Hi
Well we made it to Puerto Monte without any hassles and met up with Loiuse and Neville on the way. Just had a morning bumming around the markets today, was going out to the Lake at the next town but somehow the day slipped away.Pete and Nev are starting to sttress about the trek and the fact that we don´t have food yet (Nev didn´t end up bringing any ) so they are back at the hostel ¨¨planning¨.

Had a fun night last night, went to9 a local pub for tea, probably the only gringos there and the locals were all watching soccer on the TV. Well, would you believe it but a Chile/Kiwi women´s game came on!!!!!!! They didn´t know we couldn´t give a stuff about soccer of any kind, soooo out came the free pisco sours (shots in huge glasses), and lots of good natured rivalry. Then some magicians came in and did card tricks etc for us they were amazing, all in all a good night. Even better that we won the soccer 4 to 3!!!!!!!

Chile is like a breath of fresh air compared to the rest of South America, Santiago was so like Adelaide with trees everywhere and all the big shops etc. As we flew in it was all green with fur trees etc, haven´t seen that for awhile. In the mall I expected at any minute to see the silver balls. Didn´t do any shopping tho´.
This town is great as well but more like Alaska with weatherboard etc, a nice change from the mud bricks (and dirt) of the last couple of months (not that we didn´t enjoy it). Just nice to see a more affluent country again.

The flight was interesting as we dropped down into Inquique on the way. Wow does that have lots going for it. Just the airport surrounded by the most amazing and very high sand dunes dissapearing into the haze. As we walked across the open walkway to the terminal these fighter jets roared over, thought we had detoured to Iraq or Afghanistan!!!

LOts of love and kisses, will talk to you after the trek if we ever return, if we get out early we may zip into Argentina to buy Toby a steak.

The Clarks