The adventure begins

My Bill Bryson-like 'noticing' notes have become somewhat desert-like yesterday/today, which is appropriate, as we are getting up at 3.15am tomorrow, for an early (2 hour) flight to Calama and bus to San Pedro de Atacama - the gateway to the dramatic landscapes of the Atacama Desert (apparently). The reason for the note-drying-up is that we joined the Explore tour group yesterday and I am in the process of adjusting to the change. Instead of driving around in the little unnamed embedded scarred white car, activating every nerve ending (with most of the help from the compass), in an attempt to find somewhere, I have been adjusting to doing what I'm told (!) - and being driven to Valparaiso today by a very nice bus driver and tour guide.

I have had enough of traffic and buildings and am ready to get stuck into the next step of our adventures which really begin tomorrow - very early. So early that my travelling companion has taken to bed (it's 8.10pm) in readiness and the hotel room has taken on a V. Meldrewish air. He's pretending to sleep - but I know better. As far as I'm concerned, there's still work to be done (!) and the night is yet young!

Quite interesting facts recently gleaned:
- Centralians There is a point in the centre of Santiago which is regarded as the centre of Chile, which is very relevant as two daughters are in the centre of Australia AND Phil is meeting with someone from the Centralian Advocate for coffee any minute (she doesn't like coffee) to begin developing her career.
- half of Chile's exports and a big chunk of income comes from copper mining.
- 70% of Chilean wine is exported to the UK and today we drove through Casablanca Valley where we recognised that a lot of the wine we buy from Tesco is produced.
- Chile is the country with the second most volcanoes in the world, after Indonesia.
- Chile expects a big earthquake every 20 years, and the last was in 1985 - just as well we will soon be in Bolivia.

If you want to know more details of our tour, you can check it out on the Explore website at www.explore.co.uk It is entitled 'Atacama to Machu Picchu' and its dossier ref is AX. Tomorrow is day 3 on Tuesday 11th August. If I go quiet (not a bad thing!) it means lack of wifi, although I'll keep up the blog for multiple postings. Our very nice (young) tour guide is not too well at the moment - he originally thought it might be swine flu, but doctor says not. He comes from Southampton; went to Nottingham Uni (biology); has Argentinian mother; moved there six years ago; is very well organised, even when poorly. Am reading your e mails, but not always able to reply - so keep them coming.