Hi peeps! Just a quick message as I havent left one for a while! Cant believe you were caught up in all that in Columbia!(you sure it wasnt a movie..??!!!) Seriously though, glad you're safe and finally getting some time to chill in the sun with some creature comforts! I've only been back a couple of weeks but already feels like a lifetime since Oz...its v tempting to go back as I've had itchy feet ever since I landed back in the (cold,dark) UK! We'll see. Hope you got my photos Paus, sent them to your e-mail - yours are great,keep them coming.
Anyway better get back to work (zzzzzzzzzzzzz) Have a great time and I'll speak to you soon. M xxxxxxxxxx

Hey Jon and Paus! Columbia sounds terrifying...glad you two are safe though. Ken and I can't wait for you guys to come visit us in Canada. Travel safe. Hopefully the Grouse Grind will be open by the time you guys get here :o)

Jusy sayin hi abd love the photos xxxxx

Well we have reached Chile safe and sound after what can only be described as an interesting experience (more of that in a minute). We are half way through our middle set of spanish lessons in Santiago and really enjoying it even though we have more homework than we have ever seen before (in fact back home in a mo to finish the weekend lot). Also have an exam on Thursday so need to revise hard to pass. We are now speaking spanish regularly though ver difficult especially as my (JB) accent is so bad!! We are staying with a lovely family in a good part of Santiago. The food is great, the family really nice, room is luxury especially when you compare to some of the places we have lived in, and they have a small swimming pool which is being used ever chance we get!! The weather has been about 30 degrees most days and this is their spring. We hear it is snowing in the UK so we are both thinking of you all wrapped up with red noses (same as JB but for different reasons). Chile is by far the most relaxing country in SA we have been to so far as you have everything here you need, the weather is great, scenery stunning, people really friendly (and most speak english which is a help when you are tuired and your mind goes blank) and you feel safe for once! That leads me onto our experiences in Colombia...30 minutes after arriving in Cali (in the south) a man was shot dead about 20m from us. We hit the floor like some crass US movie and listened with increasing fear to all the screams and watched the army and police pile in with no sense of organisation. The people around us seemed to disappear and we were stuck in the concourse in full view of the killer hiding behind our bags (admittedly they are big and getting bigger!). After 20 minutes calm was restored not without many tears around us and us wondering what the hell we had let oursleves in for. Found out from the hotel staff and paper the next day that a 16 year old hitman (you can hire them for about $20 a pop apparently) had shot the wrong guy (taxi man instead of the guy from Madrid). A touch worrying. Spent 2 nights in Cali and never have had so many people stare at us constanly. Think we were the only travellers7tourists for about 100 miles around. A not much to do other the dance salsa. Then to Cartegena where we dealt with an attempted mugging and 2 attempted pickpockets and were also about the only travellers around. Did however enjoy a great fiesta for their independence day and the city is so beautiful. Finally onto Bogota and what a great city!!! Great museums, galleries, history and the best food by far in SA. Everywhere we ate was brilliant. Overall these are just a few of the events, we though Colombia was a country of extremes - some really great people (guy who gave us a lift in Cali with his chauffour for nothing) and at the other end some bloody awful people (hotel guy in our place in Cartegena springs to mind). The countryside is amazing, the weather mostly great, the food brilliant but just not quite ready for foreigners as all most people seem to want to do is take your money (we were never left alone without someone trying to sell us something and we do look like we have no money whatsoever). We so wanted to enjoy the whole place for so many reasons and yet conclusion was mixed. Sorry! Life goes on and still glad we went overall (one restaurant in Bogota sells the best burgers we have ever had - amazing). Off for now to revise...honestly!

Love to all, thinking of you and keep those photos and emails coming to us both. They really makes us homesick but we love them. Trying to rearrange our trip so we come home about April time we think so keep you all posted.

J&P
xxx

Hey Paula and John, Just another quick hello. It is snowing like crazy in Ohio which makes it awfully cold out but beautiful to look at from the inside of my warm flat! Sounds like you both are still really enjoying yourselves and the more I read the more anxious I am to pay that lovely continent a visit. Hope we are all able to connect when you are in the US. Keep me posted on your plans. Keep each other safe and happy! Love, Meredith. p.s. Todd says hello too...

Hello guys!!... Just wanted you to know were thinking of you and are enjoying reading about your adventures, and looking at your pictures. What beautiful pics they are too ... :-) Take care, lots of Love Beck, Paul, Beth and Dylan xxxxxxxxxx

Hi Paula AND John

hope your both well the photos are great ive only had five minutes to look at them as Rohan needs 24 hour attention which is driving me slightly mad!, something I think every new mum must go through.
Hes growing really quickly and youll see him when hes nine months unfortunently i havent had time to e-mail you some photos but he is very cute.
Gan and me are doing well very tired with the sleepless nights but hey I dont want to put you off, anyway just wanted to say quick hello and hopefully catch up soon.

lots of love Parm & Gan

Just a quickie, SPECTACLED BEARS PAUS!!!!!!!!!

Hey hey hey, hope all is good out there. Me and rich are going on a date on friday so maybe we can sort things out but i dont think its looking to hopeful. otherwise im loving living the single life. Forgot how many gorgeous single men there are in the world!!! Work is good hopefully will get to be head of year next sept. Bring it on!!
Hope coloumbia is cool and will look at the photos when i get the chance. Love you both Kir

hi guys. looks like you're having a really rubbish time on your trip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
looks amazing. both nan and are very envious. have checked out some of your photos. some of these places look beautiful. any hoo will write again soon. take care. don't enjoy yourselves too much. you've still got quite a few more people to meet and places to see. love si and nan

Hiya bambinos! Just thought I'd have a break from the rubbin' down I've been giving Papa - only joking! The boudoir walls are now smooth as a bb! You'll have to come home tho' Pausie cos I can't decide on the colour and the new curtains are arrivng in two weeks. Papa is recovering from 2 viruses (viri?) ( on Oli's pc and one that's got him loadsa sympathy with his sexy voice sore throat! Has antibiotics now and wishes they made 'em for pcs too. You sound as if you are having a fantastic time trust you know which way to walk now you've spanned the equator. Hot springs sound fantsatic not sure about volcanoes! It's still late summer here leaves and flowers still in abundance good for Nov as long as we get a nice frosty Christmas. Guess I'd better not send C.pud you'll have to have some when you get back!! If I've missed the pressy point just let me know I'm getting pre-senile according to my 'friend'! Have the contact lens arrived ? Guess not- hope they won't be too long now.Everyone here sends all their love. Hope we'll be able to hablemos very soon. Love you lots Mama y Papa xxxxx

Hiya PC & Jon, am a bit shy with these message board things so will keep it short and sweet ;) Great to see all your pictures, looks like you're having an amazing time! Have to admit that it's kinda giving me the travel bug all over again.. Everything is pretty much the same as you left it in England babes! Paula, Tazzie and I miss you loads and think about you and where you are in the big, wide world. Enjoy and take care.. big hugs, Cheryl xxxx