Atalaya, Amazon Basin, rain, 19 degrees, windy and cold

Swindon, River Ray Basin, sun, 30 degrees, hot and muggy

My tales of the jungle have been interupted by an urgent trip to the hospital today (actually three hospitals, four taxi rides and a blazing row with a receptionist but I digress).
Since yesterday I've had bad abdominal pain and by this morning I was having trouble moving.
Eventually my problem was diagnosed as a nasty hernia which needed a nasty operation to put it right.
This afternoon we visited the surgeon (actually the wife of the doctor I saw this morning) and she is of the opinion that I have a severly inflamed muscle.
I have to go back on Monday to see if I am really off the hook.
I hope so because we have a trip to Machu Picchu planned for next Thursday with my sister Susan and her husband Mike, who arrive in Peru tonight and in Cusco on Saturday.
Moni has got a great review in an increasingly popular North American guide to Peru, the Moon Guides series, I have ordered a copy and will post the full details when I get it, the entry starts 'Moni, the best gourmet cafe in Cusco' .....