Frepap is one of the minority political parties -

yesterday they drove a taxi round Cusco with a blue cardboard fish stuck on the top. Parts of this election campaign are very thought provoking.

I got asked the best question ever by a tourist today.
'Is it worth visiting Machu Picchu?'
Here is a picture of Machu Picchu.
It is 40 miles from here on one of the most spectacular train journey's in the world.
'Nah, buy a postcard instead'.
I wonder if people in Agra get asked if the Taj Mahal is worth a look or not.
Early this morning Esther and I went to buy dirt at the plant market to start Project Parsnip our crusade to introduce this delicious vegetable to Peru. We will plant them tomorrow and then wait. Esther was offered a box of 100 packets of Panini stickers today and looked at me hopefully as if it was a good idea, I think Esther loves World Cup 2006 in the same way as I did World Cup '74.
The cafe had it's best day of the year so far today which happened to coincide with Valerio needing the day off, I have just got in and every bone in my body is aching. We even added a new country to our list of customers with a very chatty couple from Nicaragua who also left a good tip.
This afternoon Esther, Salvador, Miriam and I went to the 'barbecue' being held to raise funds for Valerio's Dad to have a back operation.
Esther forgot the camera.
How I would love a photo of this 'barbecue'.
Held on the kerb on the main road to the airport, it was an impressive sight.
A tarpaulin slung over four poles, an open fire spewing smoke everywhere as it cremated huge flaps of cow and potatoes.
Stray dogs mingled with everyone and everything and Salvador's eyes popped out of their sockets at all of the new sights and smells.
Abad and Victor were there too, inexplicably polishing off some fish even though there was none being cooked on the huge metal tray that was gurgling and bubbling away at the roadside.
Valerio thoughtfully barbecued us some corn and potatoes and then we beat our way through the smoke to take a taxi to the Post Office.
Salvador's new coat had arrived together with a video of 'Dumbo' , the package took just five days, a record I think.
Tonight Ollanta Humala had his rally in the Plaza de Armas.
Normally nothing in Peru fazes me, confuses me and least of all scares me. But seeing his supporters streaming past the cafe window on their way to the Main Square made my blood run cold.
We have finally managed to get someone to look after Salvador, she starts on Monday and her name is Simone, a name that for me conjures up a mysterious French temptress idly sipping cafe on the Champs Elysee.
I don't think the Simone's here are quite the same.
Simone is Miriam's sister in law.
Salvador took to her straight away and she gave us all the right answers, so time will tell whether she is the answer or not.