Farewell South America...

In a nutshell...

Favourite food in South America: Empanada
Items lost/stolen: SD memory card, white cardigan, memory card reader, turbie towel, camera (twice) but found both times.
Place that will be most missed: Machu Picchu
Items purchased: Where do i start bowler hat, dvds, souvineers* 1000s of postcards, 2pairs of trainers, spiderman pillow, pashmina*
Favourite saying: Besame* (kiss me)
Spanish words learnt: Besame* (kiss me), Con Calme* (easy tiger), banos* (toilet), quesiera* la quenta por favor* (could i have the bill please), perdon (sorry), comes das* (how are you), Quanta es*? (how much is this)
Snow-capped mountains sighted: Shit loads
New hobbies: Horse-riding, drinking beer, partying hard, surviving on no sleep
Funniest quote: i am very unhappy about this situation
Most random event: The night of six stories, Pisac
Outfit of the continent: Has to be the Pashmina
Favourite mode transport: Snow Mobile
Scariest event: Bus journey from Potosi to La Paz
Favourite country: Bolivia
Friends made: Too many to speak of, special mentions to Philippa, Andrew, James, Stefan, Hoar (Nick)...
Tune of South America: Hips don't lie, Shakira (not by choice, it was just overplayed).

I did not learn how to spell on this trip. Sorry mum & dad & Mrs Crocker (English teacher from school)

So our flight from Cuzco to Santiago via Lima went to plan. All of us on edge as we know what we are like with flight dates. Looking forward to a good day out in Lima turned out to be a let down and ended up surfing the net, eating cake and watching Pirates of the Carribean 2 on a proper screen. The flight was quite pleasant, the 12 hr wait from the previos flight wasnt, but the less we talk about that the better. We arrived back in Santiago at 1am, not thinking to book any accomodation for our last three nights in South America and end up walking the streets for around an hour with my 100kg bag barely hanging from my shoulders. Spotted a few drag queens, but the lack of sleep from our escapades left me cross rather than amused by the men/she's attire. Naturally Tuesday, Wednesday and even the day of our flight were spent shopping for the final crappy gifts to send home.

I managed to upset a shop assistant at the Falabella department store, when rudely i asked if i could have a plastic bag without purchasing anything. I know, how rude of me to ask such a ridiculous question on such a lovely Wednesday afternoon. The assistant proceeded to call her manager over and discuss the situation she was in, who in turn curled up his nose and denied me of the luminous carrier of joy. You can tell i was gutted. Still hurts a little now, so ill say no more.

All in all, apart from my total lack of Spanish vocab & ability to read a street map we managed to end our visit to South America in one piece. Once at the airport, after a three way hug with the boys & a few more purchases from the gift shops, we said our final farewell to our Spanish experience. This place was absolutly awesome.

written by

Vegtibbles on August 10, 2006 from Santiago, Chile

from the travel blog: The Crazy Adventures of the Tibbler

tagged InANutshell

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South America certainly made a big impression on you Laura, I am sure you left your mark there!!

Keep having fun.

Love Mum xxxx

written by Amanda Tibbles on September 18, 2006

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