Buenos Aires was a lively city, beautiful architecture, markets, river, shops, food.... Another big city.... By chance i met up with an Aussie girl, Kerbie, whom i had met in Melbourne just before she left for her trip. It's a small world.

I have been doing a fair bit of writing, though it's hard in the big cities, too many distractions.

Too my first long bus ride, 18hrs, to Igauzu Falls. The day i did my trip up there it poured all day. I don’t just mean that it rained, but it poured, tropical style. I have never been so wet for so many hours. 7hrs in fact. So now i have wet smelly clothes, bags, purse, DIARY, everything! Though it was worth it. The falls were magical even without the sun and 1000 butterfly’s. All wildlife had gone into hiding, smart creatures.

I did a jungle 4wd trip then a boat ride, the rain was so hard that it felt like stones hitting your face on the boat. The boat also took us into the water fall, the water was a warm relief from the cold rain, and it's not as if i could get any wetter.

I was worried that i might get sick, when i got back to the hostel there was onlyt cold showers, i can't tell you how happy that made me.

I just got off a 22hr bus ride, Sarah you were right, the busses are freezing cold. In Tucaman, but it's another big city, so i am waiting for a 5 hour bus up into wine country of Argintina, Cafayate.

Just love the bus rides, if i eat another ham and cheese white bread roll i may die:) Ham, cheese and sugar is all they seem to eat. Lets count the kilos i have gained week by week!!!! Bring on Bolivia and some exercise.

Since drafting this blog I have arrived in Cafayate. The bus ride was magical, no sarcasm attached. The first 1hr was through a misty green forest, with waterfalls and a magical feel. I took a moment to look down at my camera, and when I looked up again the landscape had completely changed. We were now driving through the arid rocky Andes. Complete with wild donkeys, horses, bored looking lamas and mountain goats that looked like furry boulders wedged into the mountain side. The bus was a local form of transport, we stopped in many small villages, picked up local families, school children and the occasional back packer. The scenery had me awaiting cowboys or Indians to appear on the horizon, bow and arrow or pistol drawn.

The town itself is divine. Quite, and dusty, surround by the Andes. I have a 3 bed room with a lovely Austrian couple, and we have a clear blue pool right outside our door. Tomorrow we rent bikes and tour the vineyards, then the following day we go horse ridding. My legs have only just recovered from the last trail, but I cant resist.

Farewell Chile

Farewell Chile, it has been nothing if not a 'rocking good time'!!!!

Over the past few days I am been at this amazing hostel called Pablo's casa!! Best hostel yet. Fresh OJ every morning, very hospitable owners, pool, live music, pisco sour, comfy bed, great restaurant with muchas eggs on the menu for breakfast and eggplant spaghetti bolognaise for lunch.

They also provided Santiago tours. Live theatre, nightclubs, and a walking tour of the city. English spoken guide included!!!

Thanks so much Pablo, you are welcome to stay with me in Melbourne any time. I will show you where to surf and all the live music venues!!!

La Serena And Pisco Elqui

With the ground still shaking me out of my bed in Santiago, i decided it was time to move on. An American girl, Nicole, and I went to the bus station and jumped on the first one heading North. (South is too earthquake affected).

We arrived in La Serena, a smallish costal town and managed to find the hostel just before it got dark. The next day was very overcast and the town was in work mode as it Monday morning.
By 2pm we were ready to leave this town, which would probably be beautiful in the summer. Then by chance we met up with a local that a fellow aussie travel (Kiri) had met. I stalked him on face book, then he gave me his number. Dont we just love face book. I now have friends with profiles i can not even read!

Pablo was on an evening bus back to Santiago to check his apartment after the quake. We all went for a swim as the late afternoon sun came out and Nicole and I grabbed a bus ticket to Pisco Elqui, as recommended by some Dutch travelers.

After a terrifying bus trip through the mountains, were the bus driver turned all the lights of to turn a corner, we arrived in the one street town at 11pm. The hostel owner, Gabriella, was waiting at the bottom of the street for us. SHe was divine, so was her hostel which was also her home.

The town was a hidden gem, surrounded by the rugged Andes, this lush valley was filled with pisco vineyards, streams and pastures with grazing horses. We hiked a mountain on the second day. The heat was intense and there is barely a rock to shade you.

Most of the time i simply lazed around reading and writing, simply perfect. Yesterday we went horse riding. Pincy, my horse, had a beautiful gate, and we galloped along the dirt tracks at quite a pace. I havn't felt so free and happy for a long time. It felt wonderful to get back on a horse, the first time since I'd hurt my back. In saying that, there was a section of the path, up a ravine, that took trail riding to an extreme level. One slip of a hoof and it would have been all over. I had faith in my fat little white horse!

Took an overnight bus back to Santiago, where the ground is still shaking every so often. My body aches from the climbing, riding and bus trip. Aside from that i am very well. Tonight i will stay with Pablo in his Santiago apartment. Lets hope he can help me improve my Spanish.

Satiago Earthquake Measured 8.8

Just letting you know that I am safe and well. I was lying awake in my bunk in the Santiago hostel at 3:30am, when the earthquake struck. It built in intensity over about 3 minutes. the plaster from the ceiling was crumbling on my head, i jumped down to the floor and onto the poor french girl on the bottom bunk, the lights went out. My heart was beating so fast, we thought the building may collapse. Thankfully they are built sturdy here.

we grabbed our torches and headed downstairs, the air was thick with dust and plaster.
People we everywhere with blankets around their shoulders, a disaster cliché, so i grabbed one too:) Was so shaken i thought i might be ill. we sat on the couch as people ran around us speaking in Spanish. Then a large chunk of the ceiling came crashing to the floor in the next room. We all jumped up and ran outside. Outside was crazy, one man ran down the street screaming "the devil has come to take us". mmmm i was not convinced....

It took us an hour to inch our way backing into the hostel lounge, then another half hour to be brave enough to go back upstairs. I climbed back onto my bunk. It was covered in plaster, I dusted it off and lay down. That’s when the aftershocks began, one large one had me poised ready to jump again. They earth shook for the rest of the night and into the morning that last big rumble was about 11am.

I walked the streets, no traffic lights, no shops open, bricks and glass everywhere. In my part of town all the buildings are still standing. Power resumed at 1:30pm. I was so very worried that you had all heard and would be worried. Though apparently you were unaware. Thank god.

Love you all

Jade

Santiago and Valparasio

Hola, Como estas?

I would like to say that my Spanish is improving...... though i'm not too certain of that. Thus far i have not spent a moment alone, First day with a Swedish girl and the last couple of days with an Aussie. Last night we had dinner with a guy i met on couch surfers, he's a dentist, very funny and quite lovely.

Today we arrived in Valparasio, a small port town about 2hrs from Santiago. Have spent the day wandering the streets and have had many warnings to keep our cameras well hidden though it's hard when the streets are lined with amazing photographic oppertunities.

It's sad to see how many stray dogs there are, hundreds, everywhere. you have to step over them in the street. Naturally I want to feed them and hug them, though I don't, instead i tread over them and keep walking:( poor flea bitten puppies.

Nos Vemos!!!!

Adios Melbourne, See you on the other side