South America - part four
So after the delights of chocolate and horse riding in Bariloche we headed back over the border to Chile - think we have now done the crossing between Argentina & Chile 5 times in the last three weeks - our passports are practically full with stamps and they must think we are up to something dodgy!
Yet another week in the Lake District.....sounds so bad to say it but by now we were well and truly over beautiful mountains and volcano's.....however I guess it could have been worse (i.e. work!) so we filled the days with a couple of lake trips.
A highly amusing incident on one of these trips - whilst having coffee, Bec realised that a wasp had flown up one of the legs of her linen trousers, as she struggled it flew higher and so the only way to remove it was to drop her trousers in the corner of the thankfully deserted restaurant. However......
...in walks the waiter at the very moment she had her trousers round her ankles....he was so embarrassed and god only knows what he thought we were up to! Fair play he recovered his composure to get some vinegar for the sting...but we soon high tailed it out of there as he was recalling the story to his colleagues on the reception desk!!!
Giving that embarrassment the only thing to do was to head away from Puerto Varas before the story was printed in the local paper and go to the island of Chiloe just half an hour by boat from mainland Chile. Such a contrast to the mainland...with beautiful old wooden churches and seafood by the bucket load.
Literally three days spent gorging ourselves on the biggest mussels you have ever seen, salmon, hake, clams etc....and Bec was not ill - what a miracle! Managed to take a trip to one of the penguin colonies on the island and unfortunately also watch Man Utd get dumped out of the FA Cup by Portsmouth - not a good day.
Before long it was time for our long awaited boat trip. Basically 1,000km cruising through the fjords of Chile, south almost to the Cape Horn at the very bottom of the continent. The Lonely Planet had made a lot of how bad the trip can be at times...with often rough seas etc.....and to quote "It`s not a cruise" hence we were a little apprehensive as we went to check in on Monday.
However, in true Bec and Iain style there was no need to worry...we had of course booked ourselves into the AAA cabins so at least Bec had a private bathroom to go to if she was seasick. We were slightly embarrassed as the handful of people in the AAA cabins were called to board first in the crowded waiting area....during our private tour of the boat before other people boarded we found out that we didn`t have to queue up with our trays to eat in the canteen but instead dined in the Captains private dining room with free flowing wine and waiter service...and as it turned out actually got a different menu!!!! Hilarious and meant we had to sneak back to our rooms and lie when we chatted to the other backpackers.
Also we were really lucky with calm seas so the trip turned out to be absolutely fantastic....four days of amazing scenery, dolphins, seals and a side trip to the largest glacier in South America at sunset which was truely stunning.
Well that was other from the 12 hours one night on the open Pacific ocean where Bec was able to chalk up vomit numbers 7 & 8! Thank god for the private bathroom!!!!! Shame that night was also her favourite dinner of Spaghetti Bolognaise.......
And so we arrived into Puerto Natalas on Thur afternoon...dry land and some welcome and fantastic pizza that night.
This afternoon we have arranged a tour of the nearby penguin colony before starting a 7 day organised tour on Sunday....walking and camping in the National Park, more glaciers and another border crossing to Argentina.....
Hope you are all well. Back home in just over two weeks...scary!
Love Bec and Iain.
Yet another week in the Lake District.....sounds so bad to say it but by now we were well and truly over beautiful mountains and volcano's.....however I guess it could have been worse (i.e. work!) so we filled the days with a couple of lake trips.
A highly amusing incident on one of these trips - whilst having coffee, Bec realised that a wasp had flown up one of the legs of her linen trousers, as she struggled it flew higher and so the only way to remove it was to drop her trousers in the corner of the thankfully deserted restaurant. However......
...in walks the waiter at the very moment she had her trousers round her ankles....he was so embarrassed and god only knows what he thought we were up to! Fair play he recovered his composure to get some vinegar for the sting...but we soon high tailed it out of there as he was recalling the story to his colleagues on the reception desk!!!
Giving that embarrassment the only thing to do was to head away from Puerto Varas before the story was printed in the local paper and go to the island of Chiloe just half an hour by boat from mainland Chile. Such a contrast to the mainland...with beautiful old wooden churches and seafood by the bucket load.
Literally three days spent gorging ourselves on the biggest mussels you have ever seen, salmon, hake, clams etc....and Bec was not ill - what a miracle! Managed to take a trip to one of the penguin colonies on the island and unfortunately also watch Man Utd get dumped out of the FA Cup by Portsmouth - not a good day.
Before long it was time for our long awaited boat trip. Basically 1,000km cruising through the fjords of Chile, south almost to the Cape Horn at the very bottom of the continent. The Lonely Planet had made a lot of how bad the trip can be at times...with often rough seas etc.....and to quote "It`s not a cruise" hence we were a little apprehensive as we went to check in on Monday.
However, in true Bec and Iain style there was no need to worry...we had of course booked ourselves into the AAA cabins so at least Bec had a private bathroom to go to if she was seasick. We were slightly embarrassed as the handful of people in the AAA cabins were called to board first in the crowded waiting area....during our private tour of the boat before other people boarded we found out that we didn`t have to queue up with our trays to eat in the canteen but instead dined in the Captains private dining room with free flowing wine and waiter service...and as it turned out actually got a different menu!!!! Hilarious and meant we had to sneak back to our rooms and lie when we chatted to the other backpackers.
Also we were really lucky with calm seas so the trip turned out to be absolutely fantastic....four days of amazing scenery, dolphins, seals and a side trip to the largest glacier in South America at sunset which was truely stunning.
Well that was other from the 12 hours one night on the open Pacific ocean where Bec was able to chalk up vomit numbers 7 & 8! Thank god for the private bathroom!!!!! Shame that night was also her favourite dinner of Spaghetti Bolognaise.......
And so we arrived into Puerto Natalas on Thur afternoon...dry land and some welcome and fantastic pizza that night.
This afternoon we have arranged a tour of the nearby penguin colony before starting a 7 day organised tour on Sunday....walking and camping in the National Park, more glaciers and another border crossing to Argentina.....
Hope you are all well. Back home in just over two weeks...scary!
Love Bec and Iain.
BecandIain - 16. Mar, 03:00
Hey!
I'm meant to be revising but am being distracted by YouTube. Paul has unsupportingly gone snowboarding to St Anton without me for a week. My mum, dad, both sisters and nephew have gone somewhere sunny without me for a week too. Last week I lost my keys - car, house, mums house etc. I have been in TOO close contact with lots of ladies for several weeks on the trot now. It's raining and a bit chilly here. We all want to see you but, believe me, don't hurry home! Enjoy that carefree feeling and smiling all the time and feeling happy every time you wake up!!
Lots of love
Happy Mort
xxx