So much to see, so little time! We are flying out of Rio in Brazil, to London, at the end of September, and have a few more things to tick off the list...so our relaxed backpacking has turned into a bit of an Amazing Race episode (with some very authentic arguing involved too, of course!).
After ending our Salt Flats tour in Uyuni, we headed back to La Paz to pick up our passports, back from New York, smelling of brand new UK visa´s. We caught a bus the next day, 5th September, to Arica, Chile, leaving behind Bolivia´s crazy altitudes, breathing in lovely big gulps of sea level air the closer we got to Arica. Arica is a little town on the coast, at the start of the desert that takes up almost the northern half of Chile. After a night here, and some time appreciating the sea, we boarded a 30 hour bus to Santiago...a new record length bus journey for us. We watched the passing Atacama desert for most of the way, the driest desert in the world apparently, beautiful in its own way, arriving in Santiago on Sunday night.
Spent a day walking around Santiago, which was cold and and grey and drizzly unfortunately! And then the next day we were able to treat ourselves to a bit of skiing thanks to some very kind sponsorship from the Barretts! We went to Portillo ski resort, 2 hours away from Santiago, in the Andes...which were really impressive! Roads to the main 3 ski slopes closer to Santiago were closed due to heavy rains that had caused land slides a few days before...but we had big blue skies, and even a little snow just before we left! It was loads of fun to be able to put our newly learnt skiing ´skills´ (ha!) to the test, having just skiied for the first time in December last year.
Yesterday we flew to Punta Arenas, which really did have an ´end of the world´ feel to it...and then caught a 3 hour bus to Peurto Natales last night, where we are right now, and will be for the next few days, because tomorrow we start a 4 day hike through the Torres del Paine national park. We´ve bought a whole bunch of food, our bags are packed with the warmest clothes we have, none of which are water-proof...so here´s hoping it doesn´t rain...
After ending our Salt Flats tour in Uyuni, we headed back to La Paz to pick up our passports, back from New York, smelling of brand new UK visa´s. We caught a bus the next day, 5th September, to Arica, Chile, leaving behind Bolivia´s crazy altitudes, breathing in lovely big gulps of sea level air the closer we got to Arica. Arica is a little town on the coast, at the start of the desert that takes up almost the northern half of Chile. After a night here, and some time appreciating the sea, we boarded a 30 hour bus to Santiago...a new record length bus journey for us. We watched the passing Atacama desert for most of the way, the driest desert in the world apparently, beautiful in its own way, arriving in Santiago on Sunday night.
Spent a day walking around Santiago, which was cold and and grey and drizzly unfortunately! And then the next day we were able to treat ourselves to a bit of skiing thanks to some very kind sponsorship from the Barretts! We went to Portillo ski resort, 2 hours away from Santiago, in the Andes...which were really impressive! Roads to the main 3 ski slopes closer to Santiago were closed due to heavy rains that had caused land slides a few days before...but we had big blue skies, and even a little snow just before we left! It was loads of fun to be able to put our newly learnt skiing ´skills´ (ha!) to the test, having just skiied for the first time in December last year.
Yesterday we flew to Punta Arenas, which really did have an ´end of the world´ feel to it...and then caught a 3 hour bus to Peurto Natales last night, where we are right now, and will be for the next few days, because tomorrow we start a 4 day hike through the Torres del Paine national park. We´ve bought a whole bunch of food, our bags are packed with the warmest clothes we have, none of which are water-proof...so here´s hoping it doesn´t rain...
Enjoy the hike! Hope the Inca's didn't get that far south with their rocks to make horrible uneven rock stairs that just go uphill!
ReplyDeleteThanks Nats!!!! Most of the walk was nice, normal, Drakensburg path, but the ´peg leg´ resurfaced nonetheless....Steven had a good laugh of course....the walking sticks served us well though! xxxxxxx Miss you guys!!!!!!
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