Chile via Dusty Trails

Today is Sunday and currently I am camped out on a sofa located within a hostel called The Aji (formerly known as Chillie) Backpackers. The reason for "camping" is because I am trying to hoard the lone television within the establishment in an attempt to watch the 49ers make Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens look like a failed lamp salesman in the Superbowl which should start in about 40 minutes. Hopefully the game will end with a championship for San Francisco!

As of two days ago I have officially entered Chile after a very extended tour of the traveler friendly Peru. I was very close to maxing out my 90 day visa in a country that coasts excellent food, a deeply rooted culture, and a diverse crowd of very welcoming people. Chile was beginning to appear more like a mirage than an actual destination and to have finally arrived here feels refreshingly exciting.

After visiting Chiclayo in Northern Peru I stopped off for a second stint in Trujillo to visit friends and enjoy a Marinera international dance completion. The Marinera, not the delicious pasta sauce, is one of numerous traditional dances that can be found along the coasts of Peru. It was very interesting and after two days a very strenuous journey to Chile took flight...via bus. To enter the country one must first arrive in Tacna, which is the border city located in Peru. After a 30 hour bus trip through Lima and Nazca I spent two nights in Tacna and a friend showed me a great railroad museum and some of the beautiful squares that pepper the surprisingly laid back desert city.

On Friday Chilean soil was at last crossed but the celebration was short lived because immediately an additional bus was boarded in the dusty Arica with Santiago set as its destination. This was arguably the most time consuming and mind numbing ride of my life. In its entirety the arrival into Santiago, the capital of Chile, lasted 32 hours with very few stops for food or restrooms. The bus itself was spacious and well ventilated but the girl sitting next to me was sharing a seat with her very young son who couldn't have been more than 4 years old. After about 15 hours it was evident that the boy was hungry or tired and he decided to let the entire group of other passengers know this by proceeding to cry like a newborn Alpaca until we finally cruised into the Santiago terminal. To make matters worse the bus company only boasted a selection of three movies and opted to play them on repeat for the duration of the trip. After watching Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson throw the game winning touchdown pass in Disney's "The Gameplan" for the third time I strongly considered jumping out of the window in the middle of the Chilean desert.

Patience paid off because Santiago is a wonderful place to visit. The city is deceivingly large with modern architecture, litter free streets, magnificent urban wall art, wide selections of cafes, beautifully displayed monuments, and plenty of outdoor options for people to enjoy a relaxed afternoon. The only tradeoff with all of this is that prices for nearly everything are comparable to the United States but despite the cost hike this place is sure to provide visitors with a pleasant experience.

The hostel I'm staying in is located in the Providence District which is within walking distance to a wide variety of attractions. Today was filled with a long walk through the neighborhoods Bellavista, taking a tour through the former house of Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, and a great deal of decompressing after the strenuous previous two days.

The tentative plan for now is to stay in Santiago to recuperate for a few days then head west to the coast in order to see Viña Del Mar which is the sister city of my hometown. I hope everyone is doing well and thank you very much for taking your time to read this blog! You look delightful ;)