"BOYS WILL BE BOYS"CHILE WAS CHILL TIME
By the time we hit Chile we were pretty broken individuals! Tired from the recent weeks of partying, climbing, biking, sitting in jeeps etc etc! We were in definite need of a rest and serious relaxation. Chile definitely provided this for us!
Chile was way more first world then Bolivia or Peru! WAY MORE! The border post actually had computers, swipe reading scanners for your passports and they did a thorough bag search! (lucky they didn't confiscate barbie!) I must say we were happy to be in a more first world place, especially after the Salt Flats where we slept on a thin mattress simply plonked on top of a pile concrete. The pillows in Salt Flats couldn't really be described as pillows either! Lumpy porridge pillows as Guy described them. Food....we were not entirely sure what we were eating in Bolivia half the time.
As we drove down to San Pedro de Atacama on tar for the first time in a long time, we could feel the oxygen in the air getting thicker, we could feel ourselves getting warmer and our spirits lifted quickly! We had a nice meal in San Pedro and decided to stay a night to rest our weary bones and possibly drink a few Cuba Libras. Found a lovely hostel and when bodies hit the comfy beds it was tickets. As the evening approached it became clear that a big night was on the cards. Guy made a wise decision to rest his body half due to his body rejecting lunch. Julian on the other hand, still acting like a 2 year old, decided to bend it like Beckham with Matt the kiwi that we still hadn´t managed to ditch, Clint and Jane (kiwi couple) and Michelle (English girl). The next day Guy awoke refreshed and feeling great, Julian woke up still a little drunk. There is more rum than coke in those drinks.....(seriously no joke). We had the day to kill before our bus departed so we rented bikes and went cruising around San Pedro. It was hot hot and we had a great day in the desert around San Pedro. Visited Pukura Quito (a cool old hide out of some dude) that was carved into a nearby mountain. We explored that and found an awesome cave which we spent a good half hour exploring in almost pitch blackness.
Later that evening we embarked on our Premium Class 22 hour bus trip down to Santiago! We were situated downstairs in the lap of luxury. Had Clint, Jane and Michelle with us.....feeling equally as bad as Jules. So we were in really good company....which was necessary cause all the movies were in Spanish! Lots of "would you rather" questions and card games. We all managed a good nights sleep after our host made or beds for us and tucked us in. For those of you who haven't been to South America, the seats recline all the way into beds and you feel like you are lying in a massive old lazy boy! The 22 hours sailed by and before we knew it we had reached Santiago....
Easy food in South America is hot dogs.....only they don´t call them hot dogs.....they are called 'Doggies'. Try going up to the counter and asking for a ....DOGGIE! Very amusing.
Chile was way more first world then Bolivia or Peru! WAY MORE! The border post actually had computers, swipe reading scanners for your passports and they did a thorough bag search! (lucky they didn't confiscate barbie!) I must say we were happy to be in a more first world place, especially after the Salt Flats where we slept on a thin mattress simply plonked on top of a pile concrete. The pillows in Salt Flats couldn't really be described as pillows either! Lumpy porridge pillows as Guy described them. Food....we were not entirely sure what we were eating in Bolivia half the time.
As we drove down to San Pedro de Atacama on tar for the first time in a long time, we could feel the oxygen in the air getting thicker, we could feel ourselves getting warmer and our spirits lifted quickly! We had a nice meal in San Pedro and decided to stay a night to rest our weary bones and possibly drink a few Cuba Libras. Found a lovely hostel and when bodies hit the comfy beds it was tickets. As the evening approached it became clear that a big night was on the cards. Guy made a wise decision to rest his body half due to his body rejecting lunch. Julian on the other hand, still acting like a 2 year old, decided to bend it like Beckham with Matt the kiwi that we still hadn´t managed to ditch, Clint and Jane (kiwi couple) and Michelle (English girl). The next day Guy awoke refreshed and feeling great, Julian woke up still a little drunk. There is more rum than coke in those drinks.....(seriously no joke). We had the day to kill before our bus departed so we rented bikes and went cruising around San Pedro. It was hot hot and we had a great day in the desert around San Pedro. Visited Pukura Quito (a cool old hide out of some dude) that was carved into a nearby mountain. We explored that and found an awesome cave which we spent a good half hour exploring in almost pitch blackness.
Later that evening we embarked on our Premium Class 22 hour bus trip down to Santiago! We were situated downstairs in the lap of luxury. Had Clint, Jane and Michelle with us.....feeling equally as bad as Jules. So we were in really good company....which was necessary cause all the movies were in Spanish! Lots of "would you rather" questions and card games. We all managed a good nights sleep after our host made or beds for us and tucked us in. For those of you who haven't been to South America, the seats recline all the way into beds and you feel like you are lying in a massive old lazy boy! The 22 hours sailed by and before we knew it we had reached Santiago....
Easy food in South America is hot dogs.....only they don´t call them hot dogs.....they are called 'Doggies'. Try going up to the counter and asking for a ....DOGGIE! Very amusing.
"BEER, SUN, POOL, BIKINIS....HEAVEN?"
By Santiago we were well ready for some serious down time. The hostel we checked into was the nicest hostel in South America for sure. Awesome pool with a bar in the pool.....it was an old colonial mansion with high ceilings and original wooden floors. The owner was an awesome Aussie guy. It was aaaaaaaaaaamazing! We decided it was time to get in touch with our feminine side....so we tried our hand at waxing....3 weeks later, the patch of leg that was waxed is still smooth as a babies bum!
"THE AUSSIE CREW"
We spent our time lying by the pool sunning ourselves, drinking beer in the pool bar and having plenty of banter with some awesome Aussie girls that we met in the hostel. Had a couple nights out but really took it pretty easy. Next door was a great sushi restaurant, which we frequented every night! We were HAPPY. Guy did not actually see any of Santiago to be honest. There was no real need to leave the hostel and we needed the R&R! Santiago was all about Sun, Sushi and Cervesa.
So after 5 quick days in Santiago, it was time to climb on another bus (Guy maybe still slightly intoxicated at 2 pm - Jules the sensible 1 this time) 8 hours to the start of chapter 5 - Argentina.
Chile was short but fun. Perhaps in hind sight we should have tried to see a bit more of it (Lake district and the beaches) but we needed the time to relax after a month of travelling. We never knew travelling would be such hard work! We need a holiday! But Chile is certainly a place we would like to come back to. Guess now we have a reason for 'RoadtrippintheSsphere - Round Dos!
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