Blogs from Coquimbo Region, Chile, South America - page 4

We have all finally arrived here in Tongoy for two nights, which will give everyone a chance for some rest and a bit of moto maintenance. Howard has written up a Few words with his perspective of our adventure so far. I am having trouble with slow Internet to upload photos, so bear with me I will post more when I can. Cheers, Rosco. So from Howard....... In Valpairaso it is like Wellington and the colour of the houses are solid yellow and reds. Amazing. One of the guys on the Adventure, Terry, has been all around the world as a merchant sea engineer and is really impressed with both Latin America and Valparaiso, and is thinking of buying a place here. Just had a lovely dinner here in Corico after moving down here from Vina ... read more

Most of the next day was spent on the bus to La Serena. As we mentioned before the buses in chile are lovely and comfortable, and although it was an 8 hour journey, it was not too traumatic! A far cry from our early morning experience on the local buses where we nearly got thrown through the doors with our backpacks on, trying to walk up the bus as the driver threw it round the corners! The only problem with the long distance bus was that despite the fancy headphone systems and tv's the films were not only dubbed in Spanish, but with Spanish subtitles, big problems hey! When we arrived in La Serena, we made the easy walk to the hostel. The hostel was another tiny little B&B style place, and we checked in with ... read more

To the north of Valparaíso begins El Norte. As in the south of Chile, such is the extent of this stretched-out region that it needs subdividing: Norte Chico (the little north), giving way to the Norte Grande (the big north), with some people even referring to a Norte Extremo even further up. We've definitely been dawdling. Such has been the attraction of the south that we've almost forgotten than there's a whole other half-Chile waiting to be disovered beyond Santiago. On arrival in the far south we were given a standard 90-day stamp in our passports, of which we've spent over 60 already. This leaves us barely a month to cover the two thousand kilometres which separate Valparaíso from Arica, Chile's most northerly town, almost sitting on the Peruvian border. A slight upping of the pace ... read more

Good Friday was drawing to a close and under a cloudless sky a full moon was to rise from behind the mountains. Decided to grab a bit to eat and visit the off licence for a bottle of wine to drink with some friends around the pool. Going to have an early night as tomorrow have to be up early as going to the thermals. On the way out bump into Paul, who works at the hostel. From Barcelona, he is a very friendly guy, long black hair with a piercing through the bridge of his nose. He informs me that at the bar I call 'The Fire Bar', but is actually called El Rustica, some live traditional music will be playing tonight. He will be there watching. "Sounds good. See you there". Meet Anita and ... read more

So, I have returned to Pisco Elqui as I like it here.got up early today to see the sunrise over the Andes. Sat with a coffee and fag as it slowly presents itself. From darkness to light. Wonderful.Peaceful. All is good with the world. My credit cards are somewhere over the Atlantic en route to me. Some random thoughts about Chile before I explain how I fell into a cactus. Chile. A country the Shape of a chili. I am warm under the sun and so not chilly. Dominated by the Andes, making it hilly. Trying to speak Spanish, sounding silly. Jose-pinto my Chiloe horse, a colt not a filly, Me mucho gusto Chile. Oh, and Chile also rhymes with willy. So, how did I manage to fall into a cuctus? I suppose if I was ... read more