pretty dry. It's also cold because it's on 2400m. It was build with the earnings of a huge closeby silvermine, that has diameter of 4km. An other close village was abonend a few years ago, after geologists found silver under the village. When I walked on top of a closeby hill of Calama, I saw the newly builded houses for the people of the doomed village. The hostel was shitty and the food overpriced, even though the "Prager Schinken" was pretty good. The day has come for my wallet and for some companionship after a week of english weather, european prices and a bulgarien resort atmosphere in low season.
Showing posts with label Chile. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chile. Show all posts
Monday, May 11, 2009
Calama
Calama has an anual amount of rain of 5mm. Thats
pretty dry. It's also cold because it's on 2400m. It was build with the earnings of a huge closeby silvermine, that has diameter of 4km. An other close village was abonend a few years ago, after geologists found silver under the village. When I walked on top of a closeby hill of Calama, I saw the newly builded houses for the people of the doomed village. The hostel was shitty and the food overpriced, even though the "Prager Schinken" was pretty good. The day has come for my wallet and for some companionship after a week of english weather, european prices and a bulgarien resort atmosphere in low season.
pretty dry. It's also cold because it's on 2400m. It was build with the earnings of a huge closeby silvermine, that has diameter of 4km. An other close village was abonend a few years ago, after geologists found silver under the village. When I walked on top of a closeby hill of Calama, I saw the newly builded houses for the people of the doomed village. The hostel was shitty and the food overpriced, even though the "Prager Schinken" was pretty good. The day has come for my wallet and for some companionship after a week of english weather, european prices and a bulgarien resort atmosphere in low season.
Capiapo, Caldera
Capiapo has nothing to offer, not even for a desparate turist tha
t was in a bus for 10 hours. Puzzled about the uniformity of Chiles smaller citys Timmy wen't right on to Caldera at the Pacific. Caldera seems to be overrun in the highseason, but in the lowseason there is only a sleeping fishervillage with way to much infrastructure to cope with masses of turists. Streetdogs are all over ready for the feast during summer, when turists through away the bad empañadas. I ate at the best places in town and took a decent hotel with TV and baño. The only attraction I saw during the 3 days where the seacows in the bay area. These huge animals seem to be really good hunters and are not as cute as you may think. Otherwise the village is surrounded by the unforgiving Atacama desert. It was time to move on to the oasis of Bolivia, where things were cheaper and bit more alive.
t was in a bus for 10 hours. Puzzled about the uniformity of Chiles smaller citys Timmy wen't right on to Caldera at the Pacific. Caldera seems to be overrun in the highseason, but in the lowseason there is only a sleeping fishervillage with way to much infrastructure to cope with masses of turists. Streetdogs are all over ready for the feast during summer, when turists through away the bad empañadas. I ate at the best places in town and took a decent hotel with TV and baño. The only attraction I saw during the 3 days where the seacows in the bay area. These huge animals seem to be really good hunters and are not as cute as you may think. Otherwise the village is surrounded by the unforgiving Atacama desert. It was time to move on to the oasis of Bolivia, where things were cheaper and bit more alive.
Fiña del Mar
Only a little hop away from Valparaiso, Fiña del Mar is much more laid back and a bit more up
per class. It even has a proper beach but the water temperature can destroy any mans pride. So nobody really gets into the water. Since there was no reasonably priced hostel I decided to take the nightbus to the north. While checking out some intel in the LP and sitting on a bench next to the main avenue a 50 year old begger came to me, leaned over me - I was trying to draw aside - and kissed me on the cheek. "¿QUE PASSSSA?" I yelled. But he just walked of smiling. Then I ate some fine italien food and drank some wine and went off to the bus.
per class. It even has a proper beach but the water temperature can destroy any mans pride. So nobody really gets into the water. Since there was no reasonably priced hostel I decided to take the nightbus to the north. While checking out some intel in the LP and sitting on a bench next to the main avenue a 50 year old begger came to me, leaned over me - I was trying to draw aside - and kissed me on the cheek. "¿QUE PASSSSA?" I yelled. But he just walked of smiling. Then I ate some fine italien food and drank some wine and went off to the bus.
Valparaiso
Valparaiso is part of th
e UNESCO world heritage foundation. They are giving these titles out like candy these days. Once a really important port for ships going around Southamerica, it's significance vanished after the panama canal was completed. The houses are close together, so the lanes are like manmade gorges. Buildings are parlty falling apart and the cold fog of the Humboldt current makes you shiver during the nights. Nowadays it's also a major navy base and still used by cargoships to ship products abroad. The food was really good and the wine cheap.
But it remains a dirty port city that has seen much better days.
e UNESCO world heritage foundation. They are giving these titles out like candy these days. Once a really important port for ships going around Southamerica, it's significance vanished after the panama canal was completed. The houses are close together, so the lanes are like manmade gorges. Buildings are parlty falling apart and the cold fog of the Humboldt current makes you shiver during the nights. Nowadays it's also a major navy base and still used by cargoships to ship products abroad. The food was really good and the wine cheap.But it remains a dirty port city that has seen much better days.
Santiago de Chile
After a nice flight over the Andes I touched down in Santiago. After really smoothly getting on top of things I was ready to explore this often overseen city. Stunned by how advanced 
the infrastructure was and how sophisticated people were, I felt like in an european city. The main difference is that young people are mostly extreme left - meaning the streets are full of punks and alternative teenagers. But there is also an upper class that likes to sit in italian style coffee places and eat sushi with some coffee. That exacltly what I have done. I checked out some of the museums and the houses of goverment. Most santiageños are white and wear more ties than people in Switzerland. There were not a lot of turists and so it was difficult to meet people. I consider it a brief visit to Europe.
the infrastructure was and how sophisticated people were, I felt like in an european city. The main difference is that young people are mostly extreme left - meaning the streets are full of punks and alternative teenagers. But there is also an upper class that likes to sit in italian style coffee places and eat sushi with some coffee. That exacltly what I have done. I checked out some of the museums and the houses of goverment. Most santiageños are white and wear more ties than people in Switzerland. There were not a lot of turists and so it was difficult to meet people. I consider it a brief visit to Europe.
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