Valparaiso

Today we headed to Valparaiso, regrettably after a massive session in the hostel last night, I think it was someone's pet's birthday or something! I introduced a few Chilean people to the wonder of Jameson whiskey, I think they're converted! We were feeling worse for wear, but not as bad as some of our room mates that headed out until the wee hours of the morning.

That aside, we sucked it in and headed on the 1.5 hour bus trip to Valparaiso, it's a wine region also but needless to say we didn't need to see any of that today. We arrived and it's a pretty spread out city and alot different to Santiago, some might call it rundown, I prefer the word 'rustic', it has alot of character but a day trip is probably the best way to see it.

Walking the streets, they have vendors selling the stuff that should probably be in the bin, nothing goes to waster here and walking the streets I found a Nokia 5510 brick, and lots of interesting antiques but didn't splurge as I've enough junk myself!

The streets are more or less what you'd vision them, rife with graffiti and among the latest model cars, Lada's, Yugo's, Datsun's and Beetles can be seen. It's pretty cool seeing some of the cars that would have fallen to pieces from rust back home being used as someone's daily runner.

After a couple of hours in Valparaiso, we headed back to Santiago and got our bags and headed for the bus station for a 10 hour bus journey! Just as well they are great comfortable buses.