Two weeks in Chile already!

At the end of our second week we are here in an apartment at Hostal Balmaceda in La Serena after a fairly speedy - and slightly hair-raising - bus trip down the valley from Pisco Elqui this afternoon.
Our trip to the Fundo Los Nichos Pisco distillery was almost as good as my recent visit to Auchentoshan distillery outside Dumbarton with Peter. Our guide spoke excellent English and was very knowledgeable and the 3yr old 40° was extremely smooth - as was their sweet dessert wine.
The cycle ride down the length of valley was a bit warm but the breathtaking scenery compensated for the few hills we had to climb up. This really is a magical place only slightly marred by the lively parties in the campsite across the road which went on for most of the night on both Friday and Saturday - we could have coped with that if it hadn't been for the rooster in the garden next door who started crowing at 4.00am and kept going until 7.00!
I'd have put him in the pot if I could have caught him.
We are back on the coast and the temperature has dropped by about 6°C which is pleasant in the afternoon and cool after dark. We are here for a couple of days to catch up on laundry etc and finalise the arrangements for the next part of our trip as we head South to Puerto Montt and Chiloe.