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Published: January 4th 2008
Teary eyed (and throbbing headed) we said our farewell to Gregory and decided to head out of Santiago back to where we did the rafting, at the Cajon de Maipo. The plan was a night of camping and a spot of horse trekking. After a rather hot and sweaty trip on metro and bus we were there. We pitched our tent on a rather firm site, had a mediocre dinner in the local restaurant and hit the hay/rock hard ground. The campsite is set in an amazing valley 60km from Santiago, and we were excited to go riding after a decade off for both of us.
With bruises on our hips from a "firm" bed we were ready to take on the horseriding, and once introduced to our horses Moro (my white beauty) and Barranco ( Kate's trusty steed) and guide, we were off. It was amazing seeing such dramatic scenery on horseback; and I have to admit to feeling a little guilty for trying horse jerky on a recent bustrip. I was praying Moro wouldn't smell it on my breath! I concluded that thousands of years of breeding horses for work and not food were well spent, as the
jerky was a little stringy, and Moro was a charming and powerful beast. The horse trekking was great fun, and we really enjoyed it.
We headed back to Santiago and to Happy House Hostel. Despite the staff being a little unhelpful to say the least (eg. "Do you know where is good to eat around here?"..."No" "Excuse me, when might our laundry be ready?"...."Sorry, I'm on the phone to my family in Germany" ) the hostel is a beautifully renovated old building and a firm favourite with all the guidebooks. We were booked in until our flight to NZ on Christmas Day, and I have to say a soft bed felt good again!
Christmas Eve was spent in the shops of Santiago, all pretty packed, but not quite Dublin levels where mothers bludgeon each other to death with hangers for the last Man Utd. away jersey for little Jonny. Inspired by my horsey adventure and fearing the gaping hole in the ozone layer over Australia, I splashed out on a cowboy hat for myself (stay tuned for pictures!). I did find the lack of haggling (Chile is far to affluent to be counting pennies...) slightly unrewarding, and despite
Brokeback Mountain reducing the 'Macho-ness' of cowboys of late, I was happy with the purchase. The rest of Christmas Eve involved driving our shopping trolley around a crowded supermarket, trying to assemble some ingredients to make a half decent Christmas meal. The important things (booze) were bought first!
I accompanied Kate to Mass on Christmas morning where the public were outnumbered by nuns, and as the service was in Spanish, I understood even less than normal. It was back to the hostel to cook up a storm in the kitchen. On the menu was turkey breasts marinaded in lemon, olive oil, parsley, S&P, garlic and white wine. Layonaise potatoes, chorizo sausages and carrots on the side, apple tart and after eights for desert; I know, you would hardily think we were away! While the food was cooking we got stuck into the champers and beers. After that, we collapsed onto the couch, in front of Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter, and promptly fell asleep (in traditional christmas style). There were a good few other people in the hostel too, so it didn't feel too quiet.
By 7pm we were en route to the airport, not quite
believing we were leaving South America...
Our South American Highlights: Sunset on Ipanema Beach, Rio;
The best steak of our lives in Buenos Aires;
Cotopaxi Volcano, Ecuador;
Piranha fishing in the Ecuadorian Amazon;
Gambling (& Winning!) in Lima, Peru;
Machu Picchu in the morning cloud, Peru;
Climbing to 5,700m on Chachani, Peru;
Mountain retreat lodge in Huaraz, Peru;
Sandboarding in Ica Desert, Peru;
Cholita Wrestling, La Paz, Bolivia;
Cycling down World's Most Dangerous Road, Bolivia;
Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia;
Rafting & Horseriding in Cajon de Maipo, Chile.
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Cascada de los Animas
Vic
non-member comment
Mmmm!
Your Christmas dinner looks scrumptious!! Very entertaining blog as per. Gregory did a super job of the last one too. In fact, I've saved that photo of you Mark with the gay sign on Mum's desktop (it may be there for years, or at least until you come back and change it!) Miss y'all XX