AYLBURTON resident John Cresswell took his copy of the Review to South America recently, where it also seemed to travel back in time.

John said: “We took part in the annual fiesta to commemorate the opening of the first railway line in South America. It opened between Caldera and Copiapo in the Atacama Desert in Chile on July 4, 1850.  Every year local people dress-up in traditional period costumes for the three-day event. I went

as Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

“The railway was the inspiration of William Wheelwright (1798-1873), an American contemporary of Brunel.  It connected the sea port of Caldera with the desert mining town of Copiapo where copper, gold and silver are still mined today.

“In 2010, the area was the scene of the San Jose mine collapse; 33 miners were trapped underground for 69 days before being successfully rescued.”

If you’re planning an autumn break somewhere unusual this year, don’t forget to pack your Review and to give us an update on your travels when you return.