Its the morning of the day we leave, and about 2 hours ago Matty and I decided to check out this crazy big market that sell everything you can imagine for impossibly low prices. Pants and shirts for $0.50 each and a kilo of tomatoes for the same price. It was pretty ridiculous.
We´re walking along jut abuot to exit the market and all of a sudden I feel hands on my arm, the arm that is attached to the hand that holding my camera. Instantly I go into defence mode, My hand grips that camera like it is the very heart keeping me alive, I´ve got almost 500 photos on there and there is simply no way that this guys going to seperate me from those. He screams at me something about being a gringo, and I tear my hand and camera away from him, and he turns and sprints away like the cowardly theif he is. I scream at him to fuck off, which he is already doing, and he can´t uderstand anyhow because hes spanish. Oh well, I´m sure my tone got the message across.
The whole scene takes about 5 seconds to go down, and we jsut look around a little stunned, yet relieved. He didn´t get shit, everyone in the market knows he is a theif, and o one was hurt. I would have much rather I got to hurt him, but thats the least of my concerns now. So we decide we should probably exit the market, and I decide I sshould probably pocket my camera for a while. Not incredibly smart to have it visible to everyone after all.
After that, we grabbed water from the car and just shilled in the park for a while, watched some kids playing around and some guy juggle pins... he was pretty solid too. Got 5 going at once and did behind the back juggling and all sorts of fun stuff. Mostly I sit and fantasise about the fight club scene where that pretty blond guy gets just mashed into the floor, and I imagine how great it would feel to pound that gypsy fucks face into the pavement untill I´m just driving pieces of bone into the ground. Ahh well, we´ll store that energy up for the next time someone tries to take something from me, or generally pushes me to far, and I get my hands on them. Sorry, machismo coming out there, but there's a lot of testosterone ripping through me right now.
Anyhow, We will see you all soon, and the best part of it is, we´ll all get to see the photos as well. I´m actually really happy to be coming home, as I miss all of you.
See you soon.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Portillo, Los Andes and the thermal spa
We headed from Valpo to hit up the hotchot ski resort Portillo. Its the place where all the richies go when the seasons in, though since it is summer, it isn't at all. We had seen on their websit there might be some hiking and kyaking opportunities so we figured it was worth checking out, especially since it sits smack dab in the middle of the highest mountains in the americas.
After a long fairly heavy traffic drive we started up the last strech into the mountains. I had said earlier I wanted to drive some serious mountain roads, and let me tell you, drive them we did. I've never been, and probably won't ever be on more twisty mountain side roads again. It was incredibly cool, et fairly unnearving at the same time. There are no guardrails anywhere, and the corners are a full 180 degrees. Anyone with any real fear of hights would be having panic attacks the whole time for sure.
We finally got to portillo, expecting a Whistler or maybe Tremblant type atmosphere. What we got was less impressive then Chicopee quite honestly. I imagine covered in snow and ice the place would be gorgeous, but a barren dessert with a subpar hotel thats basically not even open, just wasn{t doing it for us so we decided we wouldn't stay for the night. We did however get some amazing photos, of a glacial lake right nearby and the snow caps of the massive mountains, so the drive was definately worth it.
We headed back down and into Los Andes, and found the "thermas" which are basically the Chilean verrsion of onsens. Natural springs used in a quite luxurious, mulit bath with multi temperature resort. It was expensive as balls compared to what we were used to, but afte calculations, it was about half what it would cost at home. Basically everything here is exactly half as expensive as in canada.
We hung out in the baths and got ultra relaxed for an hour, let the water from the massaging manmade waterfalls massage our necks and rid us of the mountainroad tension. We also got awsome mexican wrestling masks (aka lycra bathing caps) that we were allowed to keep, and will be bringing home for video making purposes.
We had a filet mignon dinner, a bottle of wine, and went to bed and had a glorious rest. Then headed for some more Thermas, halfway between Los Andes and Santiago. We'll be home Friday in the early morning, So I expect something going on Friday night, ya{ll better recognise.
After a long fairly heavy traffic drive we started up the last strech into the mountains. I had said earlier I wanted to drive some serious mountain roads, and let me tell you, drive them we did. I've never been, and probably won't ever be on more twisty mountain side roads again. It was incredibly cool, et fairly unnearving at the same time. There are no guardrails anywhere, and the corners are a full 180 degrees. Anyone with any real fear of hights would be having panic attacks the whole time for sure.
We finally got to portillo, expecting a Whistler or maybe Tremblant type atmosphere. What we got was less impressive then Chicopee quite honestly. I imagine covered in snow and ice the place would be gorgeous, but a barren dessert with a subpar hotel thats basically not even open, just wasn{t doing it for us so we decided we wouldn't stay for the night. We did however get some amazing photos, of a glacial lake right nearby and the snow caps of the massive mountains, so the drive was definately worth it.
We headed back down and into Los Andes, and found the "thermas" which are basically the Chilean verrsion of onsens. Natural springs used in a quite luxurious, mulit bath with multi temperature resort. It was expensive as balls compared to what we were used to, but afte calculations, it was about half what it would cost at home. Basically everything here is exactly half as expensive as in canada.
We hung out in the baths and got ultra relaxed for an hour, let the water from the massaging manmade waterfalls massage our necks and rid us of the mountainroad tension. We also got awsome mexican wrestling masks (aka lycra bathing caps) that we were allowed to keep, and will be bringing home for video making purposes.
We had a filet mignon dinner, a bottle of wine, and went to bed and had a glorious rest. Then headed for some more Thermas, halfway between Los Andes and Santiago. We'll be home Friday in the early morning, So I expect something going on Friday night, ya{ll better recognise.
Monday, December 04, 2006
Valapariso: The San Fran of South America
We´ve spent the last few days in Valapariso, or Valpo as the cool kids call it. I am totally a cool kid, so I´ll call it valpo from this point forward. First off, I still think that girl I mentioned is uber renard, however her taste in cities is like coopers ass, stinky.
I really like this place, it makes no sense, its is chaotic, and it is immensly beautiful. It was build up the side of a crazy steep hill and all the building just go straight up, there is graffitty just everywhere, but then also gorgeous urals at every turn just to add even more bohemian charm.
The most important thing is, we found food, and i mean amazing assed gourmet food with richness and flavors and textures like I´d pay 50 bucks for easy at home, yet here, its far less then half that, including copius wine and coffee. We´ve eated at the same small french restaurant twice in two days, and its been utterly fantastic both times. Wehave also had some unbelieavable think crust pizza, so yeah, we are certainly not loosing any weight in this town, and we are certainly not looking forward to what we´ll be eating after we leave.
We have met a number of wonderful people here too. An older couple who basically live how I think everyone should live when they retire. They spend time together, draw, and travel all over and they still seem very much in love. Halk and Erin, I hope with all my heart you stay as happy as these two are, for as long as they have been. In fact, i hope every one of my friends finds someone like that one day, as even though old people can be gross, there isn´t much more beautiful then old people still very in love.
We´ve also met a number of beautiful and friendly girls, some of whem we spent the day at the beach with today, which was our first really relaxing time just having a serious lay around. Matty and I had been hitting the wine pretty damn hard for the last 4 nights so I needed a break thats for certain. I´m a little sunburnt but im pretty sure it´ll be turning into a tan.
Tomorrow we are off to the mountains, and considered the poshest ski resort in chile, though ski season is closed. They have it open for trekking and kayaking etc. etc. all year so we are hoping to get some serious Andes mountain photos while we are there. I´ll update later, Phil out.
I really like this place, it makes no sense, its is chaotic, and it is immensly beautiful. It was build up the side of a crazy steep hill and all the building just go straight up, there is graffitty just everywhere, but then also gorgeous urals at every turn just to add even more bohemian charm.
The most important thing is, we found food, and i mean amazing assed gourmet food with richness and flavors and textures like I´d pay 50 bucks for easy at home, yet here, its far less then half that, including copius wine and coffee. We´ve eated at the same small french restaurant twice in two days, and its been utterly fantastic both times. Wehave also had some unbelieavable think crust pizza, so yeah, we are certainly not loosing any weight in this town, and we are certainly not looking forward to what we´ll be eating after we leave.
We have met a number of wonderful people here too. An older couple who basically live how I think everyone should live when they retire. They spend time together, draw, and travel all over and they still seem very much in love. Halk and Erin, I hope with all my heart you stay as happy as these two are, for as long as they have been. In fact, i hope every one of my friends finds someone like that one day, as even though old people can be gross, there isn´t much more beautiful then old people still very in love.
We´ve also met a number of beautiful and friendly girls, some of whem we spent the day at the beach with today, which was our first really relaxing time just having a serious lay around. Matty and I had been hitting the wine pretty damn hard for the last 4 nights so I needed a break thats for certain. I´m a little sunburnt but im pretty sure it´ll be turning into a tan.
Tomorrow we are off to the mountains, and considered the poshest ski resort in chile, though ski season is closed. They have it open for trekking and kayaking etc. etc. all year so we are hoping to get some serious Andes mountain photos while we are there. I´ll update later, Phil out.
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Chillan and the Gato Negro
We stopped in Chillan with low expectations, though the gorgeous tree lined streets on the way in did have us slightly impressed. The place we got to stay was cheap, thought nothing special, and the square nearby was gorgeous, and filling up with people, as there appeared to be a free open air concert being set up for that evening.
We decided after much thought and a bottle of wine, that we wouldn´t be getting up all that early and that the concert and drinking in the square were both much better ideas. And so we did. Dipped into the gato negro, or "black cat" straight out of the box, and polished about a half litre each in the park.
Watched the characters around us play with colapsible batons and deal drugs, as well as what appeared to be a post prom party slowly fade into the night. After the box we headed over to the fair, buzzed as can be, and ate 20 cent beernuts and watched the show. It was totally worth every penny, and we got a good 30 minutes or so of entertainment out of it before we headed back and layed down for a very trying sleep.
No one has heard of double pane windows here so anyhting happening on the street dring the night, you hear full volume. Thats tough to adjust too, though I was okay with it after all that wine, Matty struggled.
We were actually up pretty early and headed off to Valapariso. The sanf fran of Chile, the bohemian town of the coast. Hot girl in Valdivia said she wasn´t a fan, but we were going to find out for ourselves.
We decided after much thought and a bottle of wine, that we wouldn´t be getting up all that early and that the concert and drinking in the square were both much better ideas. And so we did. Dipped into the gato negro, or "black cat" straight out of the box, and polished about a half litre each in the park.
Watched the characters around us play with colapsible batons and deal drugs, as well as what appeared to be a post prom party slowly fade into the night. After the box we headed over to the fair, buzzed as can be, and ate 20 cent beernuts and watched the show. It was totally worth every penny, and we got a good 30 minutes or so of entertainment out of it before we headed back and layed down for a very trying sleep.
No one has heard of double pane windows here so anyhting happening on the street dring the night, you hear full volume. Thats tough to adjust too, though I was okay with it after all that wine, Matty struggled.
We were actually up pretty early and headed off to Valapariso. The sanf fran of Chile, the bohemian town of the coast. Hot girl in Valdivia said she wasn´t a fan, but we were going to find out for ourselves.
Valdivia the brewpub and Sealions
SO after a long drive and a short ferry ride we arrived in a town called Valdicida. Its a university town with a bunch of shitty restaurant, as has been our experience with all of Chile, and a couple other interesting sights.
Our first night we drank a bottle of wine and chatted politics and the pros and cons of marriage with an old hippy dude from sanfransisco. He played us a little guitar and we shared a bottle or two of wine. Good night indeed.
The next day we met one of the most beautiful girls I´ve ever seen, and shatted a little over breakfast, then headed from the local brewry for a tour. We arrived before it opened, and waited around 10 minutes till noon and they swung us in for a whirlwind tour, of one shitty room with what I guess thye considered a beer museam, but looked more like any college dorm with a bunch of different bottles lined up.
Then we tasted all the beers they brewed on premises, and matty chose his favorite, a honey lager with a very sweet aftertaste that actually was just like real honey. I even almost enjoyed that beer, though the inicial beer taste still wasn´t good.
We had the first decent meal we had had in chile, and it was just an assortment of cheese and cold cuts, and some nice breads. We thouroughly enjoyed it and have picked up a few extras we´ll have to add to the traditional cotage lunches at home.
Stopped at the seashore on the way out of town as I spotted some sealions just chilling there. I learned two things about sealions that day. One that they are actually like lions, they gorwl and are big and look like they could seriously fuck you up, and two, they have what is perhaps the stinkyest shit on this earth. Think of rotten mussles draped in sick baby poo, then add more dirty fish stank, and you have something thats close, but not quite as bad.
We then headed off for a long ass drive to our next destination, which we thought would be just a shitty town to sleep in and get off early from to head to Valapariso.
However....
Our first night we drank a bottle of wine and chatted politics and the pros and cons of marriage with an old hippy dude from sanfransisco. He played us a little guitar and we shared a bottle or two of wine. Good night indeed.
The next day we met one of the most beautiful girls I´ve ever seen, and shatted a little over breakfast, then headed from the local brewry for a tour. We arrived before it opened, and waited around 10 minutes till noon and they swung us in for a whirlwind tour, of one shitty room with what I guess thye considered a beer museam, but looked more like any college dorm with a bunch of different bottles lined up.
Then we tasted all the beers they brewed on premises, and matty chose his favorite, a honey lager with a very sweet aftertaste that actually was just like real honey. I even almost enjoyed that beer, though the inicial beer taste still wasn´t good.
We had the first decent meal we had had in chile, and it was just an assortment of cheese and cold cuts, and some nice breads. We thouroughly enjoyed it and have picked up a few extras we´ll have to add to the traditional cotage lunches at home.
Stopped at the seashore on the way out of town as I spotted some sealions just chilling there. I learned two things about sealions that day. One that they are actually like lions, they gorwl and are big and look like they could seriously fuck you up, and two, they have what is perhaps the stinkyest shit on this earth. Think of rotten mussles draped in sick baby poo, then add more dirty fish stank, and you have something thats close, but not quite as bad.
We then headed off for a long ass drive to our next destination, which we thought would be just a shitty town to sleep in and get off early from to head to Valapariso.
However....
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