Hello all from Chile!!
We flew from Argentina four days ago and what a lovely set of people we left behind. The Argentinians are the friendliest in the world. You hold a map in a street and 3 people will come up to you and ask where you want to go. If you do not understand they will take you. Crazy.
So Stella went off to the Igazua falls and Christie and myself, the poor folk, go off to a ranch. Ahh we think, a few days of horse riding and you hot men doing gaucho displays.
It took 4 hours to get there thanks to a lost taxi, but it was absolutely stunning, how I imagine Africa to be, long, low landscapes, sweeping plains, beating sun.
There were two ladies who worked there, mama and sis. They greeted us with kisses, open arms and the biggest hug in the world. Then they asked us which room we would like as we were the only guests.

Then they took us for lunch. Cheese, bread, olive oil, ham and of course, tongue. Now Christie refused to eat it, and becuase I didn´t want to be rude, I shoved three pieces of tongue down my throat. thinking we had made a decent shot of it we sat back. To be brought half a chicken each. Then two steaks each. Then the pasta course. Then a big sponge pudding. Hence the beginnings of stomach problems.
Then dinner was served three hours later. We were stuffed!
Next day we geared up for a day of horse riding. The horse man was due in 5 minutes they told us. Half an hour later he arrived and gingerly led a horse out of the field. Gingerly he put a saddle on it and led it to us. This horse was wild. It just looked at us. We looked back.
Who is first they asked.
Beth, said Christe
Up I hopped. When I took the reins in my hand to steer, they recoiled in horror. `You cannot steer it´ they gestured in spanish. So I kicked it and off we went. And trotted and trotted and trotted. Lovely I thought. But can we go back now. Off I steer, grabbing the reins and pulling to the left. The horse stopped. Turned its head to look at me. Then its bottom went up. Just slightly. Enough to show that it would buck me off if I tried to steer.
So we stand there. The horse man comes toward us, going shhhh, shhh to the horse. And then lunges to grab it. I get off and collapse to the floor. The horse is loco, he says. Yes I agree. So much for horse riding!!
Christie gets on and by this time he has attached a bridle and just leads in round in a walk.
So the horse riding sucked. But they kept feeding us. I was in so much stomach pain by this time I wasn't moving. So mama gives me a spponful of laxative. This did nothing for 6 hours, so she tells me to down half the bottle. This unsuprisingly works very effectively in 20 minutes, making me vomit, and chronic diahorria for the next 6 hours.
Three days later we leave the mama and sister who are the loveliest people in the world. And they offer to drive us closer to the airport so the taxi would be cheaper. Thanks say we.
Then the car breaks down on the highway, and my stomach and back feel like they are going to die. So I find a toilet by the motorway, come back and they have called an ambulance for me. In tears I go in and then we have a lovely exchange with the ambulance man, who speaks no english. Luckily diabetico, allergico I could understand. He pokes my stomach a few times, injects my bum, gets me to breathe a lot and tells me to eat nothing but apples and gaterade.
Ok say I. Then get in the vehicle recovery van to the airport.
Life is funny.
So I have lost weight and had my first tummy problems, but it was a hell of a time. The stars and the scenery were just amazing. I have got their e-mail and must take you all there. Bless them.
Santiago seems lovely, we went to the devils vineyard yesterday, you know the famous one and I had a 50 quid glass of wine. Very pleasant. I shall be an expert on wine on my return. All shall defer to Beth. Then we visisted the local beach.
So tonight off to NZ on a 13 hour plane journey and good bye South America, first continent done!!

South America doesn`t seem to accept my camera memory card, so hopefully in NZ I can show you some photos!!

Love to all,
Beth
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