BandR

url='/Videos/4389.html' onclick='dialog("/Videos/4389.html?popped=1","tbvideo",600,600);return false;' Goose moment ! So there you go, after 7 months and 7 date we had a flight confirmed to Madrid.... finally leaving South America! It's been a great trip so far, but also looking forward now to some time with family and friends, and hopefully some warm weather again! As you may have seen, the past few weeks... ehm make that months, have not been all that warm. The flight from Mendoza to santiago wasn't overkill, just a precaution to make sure we'd get that flight to Madrid. As we'd been skiing in fresh snow, the pass back to Santiago had also received a fresh load (i.e. it was closed again for a few days). Either way, regardless of the extra cash (which was bearable due to a very helpful guy at at ... read more

One of the things with extended travel is, well, things don't always work out the way you planned them. Well, sometimes you don't even plan them. Ergo, go with the flow, or, better even, get the hell outta there! So, from San Pedro de Atacama, the plan was to hop across the border to Salta, enjoy the vistas of the mountains there for a few days, and then head down to Mendoza, Santiago after that, and hop on the big bird to Madrid in the end! But it's winter, and apparently all mountain passes across the Andes between Chile and Argentina were closed. That's not taking into account that there are only 3 busses a week to Salta from SP, and the next one was booked out as well.... so we were faced with the option ... read more

Well, after lord knows how many months, we've managed to make it into Chile again, this time in the very far north! (having left from the very far south! This time, possibly via the messiest of all border crossings, but that seems to be the norm here. As per peruvian usual, early bus departure, and leaving over 30 minutes late. made it to Tacna in time, but as per peruvian usual again, there are plenty of vultures, sorry, cab drivers yelling at us before we've left the bus! Border crossings per taxi are the norm here, 5 paying customers per very old and big amarican car! We run away from all those hard selling lads, and hide in a diner for some food. then try to get on a bus, but the smart feller manages to ... read more

It's always wonderful to rush out in the morning, early morning, to find out your bus is delayed..... "only 10 minutes more, 10 minutes!". Free coca cola (lovely first drink after breakfast) to appease the waiting clientele, and after 3 hours we were finally hearded outside of the Cuzco bus terminal, but no bus yet.... Didn't think we'd be dealing with longer delays than the 2 GOL flights we had in Brazil, but alas, it happened. Unfortunately that also meant that our planned day bus turned into a half night bus as well, so missing some of the scenery, and not getting to the Hostal until about 11pm! The Colonial Inn house is not a big hostel, it's an old building and the rooms are big, yet a bit awkwardly furnished (2nd room had a very, ... read more