Ok, so Ive got a bit of catching up to do. Hope youve been keeping track of me thanks to Rhiannons lively updates...yes, ok I farted!
Anyway...since bolivia. We headed south down to a dusty town called Uyuni, the features of which are not much really, but there was a cool train graveyard about a km out of town in the desert. Made for another pretty impressive sunset. We joined a tour to head down through the Uyuni salt flats and desert down into Chile. The 3 day tour was great, sitting in a 4WD a nice change to overnight stinky dead llama buses. The salt flats were unbelievable, white glare going on for miles, the little island with mega cactuses being the only interruption in the landscape. We saw pink flamingoes and they look like fake garden statues even in real life. The changes in landscape were amazing, sand to salt to mountains to boiling geysers. Loved it. We got to swim in hot pools at 4900metres which was pretty special. Felt wierd though wearing a bikini and a beanie. The tour took us down into Northern Chile to San Pedro De Atacama, another lazy dusty town, but this one somewhat more popular with the tourists. Unfortunately for us this included many brits, as we endured the Rugby world cup at 5 in the morning. Our loss of this match is now a constant topic of conversation as soon as we mention we're aussies. Nevermind...
As my new permanent companion Megan took on the 24 hour bus ride to santiago, Rhi and I enjoyed our short flight to the capital. Santiago is your regular kind of city, lovely, big, modern, has everything. It felt pretty wierd being here after the northern countries as it is pretty much like home, with prices to match. We actually blend in to a certain extent which is nice for a bit. After a couple of days, we headed up and over the Andes by bus to Mendoza, a beautiful city, with unbelievably beautiful people to match. Here we didnt blend in at all, often having entire footpath cafes staring at us as we walked pass. I tried to convince the other girls that this was only because we are all stunningly beautiful and so different to all the skinny latino lovers walking around us.... they werent convinced! Anyway, great nightlife in Mendoza, any night of the week there's people out and about. Nothing much going on during the day though, so one adapts accordingly and we were soon eating dinner at midnight... was ok though cos it was so warm. We had a lovely day with dad's fine contacts, touring vineyards and having tasting lessons. Bit of a touch of class for us backpackers. Our other friends were quite envious!
So after a welcome 4 day stop (and shop!) in Mendoza, we headed back to Santaigo. Megan and I will head south to the tip of south America tomorrow, leaving Rhiannon to await her flight to LA. I packed my bag today feeling the same as I did when I packed the night before I left melbourne. It feels like a new phase, leaving the chica Ive been with for the last 2 and a half months, every day, every night. Its been fantastic to share all this with Rhiannon though. So many amazing new experiences. I dont know what Im going to do not having her blogs to refer to so I can remember what the hell Ive done! ... should be right.
Anyway, that was a bit of a marathon recount for you, but, as usual, Ive got onto the computers needing to go to the loo.
So love to all
Ill try and write a bit more often!
Hannah