Hello again blog buddies,just having my morning coffee and thought I would catch up on my travels and tell you about my return trip from Mendoza.I had reservations about the bus, after having taken 14 hours on the eastward crossing of the Andes a week before.My decision was made after weighing a few factors such as the fact I was travelling on a Sunday and I had been told part of my previous experience was due to the summer holiday phenomenon occuring in the middle of January when wave two of holiday travellers heads to Chile from Argentina just as wave one is returning.It all seemed to make sense and so the decision was made and ticket in hand I went to the bus station to catch the 09:30 Andesmar bus to Valpo . I was ... read more

Good evening my blogging friends from sun kissed Argentina.Mendoza is where I am at the moment in the shadow of the Andes on an arid plain about 800 meters above sea level.It is hot and for the most part dry here, though the heavens did open up last evening as I was walking home from having supper unfortunately. Mendoza gets 300 sunny days a year and it is in the center of an irrigated agricultural region,channeling snow melt from the mountains to nourish a rich wine,olive,fruit,vegetable and nut region. The city itself is filled with trees planted along every street and all irrigated by a simple system of wide irrigation ditches that run along the side of the road which feed the tree roots.These ditches are deep and wide so you need to be very careful ... read more

Hola blogging buddies. I am still here and again I will say, I am fine. I did lay low for a couple of days,partly to regain my composure and confidence and also taking care of some things closer to home. The weather has changed a bit ,with a cooler air mass passing by.Not sure how weather tracks down here,certainly do not have the benefit of Claire Martin or Ian Black explaining the weather patterns in detail, but from my balcony I can see and feel the change with a cooler air mass and even some rain the other night.For a Canadian it is still a pretty fine temperature but I see people bundled up like it was the dead of winter at times. In the past few days, notwithstanding black monday when I had my difficulties, ... read more

Good afternnoon blogging buddies from a sunny cerro in Valparaiso.I was out early this morning for some breakfast and have now settled in for a couple of hours to get this blog off before heading out into the sunshine again.It is sunday so everyone is at half speed and the city is relatively quiet compared to its week day hustle and bustle. I have continued my ramblings around the city and continue to find interesting sights and sounds around very corner.As I wandered around Concepcion a few days ago, in bright sunshine, I found a photographer working on his prints.I am not sure of the chemistry but he paints the light sensitive mixture onto cloth with a paintbursh then allows it to dry for a while before putting a negative image upon the emulsion and leaving ... read more

Happy New Year blogging buddies, it is a quiet morning here in Valparaiso,at least on my street. The city parties hard at new years eve so a day of rest is called for. I have settled into my new home quite comfortably and am getting used to kitchen and the hot water system which provides surprises in mid shower!!!The Humboldt current right down my back!!!Brrrrr. There are a few things missing from the apt and I will be shopping for them when the stores open again.Dish towels,can opener that sort of thing.I do have my swiss army knife so cork screw and bottle opener are always close at hand. Be prepared as the scouts taught me.Yesterday the sun burned off the fog at about 1pm and the city and sea were bathed in the glorious light.Quite ... read more