Atacama to Antarctica 2020

An attempt at sleeping in but of course to no avail.  We have decided for a bit of a rest day today, a day to sort ourselves before the epic adventure of Antarctica, We need to turn the packs around so all the warm stuff, thermals, puffy jackets etc are at the top within easy reach. I am also determined for some pool time, a bit of a relax and catch up with blogging and reading. The pool was absolutely freezing!! And that’s not me just being precious., it was. But like I said determined for some pool time so persevered. Once everything was numb it was fine. Perhaps training for the ice swim in Antarctica. Had a bit of a briefing from the cruise ship people about what expect in the morning, including the 4.40am departure. Ended this delightful day with a great meal at a restaurant very close to the hotel.  Food was wonderful and our waiter was also a sommelier who loved telling us about the beautiful Chilean wines. Loads of fun for our last proper night in Santiago 

Slow morning, not sure why. I think Stuart did some more washing.... He has a gadget called a scrubber, which makes bathroom/ sink washing very easy. I think he really likes it.  Anyhoo, today we feel the need to have more adventures and to start with we head off to Parque Metropolitano, about 10 mins walk from the hotel. This area on the outskirts of the CBD is hugely popular with cyclists, mainly coz it is a very big hill to ride down very fast.There is a cable car to take you up to the top. The view across Santiago is pretty impressive albeit hazy, but you get the idea There a public swimming pools and a very tall Virgin Mary. After our obligatory ice block, we catch a funicular down to the flat again.  A short walk from there we come across Patio Bellavista. I thought it was going to be an artisan market and there a few arty shops there but mostly it is loads of nice looking restaurants. We are going to join a free walking tour this afternoon for a little education. So we ...

A big day today, off to Valparaīso on local transport. Breakfast in the hotel ( cause you have to when it is already paid for), walk to metro station line 1 in Santiago to the end at Pajaritos, supposed to be San Pablo but the last 2 stations seem to be out of action. Short walk then to bus inter change. Surprising easy to purchase tickets and find correct bus. All the staff and the locals we met were most helpful.  Once on the Pullman double decker bus: wow felt like business class on airline ( or at least what I’ve been told). Only 3 huge seats across.  Very comfortable trip, taking an hour and a half.  On approach to Valparaīso the terrain changed from the flat, dry and barren areas surrounded by hills to forested hills and vineyards. Unfortunately there was evidence of recent bushfires.  As we got closer to the coast the weather closed in: cold ( well 15C) and foggy and wet. Apparently called “Lomas”, where the wet warm air from the pacific meet the coastal hills...

Early start, picked up by the Tonaki’s for the 2 hour drive to the calarma airport. We are hoping to grab a earlier flight back to Santiago, so as to make the most of the few day there and relish in the step up in accommodation.  We will go from our gorgeous quirky hostel to the Sheraton for 4 days.  Such a treat but of course the hotel is the start of our conference. There were some date changes (before we left home) which gives us these 4 days  I can assure you, tho it won’t stop the washing being done in the bathroom (a much nicer one!) and then strung around the room... that’s just what happens We did manage the earlier flight, which was great and left us with the afternoon to go on a little walking adventure. Following the map perhaps a little too literally we found ourselves walking along the verge of a motorway for a short distance. This did, however allow us to see some spectacular murals along painted the river bank.  Crossing said river into the Providencia...