jellsmoor

I expect some of you have been wondering why I haven’t updated my blog for a while. Well, the honest truth is, I am having far too much fun. However, after receiving several complaints about the lack of updates I have decided to return to sitting at my computer for several hours (despite the glorious sunshine outside), to update you on my progress! So this stage of my journey started out with a 15 hour bus ride over the top of the Andes from Chile to Argentina. The views were outstanding, with flamingos, llamas and rheas all bring spotted along the roadside. Unfortunately, the 6 hour wait at customs was not so thrilling. I ended up with some other foreigners on the bus so luckily there was a nice atmosphere and plenty to talk about. Some ... read more

So, about three weeks late, I have decided to update my travel blog, just in case anyone was worried about me. You have no idea how much effort it has taken for me to finally get around to writing this… I've spent the last two and a half busy weeks in Arica, a small city on Chile's Pacific Coast just south of the frontier with Peru. Staying with a local family was a brilliant experience as it allowed me to become truly immersed in local culture. Plus it was a chance to improve on my Spanish. Arica itself is an unusual place. Although now in Chile, it has previously been owned by both Peru and Bolivia, the latter of which still claim ownership, leading to frequent disputes between the governments. The temperature fluctuates between 20-30 degrees ... read more