Moving on, sin camera

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Just to break it up a bit this will be the next and possibly last part of this blog. Will start Around Lake Titicaca I hope then the general plan is to Puno, Cuzco and Arequipa before back to Chile, Santiago and home. See what happens.

D 23/1/11

Bugger, just got robbed, that will change things. D 23-1-2011.
So maybe no more photos this trip, even if I do find some decent fungi

Stuck in La Paz for longer than expected as it has taken 4 days of police visits. The Honory Consulate has been great getting emergy documents and ta Oz for sending the cash.
I have rebooked a trip to Lake titicaca tomorrow and will hang out there for a few days waiting for a new credit card to arrive. Maybe a bad move but it will be good to get out of the city.
But I still have to return at some stage and current very unstable plan is to head to Arica in Chile
In the meantime sorry Heather, it appears the hat stays in Chile, but of all things I still Have Dads coast. Hard to kill.

30th of Jan I think
Back in La Paz for 2 nights then I hope the beach at Arica in Chile
Copacabana and Lake Titicaca were great. Breathtaking of course and cold but beautiful.
Spent 2 nights of The Island of the Sun and met some great people, of course
Now at La Paz bus station about to take the downhill bus to Arica in Chile
I hope the ID document given to me by the consulate here works or may find myself stuck at the border. At least it will be warmer.
Will miss the good, cheap food they have here but look forward to being able to go up 5 flights of stairs without puffing
Happy Birthday Lucy, enjoy
And batten down the hatches those in QLD

D

Well its a new month and a new country 2/2/2011
Made it from La Paz to Arica with only a few hiccups
The bus was 30 minutes late leaving, I had a ¨Pachi Mama¨next to me for the trip, she actually turned out to be really nice, the border crossing only took about 3 hours and the road was not in top condition.
The worst part was it meant arriving in Arica around 1am with no cash and no idea where to go, but that has been sorted out.
But even worse they played 3 DVDs, all in Spanish and with Spanish subtitles. The most sadistic part was the CD played as we left Bolivia was a Tom Hanks thing, ¨Castaway¨ in my top 2 of wost movies of all time, and I cant think of what the other one is. Salt into my wounds
Arica seems like a really nice place, especially if I had a bit more money, this because although a replacement Visa card has arrived it may end up being used as a toothpick or small table mat. Things to ponder
But its warm, a great backdrop to the town (try google Dad and type in ¨Arica Chile pictures¨and see what happens). Or ask someone to copy and paste:

http://www.tripwiser.com/trip_destination-Arica_Chile?itiNodeId=8a8c80fe15f29ade0115f2a636aa00dc&eType=site

or

http://www.suite101.com/content/chile-tour-arica-a225596

into the address bar
I actually have a very cheap place to stay which is perfect at present for obvious reasons. Not all of the walls are finished and not all of the taps have been fitted but the TV works and the bed is horizontal
Great.
And no cyclone pending
But the sunburn continues

D

Yay, money, and a bus ticket to San Pedro Atacama for tonight, where it will be cold again, but closer to Santiago
As long as the hostel owner doesnt try to charge me for the TV which has stopped working
The bed is still standing and its nice to eat more than hot dog ¨completo¨or ïtaliano¨

Ok, its now 6/2/2011 and this is my second day in San Pedro de Atacama. It rained last night but is very hot and dry during the day. About to go on a short tour for a few hours. I was hoping to see the geysers tomorrow morning but....and I like this...the tours are not running as the road was damaged by floods about 3 days ago so there is no access to this desert phenonomon
Just booked a ticket to Santiago for tomorrow morning and should arrive there sometime Tuesday morning and start the process of getting a passport to head home
Made Pisco Sour last night for a few of us. A great success and felt great this morning after feeling a bit odd yesterday
Still moving

D

And now back in Santiagio after my last all night and day bus trip. Seen enough desert for a while.
Should have a new passport in a matter of days so in the meantime mess around this area for 3 or 4 days. Have a nicer place than before, with a pool. yay Current address is http://www.lacasaroja.cl/

11.2.2011
Caught the bus to Valparaiso and spent the day wandering around there. Managed to keep out of trouble and pigged out again and various foods. Couldnt find a funicular that was actually operating despite there being around 20 or 30 of the things. Some nice art but overall just another city but it did seem more relaxing than Santiago. Guess it all depends on which part and when you happen to be in a place
One more day to go

D

And as I have been reminded to add that have now returned to Adelaide via Aukland and Sydney.
Great to be home (or within 1800km of it) but already thinking about the places I have yet to see and how to do things somewhat better.
Looking forward to QLD beaches

D

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Comments

[jacky]

robbed again!!!!!!
Hey Darvid John and I have just checked out your photos. so you finally made it! Hope you have more left than just your dad's coat by the time you return to oz. take care, don't take any wooden nickels! jarcky.

[Mira]

Good times continue, time to get a 3rd camera! :-)
Dais, what is the camera number 3 like? Maybe one that no one would want to steal! :-( Keep having good times, there is still a lot of adventure to have. And 4 days of interaction with the local police is a part of it :-) . Travel the dream, and much more of the same! It is good to know that you are safe, :-) xxx Mira