berttie73

I got back to the UK in the middle of a cold snap, my tan fall off me as I walked out of the Heathrow Express, still on my check shorts!!!! I can't wait for my next trip, only one week away, I am going to Venice for the Carnival. I am so excited. Read Full Story

On my last day in Lima I got up really early and spent the day walking around, burning the calories from the Breakfast buffet, topping up my tan ( I am still single and vain ), enjoying the sunshine, it is minus, God knows how much back in London, and sightseeing. After some good old fashion lies, I don't mind heights, I made my way up to the bell tower in Santo Domingo's church. I was never expecting to get so high up, floor after floor. I never have a problem going up, well almost never... Read Full Story

Having just been for four days in Santiago, going between Alto Las Condes and Parque Arauco, getting into Lima is a breath of 'dirty' air and say that with joy. The town is noisy, filthy, full of micro buses, it is India, Guatemala, Colombia all over again. Lima's Main Square It is crowded, people stares at me, rich whites wondering why am I walking around, the working class why am I not in a large 'carro'. But at the same time they smile, and when you struggle in the bus they tell you to sit... Read Full Story

I have been in three different countries in one week, and not since  I experience the Wonder Girls and the 1st Wonder  I have seen anything remotely near the success of Adele. She is everywhere, in airports, in Hotel lounges, in Malls, she is being murdered in Parque Arauco by the lunch time singer, some very odd costume they have in Chile's open air Mall. I don't think never has anyone in the history of mankind made so much money out of a broken heart and being dumped, good for her!!! And... Read Full Story

Urban Sunset I am spending a few days in Santiago, in an area known as Alto Las Condes, green, leafy, glass buildings, but at the same time sanitasied and very American. It is a different Chile than the one I saw down in Valparaiso, this is the one storming ahead with the price of copper going through the roof and the dollar down, but are many enjoying this life. Well it seems that life is getting better, at least in Santiago, they have reached full employment, with jobless figures down to 6... Read Full Story

Since returning back to the UK at the very beginning of 2010, life has been a bit of a roller coaster, with the dreaded threat of unemployment looming over me, the breaking of a leg, and almost falling in love, but not really getting there, and I don't like leaving things unfinished. However, with its ups and down, life seems to, step by step, have straighten its path. Although my leg still plays up, and there is no one to love, that sounds like a cheap song, I got a job, and the job brings... Read Full Story

I was in Madrid yesterday, and while walking around town I came across a Republican demonstration. Republicans in Spain have got very little to do with the bigots, racist and homephobic lot that for a while was headed by George W Bush. They were asking for the whereabouts, the memories of the thousands that dissapeared following Franco´s victory. For years Spain decided to ignore the issue, the needs of a newborn democracy and the need to keep the military happy led to things being, if not... Read Full Story

The Andes  It is strange how sometimes everything seems to just fall into place. You may not even realized when that happens, but one small thing, sometimes meaningless and unrelated will open your eyes and make you realized that somehow everything just keeps getting better. The clouds are nothing more than just that, clouds, not the giants that you have thought they were. Read Full Story

As I had a weekend for myself while in Chile I decided to popped out of Santiago, leave behind the luxury of the Park Plaza Hotel and go back to my roots, find a cheap hostel and talk to strangers, and with a bit of luck even drink with strangers like in the old days traveling through India or Central America. I am in Chile on a business trip, and although I have had to downgrade from the Marriot to the Park Plaza I am fairly certain that I will not be sharing my bed with little insects like... Read Full Story

As I was walking around Santiago I came to reflect on those that we seem to have forgotten on Rememberance day. I have always have the upmost respect for those that have died for our country, and in this I feel more British that I would ever feel Spanish. Everyone that knows me,  knows that I respect and remember those that die to defend Britain. Nonetheless, should we not be remembering those that die defending the freedom of their country against those supported by Britain our Allies? As I... Read Full Story