolando. We chose to eat with the family as opposed to eating in our room. It was like stepping back about 200 years in Ireland; a little mud hut with thatched roof full of smoke and smelling of eucalyptus, cocoa and mune (noice¡¡¡¡!!). The ladss got beaten 3-2 in football by the Peruvians, they might argue that they could¡nt see but we all know they were well beaten. They'll never live it down. The prize a bottle of coke. That night we all adopted traditional Peruvian gear for a dance like a cheili. Ponchos and smyad hats for the lads and mad out of it skirts, blouses and shawls. We all could have passed for Peruvians......me arse. Everybody wearing thermals under their skirts and what not. A few chaps decided to show the Peruvians the walls of Limerick. To be fair they did good.Back to bed nearly killing ourselves without our torch.
		by The 3 degrees

	10/07/2004	Andrea $ Jose (Chooors) We set off after a hearty breakfast to the train station in Cusco. To our surprise we were greeted with a first class train, a far cry from the ol' Iarann Rod Eireann €50 to be packed into a sardine can. Deadly buzz, slap-up feed and comfy moveable armchairs all included. Not to mention the very hot and exotic or should i say guapa y exotica get it inta ya Cynthia. After our weary but luxurious 10 hour travel we arrived in Puno. We were greetede by the gorgeous Andrea (a bit of an awwwyyh if you ask me). Then we checked into the hotel and were wisked off for a late night tour of the city and a meal with the foxy Jose i wouldnt mind seein his hose b if ya get my drift. The food went down well and came back up even better.
		by The 3 degrees

	09/07/2004	Happy Birthday Ivan It's Ivan's birthday on the 9th. Happy Birthday Ivan from Mum Dad and Keith. Harry is in France and no doubt wishes you a happy birthday as well. Jonathan can give you a big kiss/hug from us all. Hope the trip is going well. The photographs are great. Talk to you soon. Love from us all.
		by Eustace Family

	08/07/2004	Who's Murial ......? Hey again, Just back in Cusco after our rafting trip, it was eventful to say the least. We did grade 2 and 3 yesterday and grade 4 today. In the really difficult grade four section our raft crahed into a rock and the water pulled it up against the rock.After we recovered the raft we were flying through again and our guide Enrique told us to stop rowing cause he saw a loose oar in the water, we flipped we recovered again and Enrique told us it was the first time he´s flipped in Peru in seven years, the others were slaggin us but we reckon our raft was full of hardcore heads!! The horses did run away with our gear on the inca trail but at that stage we were back in one of the guides houses in his sauna!! we got our gear back later that day. Not much of a camp , all the girls are cursin that they didnt bring makeup! Eating brilliantly too, just had lama meat I think, and it was gorgeous. I thought I told you we couldn't do the inca trail in the last e-mail because of the weather.......... Great weather for rafting plus some great video footage ! We heard the luas crashed but maybe someone made that up. Planning our murial(?) for the town wall now in the irish bar Rosy O'Gradys, the guy who owns it has been really helpful. the jungle was brill apparently. Just saw Brazil scorin against Chile in the Copa America. The final is on here in Cusco in the stadium beside us but were leavin two days before, damn!!! They put up an Irish flag outside the hotel we're in. Macchu Picchu was amazing, can't describe it , bought extra film just now, taking loadsa pics. We're gonna look for t-shirts with ´no gracias ´on them ( Enrique told us about them) , because you get constantly begged everywhere you go here, its pretty annoying but the kids are great fun though. From the hard core heads.
		by Hardcore-Head

	07/07/2004	Photos Update Hola Everybody, I have just put some photos on the website. Were having a great time over here, A big bunch of them have gone rafting today and coming back tomorrow. Hope the photos work out okay on the website, feel free to get rid of some if you like. Slan
		by Razzie

	06/07/2004	Not coming home........ Havin the craic in Machu Pichu at the moment. Went visiting the Ancient Inca ruins earlier today and was very impressed indeed. Such old structures,high up, and in such good nick. Things starting to go to plan now after a shakey start. Started out on a 4 day trail and ended up getting snowed in 4000 metres high for 2 days. Snow is that heavy that its claimed lives and is now a national disaster. We got out just in time cause half hour after left there was over a metre of snow where we were camping. Real adventure stuff this!! Off to do our charity project in Cusco next and then to the Reed Beds in Lake Titicaca. Hope all is well Slan Stephen
		by Stef

	05/07/2004	Beats Galway hola personas, howz life. its the best holliday i,ve ever been on, but i supose galway wasnt much competition!!!! were all having the time of our lives and thank god we are all injury free, the three muscateers are all a1. it is a beautiful country and wish you could all be here. we unfortunatly had to abandon the mp trail. we got snowed in and it was like something out of a film, getting stuck at base camp 1. if we had stayed another hour we would have been under a meter and 5 of snow. got out just in time!!! thank god. but it was still a ball and everyone is still having the craic. we have been getting so much food that even i have had to turn down some. we are on 5 or 6 meals a day. we are living the lap of luxury every where we go. the guides that we have been with have been the business and have made deadly calls. i am sitting in an internet cafe in a place called ollantaytaymbo. we were driven here because its been too bad to walk. tomorow we are off to mp itself. we are staying in the best places and have been getting about 9 or 10 hours most nites. ill mail you when i get a chance. love from the lads.
		by Nutbagmuppet

	04/07/2004	Lap of Luxury! Peru´s going great. i managed to see the last ten minutes of the European Cup because it was on in the hotel when we arrived! here its only eight o´clock and we´ve just had dinner. we were meant to be doing the Inca Trail and should have been arriving in Macchu Pichau tomorrow but the weather has been terrible. we started the Inca Trail on Thursday and that was fine then when we woke up the next morning the mountains were covered in snow and we couldn´t go anywhere. the next day the snow was even worse so we had to come back down and be driven to where we should have been. it was the first time people had ever seen snow on the mountain and there were no flights in or out of Cusco. tomorrow we are getting a train up the rest of the way. during the week we also saw the charity project we are working on next week. on our way home from that we all got into the back of an open top truck and rode the 40 minute journey back to Cusco in it. we are staying in a gorgeous hotel in Cusco that has running water, food made for us etc. well having a great time next week we´re going rafting and getting a train out to the reed bed islands. should be fun.
		by A. Venturer

	04/07/2004	sNOw WAY! This is the first time i´ve had time to email anybody since i got here. Its been a crazy week. i´m currently in this horrible touristy town near machipichu, a big change from recent days. 3 days ago we started this long hike, kind of like the inca trail but not quite. the first day we hiked from some valley up to this small town near the first pass (4500meters) that we were due to go over. we camped there and were due to get up at 6 the next day to go over the pass. unfortunately there was a bit of a storm and we couldnt go over the next day cos there was a meter of snow up there. we had to wait it out for the day so we gave some presents of copybooks and pencils to the kids in the local school. yesterday the storm had become a national disaster with livestock dying all around the country. we even had a couple of inches of snow where we were which never happens apparently. we had to turn back and one of the guides, pepe, put us up in his gaff, which was huge. he even had a sauna. our gear took ages to come back, because by the time the wranglers had taken down camp there was a meter of snow where we had been camping a couple of hours before and the horses spooked and ran away with our bags. the guides were extremely cool though and we still had great craic hanging around with them. tomorrow we do machipichu weather permiting. it was a bit of a culture shock at the start getting into lima, not the prettiest town in the world. cusco´s a bit nicer but theres still a lot of street kids selling stuff. the main project we´re doing is helping finish off a house for young unmarried mothers. at the moment there are loads of them living with their kids in a tiny house that we went to visit a few days ago. Charlie, our irish contact here, is involved in this project where the mothers learn to make shoes and bags and stuff and get involved in the tourism trade.
		by Ann Ymous

	04/07/2004	Weather is fine.....NOT! We are fine despite the ridiculous weather! Heard it was on the news and all!!! It rained fo the first couple of days on the Inca trail, and snowed (1 metre of it) on the third day so we had to turn back (we were camping at the first day site for two days waiting to see if the weather would get better, but it didn't. We were told that the weather hasn't been this bad for decades and even the guides were taking pictures coz they had never seen it this bad. Having a deadly time.
		by Shey Guvara

	30/06/2004	Touchdown! Hi Guys, We are finally in Cusco after a long series of flights, a few birthdays and a night on an airport floor! Everyone´s in great form and nobody is suffering too much from altitude sickness. The hostel that we are staying in is rather plush by our normal standards and Charlie (the legend-used to be the Irish Consul here-has many fab contacts) has everything sorted for us. Cusco is a fantastic city, really beautiful and the people are lovely. We´ll update you in a few more days to let you know what we are getting up to. (You) wish you were here!!
		by Susie Lynham

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		by Tom Corcoran