Oooo, James...

"Meesterrr Bond," said in thick Russian accent was one our favourite phrases on the Tran Siberian Express. But, I´m afraid Kathy has been under a terrible strain recently. She was beginning to fear that it would be January before she might see the new James Bond flick and, under the comforting secrecy of a dark cinema, ogle Daniel Craig's biceps pulsating under his tailor made tuxedo. So, our first cultural act of worship in Quito was to pay homage to the local multiplex and a screening of the Quantum of Solace! And very good it was too! When the plot landed in Bolivia and the Russian city of Kazan, we both squealed with the daft conceited excitement of 'we've been there!'
After Quito, we spent 4 days in the tourist town of Banos. We enjoyed the thrill of the gravity cycle tour taking in all the spectacular waterfalls and a 4 hour trek in the local hills.
Next stop was Tena and a day of river rafting on some class 3 rapids. Accompanied by 2 German lassies, the day consisted of lots of squealing, giggling, falling into the water, getting chucked into the wayer and having our legs bitten alive by blinkin sandflies. Their bites are much itchier than mosquitos or midges and we both spent the night tormented by a seething rash of reminders from the little b... blighters. If a cheese grater had been handy, I wouldn't have thought twice...