We first arrived in las serena with thoughts of seeing stars and beaches, only one really came off... The first thing we had to do was post my friends passport down to pucon though, this was a small thing/price to pay for the great company.... Myself and the four Aussie chicks where staying in a tiny hostel, we filled its two rooms but the two owners (married couple) where really helpful and friendly...
The weather wasn't right for the star gazing so Would have to wait till San pedro de atacama but was good enough for the beach... We walked down and I chilled while the girls did a circuit like work out, it wasn't the same without nathaniel and I felt like I was getting in the way... The little mood swings I got now and then wasn't just down to tired I don't think either...
This was a crazy situation to be in at 12 midday but a local who was drunk as a skunk and still slugging on a bottle of whiskey came to pay us a not so pleasant visit... At first he was all friendly and happy to see 4 girls on the beach but once we walked off to return he got funny... We had a big lead on him but he was following us we knew for sure...?! All of a sudden a few drunken loud foot steps and a small scream (not from me) he had run after us to offer me a fight..?! I stood back fists clenched and ready but he was to drunk and suddenly started staggering away mumbling about being friends...
We walked back with a casual glance now and then, laughing at what had happened... The rest of las serena was very similar to valparaiso but without great colours... We was more than happy to move on to the desert and San pedro de atacama Just a night bus away...
We arrived and found our hostel after about a 20minute walk, San pedro was how I imagine Mexico to have been maybe 100years ago... It was dusty, hot and all the buildings where single story in height... Now although the desert is hot in day believe me when I say its FCUKING cold at night..!! -12 infact..!! That afternoon we head out on to moon valley, the closest landscape on earth to the moon... Although we all went with a few others I wandered the various stops on my Todd to keep a distance from the girls... We saw the moon valley, the road runner rock, tunnels and different landscapes created by the winds and time... I loved this desert and the town, although cold would def come back for another visit...
The next day I headed out of San pedro and onto iquique, saying goodbye to the girls was easy because of the atmosphere I was feeling..!! They just popped in before they went to lunch with there new friends, and as easy as it is to write it was just so to say goodbye... Shame really... I had a small matter of a 2hour bus to calama, 6hour wait in a bus station then an overnight bus to iquique... I used my 6hours of free time sat at a table and chair dozing off and suddenly waking to check my stuff... I was sure I was a sitting target of mugging and stolen backpacker stories from past and no doubt future... It was 5hours in, that I moved and found a luggage storage, Internet cafe and other great facilities that I had been craving all afternoon... I slept as soon as I got on the night bus and arrived in iquique about 5am...

Next instalment: return of red, casino royale, beach life, and red phone box barbers...

Peace out much love Mick xxx