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So, last stop...Pichilemu. We decided after all the travelling we had done over the past two months to spend our last few days doing precious little in this small coastal town three hours south west of Santiago. It would seem to have a Chillian take on the English resort in parts and sometimes looks a bit run down. Andrew thinks the water being very cold all the time makes it this way. Like in England swimming is for the hardy (17 deg water temp max in summer) somehow the focus moves from the water and heads for arcades and trashy souvenir shops for the casual beach goer. Yuck. However this may work to the advantage of the surfer who finds a sunny laidback town boasting world class surf.
We have found ourselves a small cosy cabin up on a hill overlooking the water and have spent the last few days reading, eating and enjoying the sun, the temperature being a very pleasant 22 degrees or so, but feels cooler with the breeze blowing. Andrew went for a surf/flounder around today in what he called perfect surfing conditions - overhead sets rolling in and breaking for 250 metres. He was a bit of out of practice and condition and came out of the surf with a bump on his head, water in his lungs and a dent to his pride. I quickly reminded him that he's going back to a NZ summer and can surf to his hearts content from here on in - no more bracing Irish waters to deal with!
Other exciting news is that my sister Diane gave birth to her second child yesterday - a baby boy they have named Charlie James, weighing in at a bouncing 7 pounds 4 ounces. Congrats Diaso, we're so proud of you.
Andrew also went for a bike ride to Punta da Lobos, one the best breaks going, ever, the photos have been attached. He says the surf was small but worth the visit.
The last few days have afforded us the time to reflect on our holiday in general. The consenus is that we have had a crap time and would have preferred to be chained to our desks in Dublin - haha.
We've been in the rain in Rio, the sweltering heat of Illha Grande (humid) and the Atacama Desert (dry), sub-zero temperatures of Patagonia and the dizzying altitudes of 5000 metres above sea level in Bolivia. It is hard to pin down the best bit as the variation is so large. Isla Santa Catarina stands out for the beach lifestyle, Patagonia and the volcanic plateau in Bolivia for the scenery although these were the coldest/harshest places we went. Buenos Aires stands out for it awesome food, shopping and general cool vibe and Machu Pichu was all it was cracked up to be - Peru wasn't.
Without a doubt travelling in South America can be a challange as those who have visited will testify, but it is more than worth it.
So we gather you are all upset that we are signing off, so maybe like the TV show 'The Office' there will be a 'Christmas Special' episode from Hawkes Bay, NZ. It depends if we can write a decent story line and a few good gags.
Thanks for you all your messages, we loved reading them and hope you enjoyed reading about our adventures.
Ka kite/Slan.
Laura and Andrew.
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