#27 One night in Cochrane....

The idea behind our return to Cochrane was to take up the offer from Aldofo of a horse riding expedition in Villa O'Higgins, the last stop on the Careterra Austral, with a stop in Caleta Tortel on the way. The narrow and windy road was also something we weren't prepared to tackle so soon post-accident so to Tortel by bus it was with the hope of taking another bus to Villa O'Higgins the following day (a possibility we had mixed reports on). With the sun shining in Cochrane it seemed fitting to celebrate our return with a beer but finding a pub open late afternoon proved difficult but in the end well worth our efforts.

The video gives an idea of the roads on the Careterra.

We spotted a couple of guys having a drink in what you might kindly refer to as a restaurant. Not prepared to forgo the sunshine we invited ourselves to sit with them as they were occupying the only outside table. We got chatting to what turned out to be two Polish guys (one living in Santiago, then other Prague). A couple of beers led to a couple more, which led to sharing a bottle of wine on the town's mirador complete with a Hollywood-style Cochrane sign, overlooking the town.

Earlier a couple of us had spotted a disco in town and being a Friday night it seemed the perfect opportunity to have our first night out dancing in South America. We thought perhaps we had the days wrong as upon entering the only light visible was shining from the beer fridge behind the bar. Our request for more light was sharply declined. Half way through our next drink and a few guests attended, extending the total patrons in the disco to 10, and that included the bartender.

Dissappointly we were told that these ladies who were working in the bar, so it seemed unlikely they would be dancing partners. Four waitresses for six patrons seemed slightly odd, as did their revealing attire we were exposed to once jackets were removed. I think I must have been the last to click, still wondering why the drink our Polish friend had purchased for the original lady behind the bar cost three times the normal price: this was not any old disco, but Cochrane's very own brothel. It was about this time we decided to make a speedy exit, leaving the two men to enjoy as the Polish called it in broken English 'carnal pleasures'. A funny if not happy ending to the evening.

The next day the four of us were all on the bus to Tortel, laughing about how the previous night had unfolded. The guys were attempting to hitch a ride to Villa O'Higgins from Tortel, having missed the bus the previous day. From Villa O'Higgins there plan, as most peoples is, was to cross the border to Argentina, which is only possible on foot or horse, as well as a couple of boat rides. Tortel can really only be experienced by pictures which I'll include in the next post along with an explanation of what makes this town so unique.

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