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Published: March 14th 2012
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Tuesday 13 March Today was going to be a nice easy day sight seeing. Breakfast was served between 9 and 11 am so there was absolutely no point getting up early, but I did. I couldn't help it. The bloody phone went off at 7.30 am. It was a blocked call. Usually that means it's work. I had had a missed blocked call the day before but I figured if it was someone from work and they couldn't figure out I was away and it was urgent they would try the office or a colleague so I wasn't worried.
The phone was only on as an alarm clock. I never expected anyone to ring. It turned out to be a cold call from Simon from 02. Is it urgent? No? Well I'm in Chile and asleep. Once I hung up I wondered if I was being stung on roaming charges and Simon had rung to check but that couldn't be it as the phone was off most of the time. The roaming thingy had been turned off and I only used it to text Lin a few times. I had also recieved a text from 02 when I arrived
in Chile to tell me they would text me every £20 and I hadn't heard anything so I hope it was just a marketting call.
Once up I went down for a breakfast of fresh fruit salad, proper coffee and real wholemeal seeded bread like back home. Yummy.
It was a lovely bright sunny day so I sat outside for a while drinking coffee and writing my blog and planning my day. The guide book recommended a walk around Cerro Concepicion which was the district I was in. Although I had walked some of the route the night before it seemed a good bet. I decided I would extend it with a trip down one of Valparaiso's ascensors - a sort of funicular railway cum lift affair. Once at sea level I would explore a bit of modern Valparaiso, find a post office to send the few cards I had managed to find and then return up the next ascensor and re-join the walk.
Despite the ascensors it was incredibly steep but I took my time, snapped few snaps, popped into a few shops, gasped at the prices and popped out again and did the whole tourist
thing. Trinkets and souvenirs had so far prove to be cheap tat. Valparaiso specialised in expensive tat. For those of you expecting gifts on my return - re-adjust your expectations now.
Part of my plan was to find a nice place for lunch and/or dinner later that night and although there were plenty I never really felt like eating. It was perhaps the heat or excercise or both.
I got back to the hotel at about two-ish and had a nice cold drink. The hotel served lunch between 12 and 4 and the few guests eating there seemed to have very nice food. Once I had got my composure back I asked what the waitress recommended. Conger she said. I had never had conger but seen it on lots of menus in Chile and thought why not. I got a lovely grilled fillet and would highly recommend conger.
After lunch and having seen nearly all I wanted I decided to breakout the laptop and plan the next few days. There were a few e-mails from the tour leader, Kevin Saunders, who was just about to fly out so he could be in Osorno ahead of the rest
of us. There were a few group exchanges from my fellow travellers on Kevin's tour, all trying to figure out who was flying when and whether it was possible to meet up. I warned one of the number, who planned to catch a taxi when he got to Santiago airport of my experience.
There was though no e-mail from Lin and I was a little upset. I shouldn't of been because we had exchanged texts only the night before but Valparaiso was so lovely I wished she was here to share it with me and I wanted to hear from her. I wrote her a long gushing e-mail that made me feel better and then wrote up the blog.
I enjoy the blog. It is quite therapeutic but time consuming and up until now I have always been 1 or 2 days behind. I want to keep it up but once I head out to Patagonia and Terra del Fuego it might not be possible or at least for me to be able to write so much - so be warned. I don't know perhaps no one is reading this so perhaps no one will notice.
Once
the evening came it had cooled down and I went for a walk the other way, that is north of the hotel. I discovered the hotel had a back door and the receptionist said I could use that tomorrow to load the bike if I wanted to. It turned this back door was up at least another 60 or so steps. That meant the hotel's back door, which was about 100 foot higher than the front! Valapariso was seriously steep! Even so the road at this rear entrance was level which would make it much easier to load and get on the bike. I just had to smile sweetly at the receptionist between now and leaving and she might help the old fart carry his bags up all those bloody stairs.
On my walk a found a great book shop cum cafe. I wasn't really hungry as I had had a main meal for lunch. This place did nice coffee and quesadilla - a sort of cheese and ham toasted sandwich made with tortilla. That would do.
I was back in my room writing this entry by 8 pm. I had caught up with my blog and it
was time for an early night
PS: I've just realised not all the photos get posted in the text. Try clicking a photo it should take you to the album or click the box "photos". I've stuck a map on too. I have done this before but I don't think it has come out so fingers crossed this time
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