After a gruelling 24 hour bus journey from San Pedro we eventually arrived in Chile's capital city Santiago. What a great city and so different from what we have been used to in Bolivia and Peru. Santiago is a great a city and very western - it has a european feel to it much like Buenos Aires and even has its own metro system. We spent two days here exploring the city and its sights. One night we visited the Santiago horse racing course for an evening meeting. A chance for me to blow a few Pesos on some South American nags:
I was bit sad to be leaving Santiago as I really enjoyed the city and would have liked to have spent more time here. However time was pressing and the plan was to visit the city of Valparaiso for New Years eve. Valparaiso is located west of Santiago on the coast and is Chile's second largest city. It is famous for its New Years Eve fireworks and the local paper was estimating a million people would be descending on the city. After settling into the hostel we went for a wander around the city for the afternoon and rode on one of the many funicular railways which climb the surrounding hills.
After a pre New Years beer and a short stop at the off license to buy Champagne it was back to the hostel to prepare for the big night. We all went out for food first (less said about that the better) and then descended to the main plaza to join the crowds for the fireworks. The fireworks were let off from one of the Chilean Navy vessels in the harbour and are the best I have ever seen. The display was incredible with a huge finale:
Luke and Vicky celebrate in the Plaza
The incredible fireworks
The plaza after the fireworks
New Years day started a bit later than usual!! However after a bit of breakfast/lunch we all headed up the coast to the town of Vina Del Mar to relax on the beach. The weather was hot and sunny and it was just the best way to spend the first day of 2005. I also had my first dip in the Pacific Ocean for this trip, although it was a bit nippy!
The beach on New Years Day
Pucon
It was an early start the next day as a long bus journey awaited us from Valparaiso to Chile's adventure capital Pucon. The bus journey took all day and we arrived in Pucon at 8pm. Pucon is located inland about two thirds down the length of Chile. It is a real adventure place with its main attraction being the volcano of Villarrica which overlooks the town. We were booked to climb the volcano the next day so after a some food it was an early night.
Villarrica is an active volcano with its peak at 2800 meters. Its slopes however are snow covered and in the winter it is a ski resort. We left at 7am for our first stop to get kitted out with waterproofs and ice axes!! It was then off to the base to catch the ski lift to the start of the climb. The climb to the top took about four hours up the side of the volcano on snow and ice. I didn't find the going too difficult and the altitude was much lower than we have been climbing in previously. We reached the crater at the top around lunchtime but none of us were prepared for what we were about to see...
Villarrica - note smoke from top!!
Near the top - Villarrica lake in the background
When we looked into the crater we could see lava glowing red but the best bit was every minute or so it would blow huge volumes into the air. It was just like being in one of those videos we used to see in geography lessons!! Absolutely amazing to see and the guides said that it hasn't been this active for several years:
Moltern lava blown into the air
Me with the lava vent behind me
After lunch at the top and more lava watching we put on our waterproofs and prepared for the descent in the only way possible - on our backsides!!!!! We slid down channels in the snow much like a toboggan run and used the ice axe for brakes:
Sliding down
Stooooopppppppp!!!!!
Everyone agreed it was one of the best days on the trip so far and something I will remember for a long time. We all relaxed back at the hostel with well earned beers and a BBQ. The next day more adventure awaited as I was booked in for white water rafting! The rafting was down a nearby river that flowed into Lake Villarrica - the rapids were only up to a grade three so nothing like the grade fives that nearly destroyed me in Africa!!
Preparing for the rafting
I am here in Pucon for a couple more days - as long as my body can take all the adventure!! Then heading further south into Patagonia to prepare for a nine day trek in the Torres Del Paine national park. Stay tuned for more adventure.....
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