Crannster's Guestbook

Chile reflections
Thanks for sharing Crannie and Dave. I think this was one of my favourite blogs - from the history, poetry, art, food it made me much wiser, richer and fulfilled... with the reflections about being home, it made me more thankful for what I have .... and yet strangely, conversely nostalgic for the freedom of the simplistic sparseness of being on the road. Thanks People. xoPS

Fabulous last blog from the south!
I'm so glad you liked Santiago! Brilliant to get to know Neruda--his poetry of the sea, love and human/nature rights is so fab--thanks for including some. You'll have to return to visit his other two wild houses in Valparaiso and Isla Negra. The Museum of Memories and Human Rights is one of the best I've seen, and you showed its work so well.Unfortuntely, the coup was backed by the pig government of my country, and I wish everyone would correlate our 9/11 with the one we caused in Chile. And then, markets and life on the road. For the last five years, I've been buying my groceries in those wonderful markets where in each town, I have my fave fruit, veg, cheese and olive ladies (almost always women) with whom I chat. I'm sure in your little hometown, you have that community in your stores--hard to just run in and out. How lovely that you're home with all those amenities that people take for granted. Wow--hot water, drinking water from a tap, old friends--I'm so happy you are enjoying these luxuries before you next big adventure! While you're home, I'd love to read a blog on your exotic hometown, you polar bears!

Seeing it all
You really are taking the time to get out and embrace every opportunity.

Isolated wonders of the world!
From the freezing Antarctic and Manitoba to the arid Atacama to subtropical Easter Island--you two certainly choose extreme, exotic places! What a great visit filled with the mystery of the place--how wonderful that you had Paul to explain some of the theories. Glad too, to hear that you stayed in a wooden house surrounded by trees because when the Europeans arrived, the island had been deforested. Since the trees have been reborn, hopefully, the horse grass will be controlled, and the Rapa Nui people will be able to preserve their heritage for the future.

Excellent adventures and great photos!
I love the way you two really explore--climbing up to get overviews of towns and valleys, biking around to get the close perspective and to have that otherworldly Valle de la Luna to yourselves. Good thing your Andean blood was supercharged down here at the very hot sea level. I was just in Arica this weekend, and I fried as I climbed El Morro--quite a change from your usual polar climate! Looking forward to your next adventures!

Wise adventurers!
How fabulous that you spent several days exploring my beloved huff and puff Isla del Sol and its many trails, treasures and tranquility! And what a way to get to Chile--certainly the road less traveled. On my next exit from Bolivia to Chile, I had been planning to go through Park Lauca, but this stop off in Sajama Park sounds fabulous--I may follow your footsteps, intrepid explorers. However, I must admit I chuckled hearing you polar explorers talk of the (very real) cold in Bolivia. Enjoy your return to the land of polar bears, Churchill, Canada.

Beautiful
Thanks for your story and wonderful pictures of this very remote area. Gorgeous and fascinating.

Great touchdowns in the best of Bolivia
Thanks to the country's jungle, there is wonderful chocolate, and some pretty good stuff here in Peru, too! Potosi and La Paz have now prepared you for Copacabana and Cusco--enjoy your high-altitude adventures!