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Published: October 2nd 2008
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Choo Choo
Traveling by rail from Peru to Chile This wil be our last blog from South America as we leave for New Zealand on 02nd October. It's pretty basic as we've been trying to save cash and so not really been doing much,
So, here goes:
Thursday 11th September Can't believe it's seven years since the Twin Towers. TV has been full of re-constructions and allsorts. Pretty upsetting to watch. So, today we're moving on to Chile. We bought our tickets. 7NS each, takes 1½ hours and is the easiest way to cross the border. It was pretty surreal as the tracks went down main roads but there was no barriers like there is in the UK. When we arrived in Chile we didn't have a clue about currency so hunting for a hostel was pretty difficult. In the end we settled for one for 10,000C$ which is approx. 11 pounds. Had a little look around. Looks like a nice place. Found some cheap meals, 2400C$ each so we'll probably become regulars there.
Friday 12th September Visited Tourist Information. Very helpful. Visited main Plaza with a nice water feature backdropped by El Morro de Arica - basically a 110m hunk of rock which we're planning to
walk up tomorrow. Had a wander to the beach but due to weather being crap it was pretty much deserted. We then visited the Iglesia San Marcos in Plaza Colon. It's a church that, except for the door, is entirely cast iron. It was designed by Alexander Gustav Eiffel and was a pretty cool building.
Saturday 13th September Today we walked up El Morro de Arica. Had some fab views of the city and there was a miniature Christ the Redeemer statue. Seeing as we have proper pictures of the real thing we decided to take some silly ones (well, Steve was being silly, I was being realistic - see the picture). Steve skyped his family and we chilled the rest of the day.
Sunday 14th September Typical Sunday, nothing open. Luckily the internet cafe was so managed to skype friends. Due to nothing open, chill out day again.
Monday 15th September Walked to the bus station to buy tickets for Santiago tomorrow but due to it being some sort of holiday all the buses were full. The earliest we could get was Thursday for 31,000C$ each and it takes 32 hours AAAAAAGH. Really not looking forward
El Morro de Arica
we walked up that! to that journey! Venturing out for a meal tonight as for the last three nights we've lived of pate sandwiches.
Tuesday 16th September Meal was nice last night but is it really sad to say I did miss my pate sandwich? Didn't really do much today so nothing to report.
Wednesday 17th September Same story as yesterday. Just packed and thats about it.
Thursday/Friday 18th/19th September Left at 1030 Thursday. Supposed to arrive at 1830 on Friday in Santiago. Luckily arrived two hours early. Found a hostel near the bus station for 12,000C$ as we leave early for Mendoza tomorrow. Yet another bus journey.
Saturday 19th September Travelled to Mendoza. Fab views of the Andes. Quite a bit of snow and people skiing. I think Steve had itchy feet! Hunted for a hostel when we arrived. Managed to get one with kitchen, pretty central, next to the supermarket and we knocked them down to AR$75 per night. Made our very own steak and vegetables. It's amazing what you miss.
Sunday 21st September Sightseeing Plaza day due to it being a Sunday. There's eight Plaza's altogether as due to the earthquake that levelled the city in
Iglesia San Marcos
Made entirely of cast iron by Alexandre Eiffle 1861 they rebuilt it with wide roads so the "Mendocinos" (people from Mendoza) could safely reach the Plaza's and it also avoids the domino affect with the buildings. So it's pretty cool.
Monday 22nd September Finished off doing the Plaza's today. Plaza San Martin and Plaza Espana. They're all pretty nice Plaza's that are well kept. Steve made his famous burgers tonight. They were very yummy.
Tuesday/Wednesday 23rd/24th September Lazy days.
Thursday 25th September Had a walk to Parque Bernard O Higgins where we had a mini picnic, well, a ham butty! Then we walked to Museo Fundacional. This is where the old centre used to be before the 1861 earthquake. You could see some original parts and it also explained a bit of history of Mendoza.
Friday 26th September Had a nice walk to Parque General San Martin. Grand entrance but then the park itself kind of went downhill. It had a nice camping area though, and a football stadium!
Saturday 27th September Leaving here tomorrow for Santiago so packing. First time I've ever got really stressed whilst trying to pack my bag as when I'd finally finished, realised the money was in my
Men!
They always over exaggerate on size! jeans pocket so I had to unpack the whole damn thing - not impressed.
Sunday 28th September Pretty much slept the whole eight hour journey as last night Steve decided he wanted the whole bed so I had approximately three hours sleep. We smuggled a pear over the border, well, actually Steve did. I was going to smuggle some brocholi but I crumbled at the last minute and threw it in the bin! Went to a hostel that had been recommended. Kitchen and internet access which is cool. Off to see the sights tomorrow.
Monday 29th September Got up at 1000. Very noisy in room as we have a door that links to the bathroom and someone had sickness! So, we had lunch - I'm having salads, and egg on toast for evening meal as last nights pasta really bloated me. Headed out at about 1300 to see Palacio de la Moneda (the Presidential Palace). It was very grand but we couldn't go inside as you have to book a month in advance. We then carried on to the Criminal Justice Building and a very posh looking ex-Congreso. We then walked to the Plaza de Armas and visited
El Morro de Arica
Having a sit down whilst taking in the views of Arica the Catedral Metropolitano. Very nice and detailed inside, one of the best I've ever seen. We then went on to the market which was full of fresh fish and restaurants, apparently a copy of one in London. We confirmed our flight to New Zealand - everything is fine. Apparently we don't have to pay the departure tax, but we're going to save the money anyway. Can't wait to go to New Zealand now!
Tuesday 30th September Desperately wanted sunglasses so wandered to the market by the bus station and bought some for 1000C$ approx. 1 pound and got some shoes.............wait for it..........2 pounds!! So a pretty succesful day. Disappointed as finally fell in love with a cardigan but couldn't afford it (it was 3 pounds). Guy at the hostel told us about a student building across the road that has traditional dancing called "cueeca." It was pretty cool. Imagine your dad dancing at the end of a wedding and you've pretty much got the picture. Spent the rest of the evening drinking and chatting to a few others from the hostel. A guy made curry and it was amazing!
Wednesday 01st October Leaving on a jetplane tomorrow. Can't
wait. Today spent doing this very blog, packing and skyping so we will see you again in a few weeks from New Zealand, whoop whoop.
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