We awoke as we arrived in Valparaiso, the largest port of Chile, and a large city spread over a number of very steep hills. Buildings crowd upwards, linked to the lower levels by funiculars, stairs and escalators. Not the most attractive city we have seen, but pleasant and colourful, worth exploring.

We had no intentions for the day really beyond a bit of light exploring and finding a free, fast internet connection and a place to make cheap international phone calls. In fact the cruise dock offered both facilities but we caught a local bus into one of the main squares and explored. The whole area reminded me a bit of Tottenham Court Road in London: many electrical and computer retailers, telephone shops and some tables outside selling all sorts of goods from socks to handicrafts. In fact, the handicrafts were very disappointing, mostly rather nasty and looked like they'd been made in China rather than Chile.

Walked back along the seafront to the ship. Managed to use the cheap telephone service on the dock to have 2 x 10 minute conversations with the girls which was brilliant. It's hard not to be able to hear their voices every day. Facebook and email just don't do it.

As we have now been on a month (A MONTH!!!!) and a lot of people boarded today, the entire company had to do the emergency lifeboat drill again. Afterwards, I had a pedicure which was heavenly. Pedicures are odd treatments. More often than not, you get someone who tolerates having to do all the "maintenance" stuff ie grating hard skin, cuticles, nail cutting etc and really just likes doing the painting. Today, I had a lovely Filipino girl who was the opposite. She spent ages turning my travel worn feet into soft, baby doves. That's all I've got to say about that!

As I write we are still in Valparaiso. No idea why. We were meant to sail at 6pm. It's now nearly 10pm. Valparaiso looks nicer by night. A million twinkling lights all over the hills. When we sail tonight it will be 10 days until we put foot on land again in Tahiti. In between we "visit" Easter Island and Pitcairn Island but only from offshore….. It's going to be interesting…..