Next Stop...Santiago

 
Moving to South America sounds rather exotic, and I am truly excited about the upcoming adventure but  I was reminded the other day when I open the curtains at home in Mangawhai and was greeted by the above scene, that in fact that we also live somwhere rather exotic.  I am so blessed to know that I will be returning after this adventure is over.
I have finally received reliable comfirmation that my passport, visa and tickets have arrived in Auckland which I will pick up tomorrow on the way to airport.  My destination is approximately  10,000 km beyond the Hen and Chicks.  Leaving  from Auckland, after an 11 hour flight I will arrive on the other side of the Pacific Ocean!
I will spend the night in the capital Santiago before heading to the most northern town, Arica, which is just 18km from the Peruvian border.  Thanks the students who did some fact finding on my behalf, I know that my new hometown has a population of approximately 185,000, it is an arid region near to the Atacama Desert and receves less than 2mm of rain per year! It is on the west coast, so rather that watching the sun rise over the Pacfic like we do in Mangawhai, I will be  watching it set over the same ocean.  It is also the home of great surf and hosted the Rip Curl World Champs in 2007, and the final resting place of  5,000 year old Chinchurro mummies! 
Clearly, there is alot more to explore, and I have several challenges to meet.  Many thanks for your best wishes and fond farewells.  Some of you are setting me up for great experiences-  I will of course do my best to hunt down decent chocolate and coffee, I think surely there will motorcross in the desert and Mr Graham I will be on the lookout for those Guinea Pig. I will do my best and keep you posted. Adios for now.