So we`re back in Santiago- here for two days until we fly to La Paz, Bolivia on Wednesday...

The last couple of days at the Estancia was brilliant... we went out on Friday afternoon for a long ride on the Peruvian horses again..the sun came out for us and the scenery was beautiful as we went around the ranch enjoying the stunning views. We had a good few long gallops and everyone was really impressed with Charles´ riding and how it had come on. We knew the last night there would be hard as we were probably staying in the nicest accomodation we would experience for a while so we ate an extra piece of cake at teatime, had seconds at dinner and enjoyed a last bath in the nice clean bathroom.

On our last day, Saturday the snow had melted and it meant that the polo pitch was visible again...as Charles was now such an expert it was deemed that a few Chukkas would be our last ride and so the horses were dressed up in all their polo kit and their tales plaited up and we went down to the field. Louisa who runs Los Potreros takes polo very seriously so when we got there we were sat down and had a good talking to about the rules. After it was established that we would never understand them we were allowed back onto the horses to have a go at a bit of "stick and ball."

We went up and down the field trying not to hit our horses in the face and get the ball at the same time, after mastering it at a walk (well mastering is quite a strong word but hitting it a few times) we progressed to a trot and then a canter and it was deemed that we were ready to play a game! The teams were Boys vs Girls..that meant myself and the English guide (who was working there in her summer holidays from uni) against Charles and Luis the head Gaucho.

We lined up opposite each other and did our best to look intimidating and finally we were off! Luis took the game very seriously and the noise of the game consisted mostly of "Vamos Charlie Vamos" and him making ridiculous screaming noises whenever we got the ball. Charles was amazing and shortly after the game had started he hit it into the goal...the crowds went wild screaming his name...well not quite but I´m sure a parakeet watching from the trees was very impressed. The main rule seemed to be something about not "crossing the line" of the ball which tripped me up a few times- Charles quickly cottoned on that I was having problems with it and successfully managed to put me off by shouting "foul" even when I wasn´t- not very sportsmanlike but quite effective!

At half time we stopped for home made lemonade and biscuits and then jumped back on our horses for the Girls to make a comeback. At the end it was magnaminously decided that it was an honourable draw although between the two of us Charles was the winner scoring two goals to my one- very impressive considering that he´d never been on a horse 5 days ago! Staying at the estancia was a fantastic experence and one that we won´t forget- especially seeing as I decided to invest in a gaucho saddle of my own- handmade leather and very comfortable- it would be a bargain at 40quid if I had my own horse to put it on- maybe one day I will!

So we´re now back in Santiago where we have come to the conclusion it is imposssible to find somewhere decent to stay- we are now on place 4 and it is expensive (30 quid a night) even though it is like Fawlty towers...still we´re out of here to Bolivia on Wednesday so we better get used to it- we´ve heard horror stories about the food and accomodation there!