Hotel Quito Santiago

After 147 days of travel involving more than 40 destinations, Santiago represented the last South American city on our itinerary before we were due to board our flight home to Australia.<br><br>Set against the dramatic backdrop that is the Andes, it is clear to see why Santiago lays claim to being one of South America's most beautiful cities.<br><br>We immediately ...

... br><br>This kicked us into action abit &amp; we started checking out other slopes for the laugh &#8211; only beginner ones though!The carnage started here!<br><br>The 3 of us pretty much rolled down to the bottom were we would eventually bump into Fitzy again.<br><br>At that stage we were like feck it and started rolling our way down more of the beginner slopes with some serious wipeouts!Jack getting stuck in the fence, me going head over heels and winding myself &#8211; ribs sore &#8211 ...

... the word "together" and wanted to do everything with us!!!! We rolled up at a hostel and took a room in the attic but this meant that all our wet clothing remained damp. The next morning decided to cut our losses and see if the sun was shining in Argentina. We took a bus to Bariloche, this day was the most miserable we have had since we left home. We were disappointed we saw nothing in Chile, everything we owned was wet and it was still raining. That ...

... our favourite. * We spent the first couple of nights in Hostal So Be, but it was a bit ****. Whilst wandering round we found Luz Azul which was beautiful so we moved there for the remainder, despite that meaning that Mike and I were in a shared dorm (boo!). * Sarah hung around with us until she flew back up to hook onto her itinerary in Cusco. As one of the founder members of the Mojo Brigade ...

... didn't realise until we looked harder. People aren't quite as beautiful as in BA. Young, thin girls and boys are the norm there. Here they are thicker and darker. We defianately fit in better as we have a good tan going. Renting a car tomorrow for our final 10 days. Heading into the Andes for the eve and then over to the coast. Vina del Mar and Valparasio. Then up the coast to La Senena to the Elqui Valley and some wine tasting. Will write as able. Thanks for reading!

... a book that I had just started reading earlier in the week and that is truly an accomplishment for me.<br><br>We took the metro (!) from the Alameda bus terminal to a stop close to the Plaza de Armas, where we got off and walked a few blocks up to our hostel, which is beautifully situated on the 6th floor of a building on the south side of the plaza, offering breathtaking views of the vibrant square. Props to Julia for ...

... of the port reduced. There were tram like elevators over a hundred years old going up the very steep streets, and cafes everywhere with tables outside - it had a really special feel there. Just up the road 15 minutes on the metro was Vina Del Mar a more exclusive beach resort which we also visited for the day (to pretend we were one of the beautiful people). We narrowly avoided being arrested twice in Valparaiso, once for drinking beer on the street, something ...

... hours trying to answer his calls (with no success) and when he actually made a call, he didn't know how to hang up the damn machine. To top it all, I kept laughing at him and teasing him and not willing to offer any help. In my own defense, I had a million things to do, including packing half of our house into 6 suitcases, run to the vet, see the doctor etc.. And so Tony returned to the phone store, returned the evil I-phone and reclaimed back ...

... Chinese, I should call it a rice-paddy tan! I can't believe how strong the sun's rays are here - my skin looks as dark, old, and weathered as my leather sofa back home! I should add that I've had that sofa for 4 years, and I've never used conditioner on it once. If I went to a restaurant and received a steak that looked like me, I'd send it back - I'm beyond well-done, I'm beef jerky! Scary - so scary, in fact, that Ben has given me a new ...

... blue wig!<br><br> <br><br>Here's Katie with her fellow Lymm native Matt and his girlfriend Rebecca, of course they were all stone cold sober when this was taken! <br><br> <br><br>Before we knew it a huge cannon went off somewhere to mark 12 midnight, followed by explosions of ...