Author Archives: angusmccoll

I arrived in Buenos Aires yesterday afternoon and today I have visited the inside of the Australian Embassy’s interview room and now I’m waiting at the local police station to file a report. It’s now 5pm so that is my day filled. My backpack was stolen this morning while I was having breakfast at aContinue reading “Buenos Aires (Wednesday 19 October)”

I’m supposed to be in Buenos Aires today but I’m not. I got up at sparrows and to the airport in plenty of time to be told my early morning flight had been cancelled. Volcanic ash is the problem. Those in the know rush to get onto one of the other five flights available withContinue reading “Santiago, Chile (Monday 17 October)”

Santiago is the capital of Chile and is one of South America’s biggest cities with a population of about 7.5 million. It’s located inland just east of the port city of Valparaiso. Santiago was founded by a Spanish conquistador by the name of Pedro de Valdivia in 1541. He obviously didn’t seek the permission ofContinue reading “Santiago, Chile (Sunday 16 October)”

I’m having a beer and dinner at a cafe-bar across the road from a park. Its not far from where I am staying. There is a lot of activity there, some of it a bit bizarre! There are a group of singers singing to pre-recorded music. They are very good and probably opera trained. ThereContinue reading “Santiago, Chile (Saturday 15 October)”

I discover my iPhone clock is two hours behind. There is a 2-hour difference between Lima and Santiago and I didn’t know! All day yesterday I was two hours behind. That explains a few things! Today was some more walking around Santiago. The Presidential Palace was impressive as you would expect. He doesn’t live here.Continue reading “Santiago, Chile (Friday 14 October)”

As per the flight schedule I arrive in Santiago at around 3.30am. I get a shuttle service to my hostel in town but it is way too early to checkin so I leave my backpack (reeking of alcohol from a bottle of Arequepa liquore broken in transit) at the hostel and go for a walk.Continue reading “Santiago, Chile (Thursday 13 October)”

Today hasn’t been a good one. I’ve just discovered that I have lost a heap of photos. The marvels of digital technology eh? Over 200 images have just digitally disintegrated. Which ones? Try to imagine of all the places I have visited, which photos I would least like to lose and you’ve guessed it. Matchupicchu,Continue reading “Lima (Tuesday 11 October)”

More attempts were made to retrieve my lost photos but to no avail – easy come, easy go! It’s going to be an effort to bother with the camera again, although I find it hard to not look at things through the camera’s eye. Maybe that has to change. No doubt I will get backContinue reading “Lima (Wednesday 12 October)”

Arequipa is the second largest city in Peru behind Lima and has a population of over one million people and two million dogs (just guessing). This city is a bit different to other places in Peru in that it’s origins have no Inca connections. It’s purely a Spanish idea. I suspect they built it hereContinue reading “Arequipa (Monday 10 October)”

I have had another ‘tears to the eyes’ experience today and the magnificent condors are responsible. The day starts with breakfast at 5am then onto the bus and off by 6.30am. Why so early? We have to be at a certain location where the condors are known to live. For a brief moment in theContinue reading “Chivay to Condors to Arequipa (Sunday 9 October)”