Hola All,
We didn`t get to see the penguins as the bus service doesn`t start until tomorrow and then we just don`t want to risk the chance of missing the ferry later in the afternoon.
Went for a wander up into the hills this morning. The wind was driving into our faces and cold. We were looking for a nice forest walk but only found a pack of dogs that threatened to bite us but I wasn`t afraid as Vanessa had a rock (what about rocks for the other dogs?). Oh. Just informed that supershot Vanessa had a rock for each dog so I had nothing to fear. The wind blew us back down the hill after a snack of bread and caramel spread (dulce de leche) - imagine caramel slice minus the base and chocolate.
A cloud with a silver lining. We had already found this place but didn´t realise that zona franca was a duty free zone just out of punta arenas. No not the normal duty free shops. This is a special zone which is duty free in chile. You can go and purchase a car if you wish for example the cars such as new VWs were 7800 chilean pesos! We bought a couple of small MP3 players for ourselves and will buy a relacement canon IS S5 camera tomorrow. Don´t get excited we aren`t buying you anything...
http://www.moon.com/planner/argentina/mustsee/punta_arenas.html
Heading off on the ferry late tomorrow. Might not hear from us again as the seas have whitecaps on them and there are many shipwrecks in the area. More probable is that we won`t have email until we get to Ushuaia in Argentina.
Todays lesson. Don´t go out without your wet weather gear or warm clothes. It was lovely and sunny when we went out and raining and windy within about 30 minutes then sunny again in another few minutes. This we are told is typical pategonia - very similar to melbourne but a little colder.
A couple of interesting things.
1) When we buy bread and vegetables they are weighed and sealed at separate counters not the checkout.
2) There is a taxi service called a collectivo. The taxis drive set routes and cost a set amount. People just flag down the taxi and jump in. Just like car pooling with people you don´t know. Works well.
3) Some pedestrian crossings have a count down with the number of seconds until you can walk. Not really necessary as people just cross whenever they like anyway...
Adios,
David & Vanessa
