On finally leaving Punta Arenas and Chile, I headed for El Calafate, El Chalten and El Bolson in Patagonia- Argentina. These were all small towns along Route 40 on the eastern side of the Andes and so literally just a hop and there were places visited in Chile a few weeks previously! It was interesting Read more
PUNTA ARENAS I spent about 10 days in the environs which was not planned as such but evolved with travel information. I had a good evening with 3 from the Whale trip and viewed the city and port at night from the top floor bar of a glass oblong hotel -casino. There were lots Read more
PORVENIR This part of the Trip was a lesson in the art of patience and perseverance regarding travel information and then confirming the accuracy! Most folk were very helpful but as the locals said, it was difficult for them and so for a tourist a triple whammer! I hoped to explore part of TDF from the small town Read more
I splashed out on a 3 day boat trip along the section of the Magellan Channel NW of Punta Arenas to San Carlos 111 island and the small eco camp where scientists and visitors can stay as part of on-going whale research. Good bunch of people and had a great time, Read more
END OF KUMUKA TRIP It was sad to leave the Trip as a great bunch of folk of varying ages and nationalities. Backgrounds varied from having worked on preserving Scotts´hut in Antarctica, offshore oil platforms, teachers, masseur and engineering with musical talent too. It was time to try something new of Read more
SALTA Another long drive across the Border through semi arid high country with ocasional greener and more cultivated areas and spectacular rock formations of the Quebrada De Humahuaca. This was a dry, river scoured canyon overlooked by mountains of sedimentary strata which have been eroded into fantastic scalloped forms that looked like Read more
LA PAZ These are the descriptions of city life from 8 years ago and they easily recall a vivid picture of bustle and colour: Busy, crammed into a deep volcanic crater surrounded by mountains with snow on one at 6000m, teeming with market stalls selling fake armani watches, papayas, fried chicken, clothes, mobile phones, shampoo, Read more
LIMA My notes said this was an Ok place – not sure 8 years on what this meant! We watched the changing of the guards outside the Presidential Palace in a nice plaza, had a few beers and nice meals western style as like many cities, it is well geared up Read more
I spent 8 weeks with the Andean or Spectacled Bear Project in Northern Ecuador. Initially, it was hard to settle as I was bored and unsure if I fitted in but ended up having a great time and did not want to leave. I became very fit again and liked having no Read more
WEEKS ONE AND SIX Week One was for training and orientation. The study area in the Intag region on the western Andean slopes is part of the Choco Bioregion extending into S Columbia and is one of the ten most biologically important areas of the world. We usually got the Read more