Santiago, day 7

last friday was the first time i experienced a sunny weather in Chile. after lunch in a market, we went for cafe con piernas again but in a different location. the boys sweet-talked our barista to pose for a photo with me. she was not the best-looking in the room but that was fine.

my journey to Valparaiso began saturday noon. sitting at the back of the tiny Suzuki jeep wasn't exactly comfortable but it would serve its purpose later in the evening. as we traverse the countryside toward the coast, i was impressed by the sight of colorful vineyards and foggy mountains. it looked cold outside but i just wished it wouldn't rain. we ate lunch at La Pica de Emeterio in Con Con before continuing the trip to the seaport.

after parking the car, we headed toward the industrial harbor which wasn't crowded at all. i think the main attraction was the statue of Arturo Prat, Chile's national hero, facing the magnificent Armada de Chile building. in front of the statue is one of those eternal flames that you may find in other monuments.

we took the teleferico to the top of the hill and began exploring the city. from the top, we got a great view of the nearby hills that are covered with houses. the pastel-colored facades and ubiquitous graffiti on walls say it all -- artists live here. you'll also find a lot of hostels around. they get packed with European tourists during the summer, i was told. after our coffee break in a cozy little shop, we began our way down the hill.

next stop was my hosts' vacation house. this was where the jeep would come in handy. you see, the house is located deep in the woods and only accessible by dirt road. i would describe it as a long bumpy rollercoaster ride. it was pitch black outside and the only thing i could see were the headlights. soon, the sight of a fallen tree in front of the car invoked a little terror in me... this looks like a scene from a movie. are we gonna get attacked by a beast now? good thing my hosts know the area well. we backtracked and went in another direction.

after what felt like 30 minutes on the dirt road, we finally arrived at the cabin. it was huge. there was a balcony overlooking the cliffs. unfortunately it was too dark to see anything. we ate dinner and watched a DVD before turning in. it was freezing so i had to wear 2 t-shirts and use 2 blankets. i had a good 10 hour sleep!

after our late brunch in the cabin, it was time to put on my fedora and bullwhip. we went hiking outdoors. the property was so huge; there's another cabin for recreation and a swimming pool. we trekked uphill and toward the cliffs. along the way, we passed through a thick brush and got a few scratches on my legs. forget the bullwhip, what i needed was a machete! from high above the cliff, you could see the powerful Pacific Ocean waves splashing against the giants rocks near the shore. naturally, i took some pictures of the scenery.

we took a short rest in the cabin before taking the 2 hour drive back to civilization. i've realized how quiet it is in my neighborhood on a sunday. most shops were closed so i just looked for a place to have dinner. i ended up eating in a place called Coco Loco. it was a good weekend and it's made this my best South American trip.