Refugio Aleman- Ski Hostel Santiago

... He didn't panic and turned to his trusty ice axe to help stop his slide, however he chose to use the technique the guide told us NOT to use, and he slammed the axe into the ice and there it remained whilst his grip slipped off the handle, just as the guide said it would, and he continued down the slope, eventually stopping himself about 50m down it! Jacque grabbed his axe for him, dug them some ice seats and there they sat waiting for the rest of us! I was third up and glad to say ...

... or vegetables, or be prepared for the consequences! We were warned in advance of this thankfully. But we still had to endure what can only be described as a police line up at the border (and this was after having the passports stamped for entry). They had everyone from the bus facing forward with a bench infront for you to put your bags. They proceeded to seemingly look everyone up and down, and question some people. Not me though with my innocent face. We ...

... but I am NOT complaining!<br><br>It's amazing how quickly skiing comes back, even after 8 years. Not that I had amazing talent to regain. I have not ventured off a green bunny slope (or blue if it's east coast) since I had a nasty tumble in middle school. But I sure can rock an easy slope. It's easy here, too, because the slopes are wide and long and not crowded. There is not a single tree on the whole mountain ...

... to back down. She would say something in Spanish and I would come back in English - sometimes French as it felt correct to say anything foreign just to try and make myself understood. As I write this, I've no idea if I've somewhere to stay upon arrival in Lima or not.<br><br>Back to the airport yet again. This time I cross the date line again and gain a few hours in time and right now I just haven´t really a clue if I´m coming or going. The flight ...

... no problem" and brought her the same as everyone else; an over-fried dark brown crumbed thing with a slice of plastic cheese and two chunks of tomato on top. It didn´t look appetising and everyone confirmed it was awful. My crepe was fantastic though! Most cafes here seem to offer a set menu for lunch. A basic meal of salad + main with a choice of rice or pasta, or the "ejectivo" meal that usually includes bread with a spicy dip + salad starter ...

On my flight over to Santiago I was sat next to another Bournemouth girl travelling for a year by herself so got to spend the long flight swapping travel stories...Plus by this point, I am now rather good at upright aeroplane sleeping! It was a bit of a shock on arrival with no-one speaking English, my sharades-skills and hand signalling became very useful at this point. I found my way by local bus into the city where I managed to order some lunch in my already improving ...

... listening intently as I explained my chosen path. She asked my opinion of h** home country of Argentina and as she began to enquire about wheth** I had visited Antarctica I realized she may be more int**ested in the south pole....if you know what I mean....... Bett** than a wink I thought, and I reckon she could have been und** 40!!! What was I doing all this time trying to look like a local!!! Onwards....Upwards.....and slightly to the East.........

... one to give you the order and another on the other side of the room to pay, frustrating. - Queues - these don't exist, people just push past whether you are a tourist or a local. Give as good as you get. - Use of indicators or lack of - no-one uses indicators, which makes crossing the street somewhat of a lottery, watch out. - Public indescencies - relieving oneself in the street, women and men. We have seen it in every country on this trip, including a Peruvian woman who ...

... and watch the world go by. We decided to take a cycle tour of the city on bright green coloured one speeders with La Bicicleta Verde, they were really old school, you had to back peddle to brakes. I haven't been on one of those since I was about 8 years old and I am sure we were offering great amusements to the business folk taking coffee in the plazas. But it was great fun to learn the history of the different areas and important sights with our ...

... so sad. Not because we weren't looking forward to heading to New Zealand but just for the fact that we had SUCH a good time in South America and we were leaving it behind. Avril boarded her plane first so it was just me and Fi left. Oh the melancholy of it all. But we got through it, bought Fiona's sister a gift of Pisco (alcohol) in a bottle shaped like the heads on Easter Island and went to get on the plane. They wouldn't let us bring it on. Like you'd think they would have ...