Having become so use to long coach trips, as soon as we sat down like military trained sleepers we went straight to sleep only to be awoken in Valparaiso! Valparaiso, which means "Paradise Valley" is a city by the sea with hills as far as the eye can see all covered in colourful little houses. For us it looked similar to the favelas covering the hills in Rio, only if someone had given the poor people of Rio's favelas a bucket of coloured paint each! We ...

Famous for its wine we instantly loved this city! Placed next to the Andes in a desert the views are spectacular.... everywhere you look! We stayed at a cool little hostel called Chimbas which was like staying with your mates for 4days, great hostel and cool people, booking a wine tour for the following day was essential and there are 1200 wineries to visit....we only managed 2!!. Now.... when the wine is as cheap as a pound a bottle it was fairly obvious the fir...

**There are 2 blogs from Santiago as we left then came back, click on the 'down arrow' above this next to the title Santiago and scroll down!!** Arriving back in Santiago we ended up at our previous hostel and were met by Kristian who we have been stalking and the other way around since Puerto Madryn the whale watching town in Argentina. Filled with sadness for having to leave south america and encouraged by 'environmental factors' we did a lot drinking for our...

Santiago Take 1! After an interesting coach journey from Argentina literally through the Andes Mountains at the half way point we reached the Chilian border. We found it quite amusing, they line you all up at the border with your bags in front of you as if you are part of a mass execution! Anyway, we arrived at our hostel, a huge old palace/mansion which has been converted into a heaven for backpackers..... swimming pool, pool bar and another bar open until 4am! ...

28th September. San Carlos de Bariloche, well placed in an area known as the Lake District. This time the coach journey was made easier thanks to some red wine (its only 1 pound a bottle, and good!!). Leaving the whales of Puerto Madryn we woke up 15 hours later, opened the curtains and were greeted with snow capped mountains reflected in the motionless lakes below them. The buildings had turned from painted concrete slabs to stunning wooden cabins surrounded by ...