Horses, Bikes, Beef and Wines...

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Santiago, Chile

Well it is amazing to think that two weeks has passed since we left Australia. In those two weeks we have crammed in so much, the first being a short stay in Santiago.

South America, we are finding, is a place of contrasts at every level. In Chile alone you only have to look at the landscape to see where I am coming from. Nowhere else in the world can you go from the driest desert on the planet (the Atacama in the north), through magical mountains, and end up only a stone´s throw from Antarctica.

After only 4 days in Santiago we came to the realisation that we aren´t going to be able to spend a lot of time here so moved to the port city of Valparaiso. This used to be a major shipping port on route around the cape, but since the Panama Canal opened some 70 years ago it has never enjoyed the same prosperity. It still maintains the cobblestone streets and because of its´history is a regular on the tourist destination map. "Valpo" is also a tale of two cities - on one hand the mansions up on the hill have million dollar views and all the luxuries one could want for. On the other hand the slums are close by - areas filled with houses constructed from a bit of sheetmetal and a couple of blocks of wood. Because the rich are so close to the poor, crime is rampant and we were warned to avoid several areas because of the peligrosa (danger).

After 2 days, we decided to move on to greener pastures and packed our bags to head of to Mendoza, Argentina.

Mendoza, Argentina

Mendoza is a well laid out and comfortable city, however to get there from Chile you have to endure an 8 hour bus ride across the Andes. All at once this was amazing, breathtaking and frightening, although the bus company we used were fantastic. Chilean transport is terrific and their bus services are wonderful. The company we used even serves up free yummy snacks en route (take note: Virgin Blue and Jetstar!)

Whilst in Mendoza we took a half day to ride horses through the Andean foothills and spent a day lazily cycling from winery to winery on their excellent Bikes and Wines trail. On the winery tour we got to 4 wineries, one chocolate shop and a 400 yr old wine museum. Our legs weren´t peddling all that quick by 6pm when we had to get the bikes back. We had some good company from two dutch travellers who we rode with all day.

We are now back in Santiago, and save for the smog, enjoying it a bit more this time. We are getting better at planning the day to make the most of the daylight hours and jetlag is well and truely behind us. The only thing that threw us out this week was daylight savings. The clocks went back again last weekend and we had no idea until today when another Australian staying in our hostel told me. We would have only found out tomorrow when we would have been an hour early for our flight to Rio.

Don´t have many photos yet, but will post some soon. Some areas you just don´t take a camera to!

Bye for now,

Chris & Kirsty

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Photos

Crossing the Andes
Sometimes crossing the Chilean-Argentinian border feels like you are on the moon.

Andes at sunset
This photo was taken from the bus approaching Mendoza

The only Colonial building left
This church in the main square in Santiago is the only Colonial building left. The others were destroyed in numerous earthquakes.

Santiago City
The sprawl of Santiago complete with pollution and Andes in the background. Still snow at the end of summer - 35°

Kirsty on "Drug" in Mendoza at the base of the Andes
We can't remember the name of this horse in Spanish - only that in English it meant Drug.

Bikes and Wines
In a cellar at one of the Mendoza wineries.

On ya bike
A long time between drinks...

Comments

[Flic]

drugs
Kirsty on Drug............lol noice one!

[grandma]

hello
hope

[grandma hello]

frome me to yu
dont bring snow only sunshine take the senece route frome london to thornaby see you soon adios grandma