What really happened during those 3 weeks

So people. It's time to learn more about Chile! Are you excited? Hope you are, you ungrateful piglets. I am sitting right now in a plane to Hong Kong and I could be sleeping, but I choose to put down in words what I experienced and let you know how it went. So clean the dirt from your eyes and read carefully.

Like I said, the disastrous beginning was all worth it. The mixture of cities and nature, camping and normal life, hot and cold conditions was perfectly balanced, though we didn't see one third of the country (everything souther than Temuco). But we can't help it if the shape of Chile is not handy for tourists: if those lazy Chileans wanted us to visit the country entirely, they would have shaped Chile in an other form. Like I said: sometimes, smaller is better.

This expedition in Chile was interesting for the following reason: after 3 weeks of bullshitting more or less alone in Argentina, it was somehow a bit hard to fit in a group of 20 people again, 24h a day, during 3 weeks. But I made it fine, mas ou menos. Claire vs Social situation 1:0.

So what did we do during 3 weeks? Take a look at this map (Paint mon amour).

 Starting in Santiago, then going south to Temuco and Pucón. We attempted the Villarica volcano (2800m and something), but had to stop after 2200 meters or something (yes I know, this blog lacks precise datas). Damn weather! Still we got to walk on a 50m long glacier tongue, with crampons, which was fun.

Crampons are fun!

And just after we got back to town, the bad weather (more or less) disappeared

 2 nights of camping around the park of Nahuelbuta,

Camping is fun!

And then a small detour to the Pacific in Lebu and its world known starfish

Mass tourism

then we went back to Temuco. By the way, Temuco is relatively ugly, and could compete with San Juan in terms of boringness.

After that, 2 days of city trip in Santiago:

Looking good

Foggy view from Cerro de San Cristobal

El mercado central

Valparaiso, the biggest port in Chile, 1 1/2 hour away from Santiago.

View from an 'ascensor'

Old style

and Vina del Mar, the upper class seaside resort.

Swimming in the pacific is fun!

where I had to improvise a presentation (remember? Didn't quite finish it). Cities in Chile are a bit ugly to my taste, but Valparaiso is an exception. Feels like Lisbon or Porto. Sure, as Valpo's also a important port with hills. If you haven't visited those cities, consider getting a life and start travelling.

Then, up to the small North and La Serena. We climbed Agua Negra, to the border of Argentina.

Looking stupid, but at an altitude of 4990m, no body cares anymore.

then went down to Pisco Elqui, a wineyard paradise.

For relaxing times, choose pisco times.

 From there, all the way up to Tocopilla, (half way between Antofagasta and Iquique) which is also a bit boring but still charming – at least, feels authentic. San Juan also feels authentic, but as in 'authentic dump'.

Might be authentic, but the beach sucks.

From there we rented cars

Redneck's yearly meeting

and went around in the Atacama desert: as dry as a stepmother's goodnight kiss. Planed was the ascent to Sairecabur (5700m and something): but the weather conditions (again!) were against us, and we had to stop at around 5400m. Ok, I stopped at 5350m because my layers of clothes and body fat were not enough to keep my temperature vital. Besides, the coca leaves I was chowing were barely sufficient to cover the sound of the hammer in my head. So I went back – but who are you to judge, ey?

Pretending I feel fine

After those exhausting experiences (even talking is tiring, at an altitude higher than 3000m), we went to Pica, an oasis in the desert where fruits are cultivated; where we had a nice desert party

Not sure of what I'm doing

then to Iquique. I also liked this city, its enormous dune (biggest in the world b+++!), its cute wooden buildings and laid back inhabitants. 

Huge dune

Big fatass dune

The real estate agent wasn't really honest as he said 'feels like at the beach'

The mentioned cute wooden buildings

A family of fatsoes

Damn, still have pictures that I am too lazy to describe. Enjoy and don't ask me where they were taken.

Life

Poor snowless volcano on the left

Can somebody tell me what does this mean? Something like 'free spanking?'

El salar de la muerte

El sunset romantico

On the way down to real life

Rivers are common in the desert

Smoking hot (I'm talking about the water, not me)

Salar de Huasco

Salar de Huasco, closer

Next episode: the 28h non stop bus ride back to Santiago. The seats were comfortable and the bus was not full, so I could spread my legs and sleep like a pig.

But did you know: 1/ it's forbidden to drink alcohol in public space in Chile?
2/ that a bus counts as a public space?