Blogs from Santiago Region, Chile, South America - page 142

I have decided to keep this particular entry into the blog short and sweet, not just because we were only there for three days but out of principle (yes, I have some principles!) because the utter b******* at customs in Chile think it's really ok to charge good Canadian people $132US just to get in to their ******** country!!!!!!!!!!!! I was not particularly happy, I may of had a hangover I'm not sure, very annoying......... It was at least beautiful clear sunny weather whilst we were there and surprisingly hot. Took the opportunity to catch up on some well needed sleep after BA and chilled in their courtyard reading my book. It's a pretty small city centre, I think Steve explored it in about 20 mins so there wasn't that much to do, but I didn't ... read more

En rentrant du boulot ce soir, je décide de marcher un peu au lieu de prendre le métro. C´est déjà l´été ici, il a fait plus de 30 degrés cette après-midi! Je marche donc un peu et je commence à entendre des cris et à voir une petite foule amassée derrière une grille. Je suis devant l´Hospital Militar ou Pinochet est interné depuis la veille! Je m´approche un peu, il n´y a pas trop de monde, un peu de carabineros, des journalistes et une centaine de personnes qui scandent des slogans. Je me dis que ce sont des anti Pinochet qui viennent exprimer leur joie et se réjouir de sa mort prochaine. Je vois une petite vieille qui brandit bien haut une affiche, de dos je me dis que ca doit etre le portrait de son ... read more

We are now preparing to leave Vina del Mar and begin our final travels in South America before returning to New Mexico. Our friend, Sara left to spend the holidays in the states. She is the first friend we made in Chile and we affectionately call her “Science Girl Sara” - she used to teach science to kids in Colorado. Luckily, we were able to squeeze in a final visit with her before she left. Inspired by the boys at Isla Taquile in Lake Titicaca, Theresa bought Ben and Oliver both yarn and needles and taught them how to knit. Of course, she had to reteach herself first. The boys have found interesting uses for their products - Ovie is making a cape for Penguino and Ben is making parachutes and nets. We went into Santiago ... read more

Hey hey monkeys, Again just a a short note to let you now whats doing....... The past week has been pretty full on......spent 4 days doing the Inka trail.....probably the toughest thing physically I´ve ever done in my life..... day 2 particularly was tough....only about 9kms but reached about 4100m and it was pretty much all up steps at a 45 degree angle for kms on end......really tough...but all worth it in the end when we reached Machu Picchu on the morning of day 4.... After that travelled by plane and boat to Peurto Maldanado and the junle lodge where we spent 3 days..... went from cold cold nights in the Andes to 35 degree days and about 99% humidty....was great though...loved my time in the jungle Which brings me to now ...i´m currently sitting in ... read more

Our journey to Easter Island began with a two-day stopover in Santiago, Chile, where Samuel, one of Raúl's Chilean workmates, was available to show us around. Raúl devised a convoluted means of feeding his ice-cream habit, buying three different sorts of helado under the guise of "getting change for the pay phone" until local telecommunications services were no longer required. A wander through Barrio Bellavista and a somewhat sweaty-palmed jaunt around the Cerro San Cristóbal in creaky cable cars, and we were ready to try a Cucaracha or Cockroach. This alcoholic beverage contains tequila and Kahlua and is set alight before being consumed rapidly through a straw (don't try this at home, kids!) I imagine it is something like the so-called Flaming Lamborghini drink I have enjoyed on a number of occasions in an impossibly small ... read more