Canada to Patagonia at a Worrying Age

Or is it just the sins of this one catching me up?

No, as Lou Reed says in Street Hassle, it´s called bad luck. (See if you can find a copy of that one, Rob.)

Well, I´ve now exhausted all avenues of hope for a coastal trip down to Southern Patagonia. Even if they fix the boat by Monday, which they expect to, it can`t leave until the marine authorities have checked it later in the week. It`s the only one to be blocked this season. Explaining I`ve come half way around the world specifically to do it, does no good. Am I ready to come home? No not really. But my plans seem to be changing hourly and it is getting tiresome. I`m ignoring the insurance swine for the weekend and had a good night with a mad Chileno last night. And there is a casino here…

I`m in the lovely town of Peurto Varas in a very nice hostal with friendly people and I`ve just watched United overcome the mighty Fulham. But what of the defence. 6 goals in two games? And then WBA beat Blackburn.

Here´s a picture of one of the local volcanoes…

On Chilenos, they have a refreshing view on personal space. The general view seems to be that of “I will place myself anywhere at any time, no matter how it infringes on anyone else`s space or comfort”. They`re not being rude, it`s just how it is. This includes queues as well as public transport. I`m slowly getting used to it and I’ve started pushing in where necessary, but as some German girl pointed out today, I must be British because it`s ‘Excuse me this’ and ‘Pardon me that’. Which got a hearty murmur of approval in the hostel.

The other thing about this area is that it is very German (so Tim would like it). They colonised the place first apparently and as an example of their influence today is Kuchen Day – German pies are piled up in the main square. I was hoping they were going to start flinging them à la that place in Spain with the tomatoes. But being German they lined up to buy tickets to sample the things. Not much anarchy around here, I’m afraid. I even spoke to a local who loves British music. When I asked what kind he replied Genesis and Yes. No hope for the youth in this world.

On colonisation, by the way, this area was held by the local Mapuche indians for centuries before a period of time in the 1880s known in the local guides as the ‘Pacification’. What? I’m sure the Poles would have reacted much better had they known they were being ‘pacified’ at the start of WWII.

So that’s where I’m up to. The sun shone through for a brief hour to interrupt the drizzle earlier, so all’s well with the world. I think I’ve no choice but to head for Argentina soon and once I’ve sampled the freezing delights of Patagonia I plan to head back north to the sunshine and, eventually, the bright lights of Buenos Aires and a Boca Juniors game or two.

As it’s the weekend I don’t expect too many comments, but thanks Aunty Mary and Cousin Mick and all other contributors. It really helps if things aren’t going too well to discover other people’s thoughts at the end of a wire. By the way, I see what you mean about Chester. 5-0 at Carlisle. A copper once threatened to throw me out at that ground (at a Chester game) for swearing. Maybe that was the sin. I can’t think of anything worse I’ve ever done…

Am in the most expensive internet cafe in the world, so away I go. Love to all.

Tags: Travel

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