2kiwis

In an effort to see some of Santiago Keryn and I managed to get out to a hill in town where there is a cable car that takes you up for some nice views over town. We arrived to find that the cable car was shut so we walked back by a nice little market and then took a subway train back to the center of town.

The afternoon saw Vanessa and Rhys having a pre-departure meeting for their new passengers and this was followed by drinks and cheese as a precursor to the coming New Years party. Those of us still around who had travelled this far on Tranquilo were invited along and we met the new guys.

Then it came time to head out to the New Years party hostel. The night was very good, everyone there seeming to have a good time. Some people had dressed up (the same people who got dressed up in La Paz actually) and New Years was seen in with everyone in good cheer. Keryn disappeared for a minute and Danny asked if I wanted to jump into the pool and strangely I said yes. At least I wasn’t naked like Danny. We jumped in and were quickly told to get out but Danny refused until they bought him a towel. I got out leaving Danny the center of attention, there must be hundreds of photos of him reclining in the water waiting for the towel to arrive. Keryn and I stayed until about 3am and then walked back to the hotel, taxis taking an hour or more to arrive. It was good to get out and spend some time with those we would be travelling on with, and also to have one last night out with some of those who would be leaving the next day.

Antonio, Minette and Keryn at the New Years party

Angie, Vanessa and Janet together for one last night

Goodbye Angie!

The last word goes to Danny, of course.

It was another day of shopping and wandering. I was still burning DVD’s for everyone and backing up photos at points during the day as well.

In the afternoon we said goodbye to Erika and Lucy, their trip over. We had a pre-departure meeting in the evening for the next section of the trip and from Santiago we would be on a different truck with different crew. Billy (driver) and Minette (guide) were our new staff and along with the ten of the new people we had our meeting. The new people are: Chris and Margie from Australia (Chris is a fantastic wildlife artist, check out his work here: http://www.wildprints.com.au/), Jimmy from Australia, Kate from Australia, Katie from the USA, Patrick and Janette from Ireland, Antonio from England (though living in Edinburgh), David from New Zealand, Connie from Germany and finally Peta also from New Zealand who would be arriving on the 1st January (Peta works for Kumuka doing audits of trips).

For dinner most of us went to the same steak restaurant we had been to the previous night and it was again good. We got to know a few people a little bit which was good.

In the morning Keryn and I wandered around the shops and I got some photos done for giving to Rhys and Vanessa as a parting gift. Keryn did much the same walk in the afternoon with Janet and Angie looking for clothes to wear to the New Years party and I spent the afternoon burning DVD’s for those leaving the next day and also sorting out some blog stuff.

We had a farewell dinner at a posh steak restaurant next to the hotel, the steak was again very good (gout here I come). The run in to New Years saw us doing a lot of relaxing, after New Years we have a full on few months on the road to Rio so we need all the rest we can get. However, I joined a few people in travelling to the hostel that would the venue for the New Years party and had a few drinks their, losing my phone in the process (the phone hasn’t been found so is now blocked, it’ll be cancelled shortly anyway so don’t try to contact me that way please). It was a nice hostel with a good set up in the outdoors area, it looks like New Years should be a lot of fun.