061231 - Viña del Mar and Valparaiso, CHL --- Oh, and New Year's Eve

"¡No hay lugar! - ¡¡No hay lugar!!" ("Nothing available! Really, nothing available") --- "You are doing it for the fun again?" Two comments that seem to have not much in common. At first. But then... Well, it is high season. And this fact suddenly smacks me hard when I walk into the bus terminal. Hundreds of people. Everywhere. Where to start? Is this the end of the line? But for which company? Are they going to Valparaiso? Many, many questions that needed to be answered. I put myself in some random line that seem to lead to the Turbus office (one of the two mayor bus companies in Chile). After an extensive time of waiting I get to the box office -- and the guy tells me: "¡No hay lugar! " Not today young man. Well, at least not before 4pm. Oh, my god! Thanx. After consulting with Eva we decide to get tickets for the next day. So I get back in the line. At the very end. And the Americans who were waiting behind me ask me when leaving "So, you are doing it for the fun again?" I had to wait another 30 to 45min - but got tickets to Viña del Mar. All this took place on the 30th. The day we planned to go there, but instead did the city tour.

We got to Viña del Mar, one of South America's leading seaside resorts, around 1pm. All dressed in shirts and shorts, ready to hit the beach. And what happened? It started raining. Of course we didn't bring any appropriate clothes for this kinda weather. Who would have guessed. So we went to the market and bought some sweaters. Ahh, how sweet. We strolled around town, heading towards the water, and stopped along the Palacio Vergara, formerly the residence of a local shipping guru.

From Viña we took the metro to get to Valparaiso. Near the port the city seems run down and has not very much to offer. Indeed it appeared to me very ugly. But up in the hills, that rear up from the sea, it is a whole different story. Residential areas with a bohemian, slightly anarchic feel. Absolutely lovely. And spectacular are the funicular railways (dating from 1883 - 1914) which connect the lower and upper cities.

Time passed by very quickly here. And the sooner we knew we had to head back to Santiago. We wouldn't arrive before 10:30pm.

Ohh, yes!! The last day of 2006 was approaching it's end. By the time we got to the hostel the party was already up and started. A quick dinner - and on the terrace the owners (d***, I forgot their names) offered a great barbacue and some delicious cakes. A great, little intimate party with all the guests from the hostel.

Welcome 2007!