Absolutely fantastic sleep last night, up early again as bus to catch. Heading to Mendoza, Argentina. 730am and trying to check out, unfortunately the 24 hour reception desk is unattended....and we locked in, front door and 'escape' door both locked?! Thank god there wasn't a fire. Anyway found a little fellow kicking back in restaurant upstairs (breakfast doesn't start until 830am), and we are set free. The Chile / Argentina border is in the Andes. Quite a numb...

Found Wally, found 4 actually and yes they wearing the red stripe tee. 3 hours, 10km of walking, 1 funicular (not a fan) - the tour was brilliant. Nearly every house, building and wall in Valparaiso seems to be covered in murals, graffiti art or tags. Loved it!! This city indulges it's quirkiness. Back to hotel to change prior to dinner as getting cold. Hotel Fauna, very cool looking little hotel, is basically timber, slate and exposed brick with very eclectic ...

Up early, subway then bus to Valparaiso. No need to go over a mountain when you go straight through it, extremely long tunnel. Scenery fantastic and bus very roomy. Valparaiso is built over 41 hills, streets are steep, narrow and winding. There is the option of catching a funicular to get to top, but that would be cheating. Too early to check in, 2pm check in and no earlier (no queue rooms here Mr B...) so wandered on down the hill to the port and around the st...

Today we walked to cerro San cristobal, 2nd highest point in Santiago - 300m above the city and at the top is a 22m statue of the Virgin Mary. 4km up a dirt trail which just ascended continually and at the end there were stairs naturally. Views across the city fantastic but shrouded in smog. Then it was down 5km along the winding road (halfway a stray dog joined us for a bit, they are everywhere) Total distance walked today was 12km.

Slept like a baby awake at 8am, breakfast by 9am. Grabbed a map from reception and started walking. Visited areas of plaza el golf, providencia, plaza de armas, santa lucia hill (steps, steps and more steps! This hill was first founded feb 12th, 1541 and was the start of Santiago), mercado centro, bellavista and plaza de la constitucion. Is a city of over 6 million people but despite being busy is strangely relaxed, people don't jostle and push, all just seems ...