Valparaiso

Valparaiso was a cool place. After a recommendation from a friend we decided to stay at Angel hostel (Calle Cumming)- nice place, friendly staff (Rodriguez and Marco) and very helpful. We arrived at the bus station and got on a bus that seemed like a school bus with loads of kids and a clown standing at the front complete with facepaints and baggy trousers... he showed us the way (ended up being the wrong way) to our hostel.



Went to a really nice restaurant where we spent about 30 minutes trying to decide what everything on the menu meant whilst consuming lots of vino tinto (red wine) and agregamon (bread and accompaniments). Then we went to a really nice bar called Sale de Arts Ritual with lots of mosaics (including a mosaic manequin) and great art work plus tasty sangria style drink with fruits in it.

Next day for Becky´s birthday we went to Vina del Mar on the metro. Had fish of the day at an authentic fishing eatery called San Pedros. walked around a bit, had a beer with the cutest puppy in a red jumper called ´Titan´and then wandered along the seafront to watch the sunset with a cake and cocktail at plush bar Enjoy the Mar. That night we went to an indie club called Mascara with Marco where I practiced my drunken spanish (better than sober actually).

On the final day I explored Valpo... the Ascensores (elavators) take the sting out of the multiple climbs up the hills to catch a glimpse of the ocean below the multicoloured houses - all beautifully painted in pastels of green, yellow, blue etc and adorned with the most amazing and unique grafitti art. Cerro (hill) Conception andAllegare were the best and I paused for a moment at the bottom of Almte Montte street to watch the local arts and have a coffee.

Next to Santiago and the long bus ride to Mendoza (10 hours)...