Not long now until I venture out to North Peru tomorrow. Lan Airlines have been wonderful and offered me a higher luggage allowance to cater for my extra luggage for charitable centres in Peru. Stuff Your Rucksack set up by Kate Humble, is a great way of helping children suffering from poverty first hand by packing a spare bag full of goodies.
'Amazon Promise', 'Skip' and 'Hand In Hand' are all charities that I shall visit helping support their worthy cause with childrens clothes, footballs, medical supplies and of course stationary.
This weekend I shall be in the Northern Amazon, Iquitos, which is suffering from the lowest water levels in 40 years which means that my gifts shall be even more greatly received at this hard time. It is hard to believe that some 6 months ago southern Peru was suffering from extreme rains. The landslides caused by the rains meant many lost their homes and access was cut off to the countries most iconic landmark, Machu Picchu.
Having recently attended the LATA foundations Peruvian meeting in the Peruvian Embassy, I learned more of the devastation the floods brought. Even down to the washing away of Cochineal beetles which caused the cost of the dyes used by the local women, to triple.
While I am in Lima I shall attend the Travel Mart Latin America so I shall keep you posted to the news this enchanting country has to offer - watch this space....