BANKSY WOULD LIKE IT HERE...

Wednesday 29th July

Once used as an important port for vessels, Valpo is now more a trendy, bohemian hub of culture. You only have to step out onto the steep, cobbled streets up in the hills of the city to come across some gems of cultural treasure. The street art is really captivating - you feel like you're going on a journey with the pictures themselves, taken to completely different world.

As we wondered round windy streets more familiar with a quaint, Cornish town than a city on the Pacific coast, we stumbled across another artistic treat. 'Luka' was a famous political cartoonist and satirical commentator in Chile and we found a museum with his drawings. Although we couldn't understand the little speech bubbles in the drawings, you certainly got the comments on society and the state of politics. Definitely something not to be missed if you want to get a different view on Valpo and Chilean culture/history!

The day was rounded up with a walk to the sea front - large military vessels dotted the coast line with what in comparison looked like teeny tiny fishing boats weaving in and out of their large and ancient extended familiy of boats and ships! It's an interesting place to just have a wonder - the architecture mixes old colonial styles with more modern, concrete buildings.

Valpo to the capital... via Vina del Mar (oops!)

Thursday 30th July

The day began well. Breakfast at my new favourite cafe (why can't time travel/warps be real - this one rivals the Craft Coffee Pot back in Bassett!). After filling up on all kinds of breakfast treats, it was time to catch up on my blogging (ahem yes I know i'm now actually writing this 15 months down the line so we all know how pointless this activity was whilst I was away). That was all good. Then it was time to leave. On the bus. The bus to Santiago. Straight to Santiago. Not via Vina del Mar. Which is where we obviously ended up.

2 hours and an-argument-about-going-skiing-without-the-right-travel-insurance later, we arrived in Chile's capital. Of which pretty much reminded me of London on first impressions. Arrived out gorgeoud hostel. Fully booked. Tried a traditional meal out - chorrilliano. Not a fan, at all. Chips, meat, onion and egg all piled on top of each other. It's something I'd find on chippy lane in Cardiff after a night out back in my uni days. Not something I'd expect to find as a traditional dish abroad. But cest la vie (or whatever the Spanish equivalent is), that's the point of discovering and trying such things - to put your stereotypes to rest and taste a slice of reality.

If only reality that night had been kinder to us. The window pains might well have not been there. Being in a busy district of Santiago, I don't think we got a wink of sleep that night. What a day!