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Kevin and Joannie on tour
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Location Date South America 
1483660800 Europe 1481414400 North America 1466290800 Asia 1350687600 -
Location Date Santiago 1483660800 Vina Del Mar 1483574400 La Serena 1483228800 Taltal 1483056000 Tocopilla 1482969600 Pica 1482796800 Iquique 1482624000 San Pedro De Atacama 1482364800 Antofagasta 1482019200 Bahia Inglesa 1481932800 Termas De Socos 1481673600 Castro 1452124800 Puerto Montt 1451779200 Hornopiren 1451692800 La Ensenada 1451433600 Anticura 1451347200 Puerto Varas 1451088000 Easter Island 1450742400 Hanga Roa 1450569600 Termas El Sosneado 1420502400 Punta Arenas
1419724800 Serrano Glaciar 1419638400 Torres Del Paine 1419552000 Puerto Natales 1419379200 Puerto Hambre 1419206400 Salto Del Laja 1389225600 Volcan Llaima 1389139200 Curacautin 1389052800 Angol 1388880000 Laguna Del Laja National Park 1388793600 Lota 1388620800 Concepcion 1388534400 Termas De Chillan 1388448000 Chanco 1388188800 Quinamavida 1388016000 San Clemente 1387929600 Reserva Nacional Radal Siete Tazas 1387756800 Sewell 1387584000 Pichilemu 1387497600 Coya 1387411200 Rancagua 1387324800 Isla De Maipo 1387238400 Providencia 1387152000 Calera 1387065600 -
Location Date Sun, 28 December 2014 1419726660 Sun, 21 December 2014 1419120780 Sat, 20 December 2014 1419107700 Fri, 19 December 2014
1419032160
Neither of us slept well as we were both aware that we had to be up early to catch the bus to Punta Arenas. Joan was also aware that the local government settlement had been announced the day before, and after a plea on Facebook, Caitlin sent her the spreadsheets. Dire news for the north.
The taxi came and hurtled around the street as if it was in Grand Theft Auto and dropped us off at the bus departure point. Despite its length the journey passed quickly. Initially we carved our ways through the Andes with a driver who seemed blissfully unaware that there was a hefty drop on one side as he drove 70 MPH plus on bumpy, dusty roads.
Once clear of the Andes it was the endless pampa, mainly flat and featureless with big skies and horizons. The frontier seemed to come in no time at all. The Chilean frontier police are very strict about foodstuffs and flora and fauna coming in to the country. I told one of them I had a bag full of food: empanadas, sandwiches, fruit juice, cake and bananas. Whilst others had their food confiscated, we were waived through!
The road on the Chilean side was "ripio", that is dust and stones. We could hear the odd stone bouncing off the bus. The windscreen had a stone guard visor but was already severally cracked.
We saw sheep, cows, guanacos and the odd squashed armadillo. The landsape seemed endless but we sooned reached the ferry for the crossing of the Magellan Straits. A local cat hung around the coach as we waited, scavenging for scraps.
Once on the boat, the crossing was choppy but quite quick. Dolphins followed us part of the way.
On the other side it was a dash down to Punta Arenas. We were dropped on the edge of the centre and decided to walk to our lodgings on Paraguaya. For a place renowned for its horizontal rain, the town was sunny and warm, if a little breezy. There was no one at reception but we were 3 1/2 hours earlier than planned. We found a phone, miraculously got it to work and we got access to our "home."
After a quick trip to the supermarket, it was a mushroom and asparagus pasta dinner with a Pisco Sour or two for Joan.
The taxi came and hurtled around the street as if it was in Grand Theft Auto and dropped us off at the bus departure point. Despite its length the journey passed quickly. Initially we carved our ways through the Andes with a driver who seemed blissfully unaware that there was a hefty drop on one side as he drove 70 MPH plus on bumpy, dusty roads.
Once clear of the Andes it was the endless pampa, mainly flat and featureless with big skies and horizons. The frontier seemed to come in no time at all. The Chilean frontier police are very strict about foodstuffs and flora and fauna coming in to the country. I told one of them I had a bag full of food: empanadas, sandwiches, fruit juice, cake and bananas. Whilst others had their food confiscated, we were waived through!
The road on the Chilean side was "ripio", that is dust and stones. We could hear the odd stone bouncing off the bus. The windscreen had a stone guard visor but was already severally cracked.
We saw sheep, cows, guanacos and the odd squashed armadillo. The landsape seemed endless but we sooned reached the ferry for the crossing of the Magellan Straits. A local cat hung around the coach as we waited, scavenging for scraps.
Once on the boat, the crossing was choppy but quite quick. Dolphins followed us part of the way.
On the other side it was a dash down to Punta Arenas. We were dropped on the edge of the centre and decided to walk to our lodgings on Paraguaya. For a place renowned for its horizontal rain, the town was sunny and warm, if a little breezy. There was no one at reception but we were 3 1/2 hours earlier than planned. We found a phone, miraculously got it to work and we got access to our "home."
After a quick trip to the supermarket, it was a mushroom and asparagus pasta dinner with a Pisco Sour or two for Joan.
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