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The bus ride from Mendoza Argentina to Santiago Chile is for me one the best roads in the world, you slowly climb the mountains and the views are breathtaking, looking back I wish that I had rented a car and seen it that way although I would prob still be there now taking photos... There was just the four of us as the Canadian didn't wanna see chile and needed north, so with Europe in mind myself, the sweds and Dutchie enjoyed the road to Santiago...
Over the next month I pit stopped in Santiago 4 times and let me tell you, once is more than enough... They have a view point with no view as its one the most polluted cities in the world... There is also not a lot going...
Dutchie decided she was headed on as soon as we arrived and me and the sweds went to our hostel... This was the last we saw of her and looking back was a big shame as she was great company... We gave the address to the taxi driver who agreed to take us but was saying it was wrong address... He was right we ended up outside a home for travelling students, most the lads here made it look like a home for abused boys... The swed went in to ask if it was our hostel and got greeted with cuddles and smiles, turns out they thought he was there new abused boy... ;-) we soon found the taxi driver was right and with a quick tango lesson from him we headed to the hostel...
Valparaiso is a small town with a big history, loads of good art galleries, churches and a huge dock area... It's about 2hours from Santiago, we went here for a couple days... I was due to fly to Easter island in couple days and the sweds where moving on... We walked valparaiso like we did Sao Paulo but not as long as its not as big... There's a lot of cable type cars here as its very hilly, and a lot of coloured houses and buildings... We decided to go for what turned out to be one the best steaks I've had so far, and have a final supper... They had to move on as there schedule was very tight, I was losing friends like Greece was money but it was all part of the open road... The sweds are and always will be welcome in my home like a blank cheque... They where great company and I look forward to seeing them again...
That night three Americans moved Into the dorm and the short time I spent with them where really kool... They where biking as in cycling there way up and down south America, working on farms to earn stay and food etc... The thing I remember most was that apart from His mrs two of the americans had great beards and moustaches :-) I would love to grow one...
I was soon on a flight to the magic island of Easter...!! To say I was excited was an understatement, I was like a kid at erm................ easter ;-) the flight was easy enough and hostel was picking me up at the airport, well it was more like a small supermarket than an airport.. I managed to put down and not pick up my insulin cool bag, to realise just as we loading into the people carrier and have to rush back and get it... Luckily although my head wasn't in the game I hadn't lost it...
The next week was amazing, on arrival to hostel I meet and share a room with Canadian John, and we hang out with Chris from hong kong... I think it's safe to say we hit it off from the minute we started chatting and over the next week had a blast... We see all the moui statues, the volcanoes, walk with/run away from wild horses, trek tunnels but most important hire a small jeep and watch the sun set and rise over the island....
The jeep was dirt cheap but we manage on one day to cram 6 of us into the 4seater... Poor old Chris being squashed into the boot/trunk and the back seat being filled by three American chicks, who we had bumped into a couple times on the island... Each night we would watch the sun set behind the statues, play guitar, chat rubbish and watch various dogs have a jolly time... The local men of the island where very similar looking and behaving to what I imagine cavemen to have been... They where rude to tourist guys, over friendly to tourist women, and just didn't like any other males to be on the island or in there company... We got used to this though, and just carried on doing our own thing with couple other guys from Belgium and Italy...
I was sad to leave the island but also sad I wouldn't get to spend much more time with my two new friends... We agreed to have a final night in Santiago before parting ways... We pretty much just got drunk and laughed... Easter island was always going to be a great time but these guys had made it even better, thank you..!! I was in Santiago a couple days before I decided to head south to pucon in Patagonia chile...
Next instalment: pucon a friend for life, an unclimbed live volcano, two bears and a branding...
Peace out much love mick xxx
- comments
sharon Wow that's amazing babe, loved reading this, take care xx
mickwoh Thank you Sharon x
trev mick, loving these blogs mate! i am drunk. and i have read this before, but i wanna say, fair play to ya.. sounds f***ing mental. more then once in a life time stuff, i truly do take my hat off to ya!! be lucky mate, look forward to the next chapter of "mick goes wild".. ;-)