Highlights

Sunset horse ride in the foothills of the Andes and the proceeding red wine around the fire and live guitar music

Free red wine at the hostal in Mendoza

Views as we crossed the Andes

Meeting Chileans and learning new Spanish phrases "Ando con la mona" literally "walking with the monkey" and used when hungover, very handy!

Playing pool with the locals in Che Lagarto Hostal Santiago, despite losing a grand (in Chilean pesos due to their dodgy rules), till 6am (you know its probably time to go to bed when the breakfast buffet is being set out!)

Valparaiso in particular the night in out Feliz Piedras

Pisco Sours at sunset in some amazing scenery in San Pedro

Chilling in the hammocks at the hostal in San Pedro

Lowlights

The demostrations in Santiago meaning we couldn´t see as much of the city, quite literally too as our eyes streamed from been tear gased

Severing my thumb on my razor whilst hungoverly groping around in my washbag in possible the worst bathroom thus far and not knowing whether it was the sight of blood, the stench of the toilet or the hangover that was making me want to vomit.

Having to attempt to break into Nicola´s locker with only a hairpin and swiss army knife, with a severed thumb from previous razor incident, because she had "lost" her locker key and we were already late to check out (the locker key materialised in her coat pocket, which she had checked several times!)

The very wet and cold Isla Damas tour with no dolphin sightings and then meeting Adam who was on the boat 10 minutes behind and has amazing video footage of the majestic and yet elusive creatures.

The 14 hour night bus to San Pedro breaking down an hour after setting off and having to wait 2 hours on the road side whilst they fixed it.

Getting hit by splash back of, I can only hope, water whilst the attendant cleaned the above bus´ toilet when stopped in Calama.

Random Moments

Juan our new Chilean friends impromptu impression of a dying pig in a jeep on the side of the road after watching the sunset, provoking Nicola and I to laugh until we cried it really was both bizarre and very accurate.

The weird American bloke who had been in our room in La Serena turning up in our dorm early in the morning in San Pedro a few days later and claiming not to remember us despite talking to us several times and asking us where were going next...touchwood he has not followed us since.

New essential items

• A pair of gloves
• A very fetching pom pom hat
• Alpaca leg warmers
• A pair of mittons (to go over gloves, it was very cold)
• A lovely pair of patterned leggings

Items Lost

• My camera lense cap (muchos vinos tintos)