Well, New Year’s Day has come and gone. We are now at Ministro Pistarini International Airport in Buenos Airport about to our board our flight out of South America and on to New Zealand (but more on that later . . .)

Admittedly we really only scratched the surface of this huge continent. Three countries in two months. However, for what it is worth, here are some reflections . . .

Peru is seriously cool. I could have spent much longer there. On the downside I am not sure we ever really got used to the high altitudes – living at over 3km above sea level does affect your energy levels. Things that normally you take for granted, like popping to the shops for some provisions, often leaves you sucking for oxygen and in need of a jolly good sit down and a cuppa . . . And also, while we are on the downside, Lima does slightly suck. Big, dirty, unimaginative and without a soul.
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But there is so much more to Peru outside its capital city. Machu Picchu is just amazing and one of those places that actually does live up to its billing. We wandered around for almost a full day and could easily have come back for more the following morning. Cusco is laid back (well when you avoid the touristy Plaza de Armas it is) and a delight of cobbled streets, cafes serving fantastic food and nice people. Lake Titicaca is just, well beautiful and the drive there from Cusco takes you though some of the most spectacular mountain scenery I have ever encountered.

Perhaps one important reason for Peru being our favourite South American destination is that it was here that we decided to join a tour. And not any old traditional tour, but one involving a group of just the nicest bunch of genuine, mindful yogi types you can possibly imagine. We saw Peru in such a relaxed and meaningful way – meditating on the top of Machu Picchu Mountain is an experience I will never forget. Neither will I easily forget the hugs, the laughs and the deep conversations about stuff that actually matters.

From Peru to Argentina – and a big cultural shift for us. On the plus side, Buenos Aires is a hugely fun city. So much to see and do – tree lined streets, excellent museums and galleries and the San Telmo Sunday market just brilliant. But the prices of everything probably doubled from Peru – but not (in my view anyway) the quality of merchandise on offer or deliciousness of the food.

Argentina has been in some serious financial strife for the last few years, and it shows – mainly in the demeanour of the people. The casual, laid-back friendliness of Peru is much harder to find – its almost like the people have been under the cosh for so long that a lot of the fun has gone out of their lives. And in Bariloche in the Lake District (our next destination after Buenos Aires) this pervasive malaise in the people almost seemed to increase. Bariloche has some stunning scenery – I think my favourite memory was swimming in a crystal clear lake at Llao Llao with a truly magnificent snow-capped mountain backdrop. But overall – it’s a strange kind of scene there.

And that brings us to Chile where we went to just one place (Puerto Varas) for one week – but was so different from Argentina. The same beautiful mountain and lake scenery, but a quantum leap in terms the friendliness of the people. I would love to go back there one day . . .

In keeping with our theme of flexible planning for this big adventure, Jolanda and I made the decision in mid December to head back to NZ with Viv on the 2nd January 2018. Yes we could have seen more of South America, but the lure of the early NZ summer beckoned and we thought – why not just continue our travels for a while longer back in the land of the Kiwi . . . ? And so after some discussion we decided to book an early January yoga retreat in Takaka at the very top of the South Island in New Zealand’s Golden Bay.

So its adios South America. Like any form of travelling its been a contrast of scenery and culture. We wouldn’t have missed it for the world . . .