Hello!!

So we are now in Chile!!

We travelled from San Pedro, the border of Bolivia down to Antofagasta, just for a nights stop over before heading down to La Serena.

We arrived in La Serena and found a hostal near by. While waiting for a room to be freed we explored into town! We found a supermarket and browsed for a while, this is Jons favourite thing to do everywhere we go! We found the most delicious cakes and a bottle of local wine!!

Once we got sorted at the hostal, we spent the majority of the day at the beach. The sea was absolutely freezing, but we managed to have a little dip, and watched the locals and holiday makers dive in without a thought! On the beach locals sell pastry´s and doughnuts!

After washing the sand from our skin we got ready and headed to town for some dinner and a Pisco sour! On the way we managed to collect a follower, a stray dog, who waited outside of the restaurant until we had finished and then continued to follow us all night! Being the wally´s that we are, we fed it. Yes we know, big mistake. As it was munching, us stood next to it, a man walked by and the dog bit him!! Ripped his trousers and everything! So we ran. Irresponsible and silly, well yeh, but you would too. We had a savage dog tracking our every step!! We managed to shake him off by entering a mall and escaping through the fire exit.

Moving on, the next day we went to Pisco Elqui, 2 hours away in the valley. Originally we had planned to stay in some domes, about 4k from Pisco Elqui, where you sleep under the stars. But unforunatley this was too expensive for the budget, and we opted for a really lovely hostal at the top of the village instead. It was all very natural and had hammocks in the garden to chill out in.

We both loved it in Pisco. It had a real holiday feel, everyone was lovely, especially the man in the mini market, who practised his English on us! We decided to book a couple of trips. The first night we went horse riding, up the mountain a little way, where we stopped and watch the full moon rise up a light up everything behind and around us! We sat by a fire and sipped some pisco, before jumping back on to our saddles and making our way back down. Jon had the laziest horse, who just kept stopping every few minutes!

The following day we hit the river. Jon built his dam for a few hours while I sat in the sun and toasted. The ground became too hot so we crashed back at the hostal and munched on some fresh bread and advacadoes. Lovely! That evening we visisted the local observatory where the english guide explained everything there is to know about astrology and astronomy. Both of us were lost within a few minutes however the views of Jupiter, the Full moon and the stars were stunning. The trips in Pisco Elqui were two of the best trips so far!!

Last night we left Pisco Elqui and headed for Santiago. After arriving at half five in the morning we dumped our bags at the Bus station and jumped on the metro into the city centre. Nothing was open but we managed to find a place for breakfast and some caffine!! Then we got on the cable car up to Cerro San Cristobal. Where the views of the city were well good, and we got a snap of the virgin statue! After this we headed back to main Plaza and came across the clothes market on the way! We did eventually get back to town and went into the Cathedral and sat for a while. An old man came and chatted with us, in spanish, so it wasn´t the easiest of conversations, but he showed us pictures of his late wife and family and chatted with us about his life. I felt really sad for him as we chatted as i think he was lonely. He gave me a random piece of paper to do with religion and gestured that i shouldn't throw it away. Eventually he got a bit too keen for us to go somewhere with him, so we politely shook his hand and said goodbye. For dinner i fancied some seafood!! As there was a huge fish market i was in luck! However, what we recieved was unrecognisable, and even i didn´t dare eat it. The waiter got cross. And i felt bad and embarrassed. Had to escape so left Jon to pay the bill. Bless him.

Just had a mango Pisco and a beer in the trendy Barrio Bellavista area!! Very funky and cool atmosphere! Can't drink for toffee so lots of water to sober up before getting on the bus, again, to Pucon!!!