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I've had such a good time, as I end this adventure I  don't really know what to say. I've seen quite a bit of chile, the mountains, the volcanoes,the galacires, the Andes, the mystery of Easter island. I've seen the most amazing sunrise missed a few, after all the sun fortunately does rise every day.
I'm so hopeless with this tech lark, so I'm going to just post a few. I've for so long wanted to visit Easter  island and not been disappointed.  

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Easter island is just magical. A good flight with trusty LAN after a early start, decent breakfast on the 6hr flight. We have flown more but we are 20hrs flying from the UK. The end of the world. Some views of the island.

We've seen loads of moui, learnt something of the culture. Seen herds of wild horses having a brilliant time establishing the power base swam off golden beeches. Internet connection poor hense slow update

flight of the Condors

We are now back in Chile having had a most brilliant time. We have seen the most amazing wildlife, birds and animals. Once more lots of calves, we where held up by a big herd of cows being rounded up by 2 men on horses, a collection of dogs a fantastic sight to watch. The national park reminded me of the west coast of Scotland without the hugh mountains, that little range that caused us so many problems with planning.
Jane insisted on catching sunrise so was up very early. She did however capture this picture

Whilst busy taking photos she gets into conversation with a man. As a consequences we find ourseles cadging a lift. Not 1 but 2 bankers retired early. Don't ask. We were grateful for the lift as it meant we got to see these little fellows

 

Off to Easter island horray

 

 

 

Argentina

As I say need a 10 Argent or U3A! to help with the photos, still got neither. The trip to El Calafate was through 2 boarder crossings. Took about an hour.  As a seasoned traveller forgot would need Argentinan currancy they don't take Chile money. Fortunately a very nice young man brought us coffee very welcome after a 6 a.m start. This was balanced by a young woman from Israel saying I remaindered her of her mum. She is travelling for 6mths. Think she was homesick.  The journey was amazing, snow topped mountains, larmas, rhea bit like ostrich,  horses, cows and sheep. Not a lot of people.
I fell & hurt my knee whilst on the volcano bruised, and scratched. A bit of a liability. Not only painful but a bit limiting. Jane is adapting to her role as nurse maid. This is on top of tour organiser.  Hoping to be fit enough to wander amongst the glaciers tomorrow.
Just back from a most amazing trip to the glacier.  On the way there saw Condors. Yes lots just wonderful to watch them float through the air. As if that wasn't brilliant a sheep was dead and 3/4 crowded round. Saw a number of birds. A nest of 2 chicks, can't spell it think its Cacaraw? just watching us. Of course saw horses, looking a little bedraggled in the wind.
We have been lucky with the weather, very blue sky lots of wind. The drive to the national park was fun, winding roads, lakes topped by the glacier.

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More ramblings

We had good weather in Puerto Varas, started to rain as we left on Monday, this is where we stayed. My sort of colours. 

 4 flights 2 lengthy bus joutneys got us to South chile which is considerably cooler. Population & communities are few and far between, on the 3hr bus journey last night didnt see many folks. Under populated and wild looking. Even the few trees have problem growing and standing up. We stayed definitely in a one horse town last night. Took this photo a tribute to the coal miners. Didn't see much else untill our journey to Argentina.

Not got the hang of putting pictures side by side.

Fewer words more pictures

Brilliant

top of the world

Few words

A brilliancloudsy,drive up towards the volcano, a beautiful walk through a forest across a larvabed then a view of this waterfall

Above the clouds

Santiago briefly

Friday 29th November
 Whow flew resultsthe Andes they are magnificent even after 24 hours travel. Not really stopped since arrival.
Planned to go up the funicular railway to admire the view, workers on strike so that was that.

Workers on the picket line

What

lovely trees

 Moved onto Puerto Varas, a beautiful little town on Lake  Llanquihue overlooked by two snow capped volcanoes. A great place for a beer and a planing session on what to do next.

Most likely a trip to Osorno volcano on the left,  followed by a 4 mile walk through ancient forest.

Need to get to grip with this layout lark, not cracked it as yet.

packing

Omg there is so much I want to take with me.

As we will be travelling around I will need to travel as lightly as possible, this lot has to get into this bag. A interesting deliama.  I have this delusion I can travel light. My friends will be  interested to see if I can hold good to my delusions. Gemma has lent me her bag so I can't let her down. As we will be experiencing different climate,  cool in Patagonia to hot on Easter Island, so layers I think.

Doesn't the internet make life easy. My currancy arrived in the post, all I need to do is spend it.It will have such fun spending it!
The planing continues we have phone calls re planning. We have looked at exciting trips on the glaciers. I fear the cold I've had  is proving difficult to shake off. So rreally fed up that my early efforts have been wasted.
Ok next stop Heathrow? 3 ssleeps, 1 day at work.

Preparation

Hiya well the planing of our trip is coming along. I am now going to try and show off my IT skills.  If you are not sure just how long Chile is I've attached a link of a mapwww.lonelyplanet.com/maps/south-america/chile
This will give you some idea.  We will land in Santiago, obviously.  Fly onto Puerto Montt potter around, next is Puerto Varas. Then Orsorno, El Calafate and Punta Arenas. Back to Santiago ready to fly to Easter Island. No doubt there will be tales to tell along the way.
Jane as always has worked hard to ensure it goes smoothly. My part is to get fitter. So I set myself a task of 2 gym circuits,  1 Walk/run weather permitting approx 3 miles a week & yoga & pilates. I'm feeling no benefit, not lost a pound or a inch. Chile awaits to be the real test.  However I've tried to keep with the programme. Well to be accurate all was going ok untill recently when I got a cold and the silver lining was unfit for the gym. Now I guess any fitness I might of had has gone. I think that would be a excellent excuse not to be at the gym at the crack of dawn.
Just 3 weeks to go need to sort mony. Been for jabs so very exciting

Welcome

Hi all. Welcome to my adventure to Chile' If you have received this email its because you were most generous and contributed to my 60th birthday celebrations. So many people contributed time, cooking, decorating attending on a New Years Day & organising. Thank You. I won't mention all those who helped by name, hopefully you know who you are and how much I appreciate your friendship and support.
I said I would use the money to go to Easter Island as it is somewhere I've wanted to visit for a long time. I want to thank you all for your kind gift and share with you my travelling. Its only as we have started to plan that I realised just how far off the coast Easter Island is from mainland Chile. Another surprise has been the size of Chile and the way the Andes would present a challenge, visiting all the exciting places. Oh well, you may wonder how I'm going to manage to get around without someone to keep an eye on me. It won't be a problem Jane is coming with me. No to be accurate she is taking me.
I plan as I sit at my dining table to blog whilst I travel and hopefully share with you some photos. That's assuming I can work out the IT. This will be a challenge as anyone who knows me is well aware of my skills on the computer. Lets hope for all our sakes its better than my ability to access online learning at work.