After 10 and a bit weeks traversing South America Emily and I found ourselves back in Santiago, Chile, from whence our journey had began all the way back on the 25th of April.

Santiago itself is a beautiful city, in many ways it resembles Buenos Aires in both cityscape and suburban architecture. Likewise, the two great cities also enjoy a similar first world feeling. If you were fortunate enough to be gainfully employed in Santiago I would guess that your lifestyle might very closely match ours in Melbourne, this is a very safe and cosmopolitan capital city.

Chile is South Americas most developed nation, indeed it is poised to become South Americas first 'first world' nation. Considering that the inhumane, autocratic Dictatorship of General Pinochet only expired in 1990, Chile is a rapidly developing nation with some encouraging progressive indicators (such as electing a centre-left agnosit, single mother of three to serve as their president) that suggest the world would be wise to take notes for how other nations might best develop from dictatorship to successful democratic nations.

Emily and I had arrived rather weary after 4 days without a nights sound sleep, nor had we showered since Salar de Uyuni, add to this a 24 hour bus ride and you get an idea of just how much we were longing for the hot water in our hostel that we had been promised. We had an afternoon, and one whole day in Santiago and we spent it seeing the city by foot. For our last evening in South America I downed all my macho masculinity (what's left of it) and took Emily by the arm and shared a cinematic experience as we shared the trails and tribulations of the four lovely ladies of Sex and the City - having never watched the series, I didn't mind the movie, much. We had a good time in Santiago, albeit fairly unadventurous, as eating out, going to the movies and seeing the National History Museum was all we got around to in our brief stay that ended our days in South America.

South America was an experience over and above what either Emily and I could have hoped for. We had more cultural and seasonal experiences in 10 weeks that I would have thought possible, and we both just reviled in the whole experience. Getting back on the road, with our backpacks loaded was exactly what the doctor ordered for Em and I both.

Below are Emily and my top five experiences in South America.

Emily's top 5 most enjoyable experiences:

1. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2. Punta del Diablo, Uruguay
3. Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
4. Buenos Aires, Argentina
5. Cusco and Machu Picchu, Peru

Alex's top 5 most enjoyable experiences:

1. Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
2. Buenos Aires, Argentina
3. La Paz, Bolivia
4. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
5. Punta del Diablo, Uruguay

Before signing off for the South American collection of blogs and photos, I must make a special mention and say thankyou to some friends and companions of ours who accompanied us throughout our travels:

• Sophie and Marseille - our UK and Holland friends who shared Punta del Diablo with us.
• Leo and Carol - our special Brazilian friends from Belo Horizonte whom we traveled with for almost three weeks through Bolivia and Peru. 'Soltinho', 'Charlattan', "Alex, Kelly is the name of woman, but you are a nice guy", Tango dancing, Mr Butterfly-man, Machu Picchu and La Paz all these memories will last.
• Russell, Ros and April Ward - our oh-so-generous hosts in Rio de Janeiro who tolerated Emily and my company for almost a fortnight. They were so welcoming and easy-going that Emily and I felt at home (probably too much so) the minute we walked through the door. It was such a blessing that we had the opportunity to experience Rio with such wonderful hosts and friends in such a beautiful location. And little April, well she struck a cord with both Emily and I and she is often thought of and missed. Thank you to all three of you for the time in your home and our time on the road, it was all so memorable and such a great opportunity to forge such a friendship.

Well that is the finale for South America. Onto the UK now to catch up with some old friends and new for a week or so. Then we head to France for a three week sojourn before heading overland through Italy to Eastern Europe for a month or so.