‘Weeeeeee!’ Zaza squeals with a jump, just as the room starts squeaking and dozens of guinea pigs run across the floor.

Having heard about this tradition my own shock is more due to the collective hysteria within the group.

‘Waaaaaaah!’ shouts Sammi, suddenly clinging on to Zaza’s arm, much to the amusement of Claire who seems unperturbed by the little feet scurrying around and decides to capture the moment on her phone instead.

‘That’s a lot of pets!’ shouts Gillian, her arms crossed protectively in front of her as though they might be about to run up her body, something I’ve never seen a guinea pig do, but you never know …

‘Where are they all coming from?’ asks Betsy, bending over to have a good look below the bed they’ve all disappeared under, being far braver than her best mate.

‘Why are they here?’ adds Vicky, pulling a grimace.

‘Dinner!’ Kevin laughs.

‘Sod this,’ Derek mutters, the unsociable pensioner, grabbing for his cigarette packet as he walks out of the house.

‘Gross,’ Zaza mutters, clutching on to my arm as though they’re about to attack her.

‘A slightly different culture to ours,’ Vicky gulps just as Scott joins us, cupping one of the furry creatures in his hands like you would in a petting zoo.

‘I know it’s strange for us to think of them as food when we’re so used to seeing them as fluffy little things you’d have in a cage at home,’ Scott says, stroking the furry animal. ‘But they actually originated here in South America before the Spanish took them back to Europe and declared them to be pets. It’s not that bad once you get your head around it. And it tastes all right, actually.’

‘Wait. Have you tried it?’ Vicky gasps, looking horrified, clearly forgetting what she’d just told Zaza. ‘I thought it was just a locals’ thing.’

‘It’s become a thing that people have to do when they come to Peru. So yes, I have and I’ve done it more than once,’ he nods proudly. ‘It would be rude not to eat what you’re offered when welcomed into someone’s home.’

‘Does it taste like chicken?’ asks Gillian, a serious look on her face.

‘A bit more like rabbit, actually,’ Scott says thoughtfully, as though he’s recalling the taste in his mouth. ‘But squeakier.’

‘Eeesh,’ sounds Sammi, her face screwed up.

‘You’re sick,’ declares Zaza, also unable to hide her disgust.

I can’t help but smirk at their reactions.

‘Vegan?’ Scott asks, matter-of-factly.

‘No,’ she says, rolling her eyes as he shrugs his shoulders at her response.

‘You know, they’re higher in protein and lower in cholesterol than chicken, pork or beef,’ he reasons. ‘They’ll be lining the meat aisles in your local supermarket before you know it.’

Zaza shudders at the thought, causing the owner of the house to look over at her.