Blogs from Valparaíso, Valparaíso Region, Chile, South America - page 9

15/2-2013: Ee got up at 10 and packed and had some breakfast before getting on the bus. The bustrip took 18 hours but went by surprisingly fast. We saw three movies with spanish voiceover and subtitles and then we slept. 16/2-2013: Ee had a hard time finding a room in La Senera but in the end we found a room at Hostal Croata, a little expensive at 30.000 pesos but including breakfast. We went to the beach even though it was very cloudy. A long walk but we found it and saw some horses used for tourist riding - we ended up speaking with the owner for a long time. Then we went to find some lunch and afterwards the sun came out so we decided to relax on the beach and ended up sleeping so ... read more

10th Feb 2013 Our first impressions as we sat on the coach from Santiago airport to our hotel was made more relaxing by the mellow tones of the Carpenters 'Close to You' bellowed out (not a word I would have associated with the Carpenters but ‘bellow' out, they did!!). On our route from the airport our first impression were that we are both surprised as to how advanced Chile appears. Chile is not as cold as the name suggests. The temperature stayed at a balmy 80°F (25C). They should rename the country Scorchio! Santiago was founded by Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia in 1541. Resting on an inland plain, with the Andes glimmering in the distance, it is now the capital of Chile and the fifth largest city in South America. The Mapuche destroyed it in ... read more

Hello again from somewhat cloudy Valparaiso.I am told it has not been a great summer here on the coast, with more cloudy days than they are used to.Perhaps another sign of the warming of the planet and the movement of the ocean currents that effect these coast lines so much. I asked Micheal the Pirate to take me out to some vineyards and see some of the country side outside of Valparaiso.Michael suggested we wait a couple of days to see if he could round up a few more adventurers for our excursion but as the time went by no one came forward so off we went with just the two of us in Michaels father in laws car.Michael lives in an apartment building in Vina and has problems with wingnuts parking infront of his car ... read more

Departed Argentina for the fourth and final time (just as well as passport rapidly filling with stamps !), crossing the Andes to the Chile lake district adventure town Pucon, overlooked by the imposing Volcano Villarrica. Hired a mountain bike for a hot and dusty 40 km to the Ojos de Caburgua waterfalls busy with Chilean families, scrambled across streams and ate a picnic in the shade. Followed the ride with a much-needed refreshing dip in the chilly lake with its black-sand beaches. Next day caught a bus out to Huerquehue national park for another steep hike past volcano viewpoints to hilltop lagunas, chatting to fellow Swiss and German travellers but unfortunately (?) just missing a giant tarantula photo opportunity. Final day at Pucon was spent lazing in nearby Las Pozones hot springs, before catching an overnight ... read more

Hello again blog buddies,just having my morning coffee and thought I would catch up on my travels and tell you about my return trip from Mendoza.I had reservations about the bus, after having taken 14 hours on the eastward crossing of the Andes a week before.My decision was made after weighing a few factors such as the fact I was travelling on a Sunday and I had been told part of my previous experience was due to the summer holiday phenomenon occuring in the middle of January when wave two of holiday travellers heads to Chile from Argentina just as wave one is returning.It all seemed to make sense and so the decision was made and ticket in hand I went to the bus station to catch the 09:30 Andesmar bus to Valpo . I was ... read more