Oh wow! We were so worried that what we had seen of Chile so far would be it but we got the bus to Pisco Elqui where they make Pisco (newest fav drink, like a mix of fortified wine or rum mmm). We rented a Cabana in the middle of a field by the river with a ranch next door...shop a five minute walk away in the tiny picturesque town. Spent 4 idilyic days bbq-ing and horse riding. Altough it is winter and the harvest finished in April the sun is still warm in the day and does not get really cold until the evening. As if it could not get any better in our 2 bedroomed vista...we have a gas fire! heaven onnearth. Did about 22 loads of washing, cooked dinner everynight, rode horses through the vin yards and vallies by day (drunk copius amounts of Pisco and red wine (when in rome)) in other words we had a totally blisfull few days. No traffic, no other people (not in more than groups of 3 anyway!) bliss! The Chileano horses are completly yhe toughest little horses I have every come across, none stood more than 14.3 and all were strong and galant. Raymon-weiss who owned the ranch only took on horses with issues so each had a story, he also did everything from shoeing to making saddles (having my second glass of wine so spelling a bit wonkey) and was an original Chilean cowboy. We eventually and reluctantly had to leave if we wanted to go to Argentina to disciver if the stories of the beef and wine were true. P.S. invented Pisco Chicken if anyone wants the recipie let us know!