reluctant traveller

The 24 hour bus ride (Tur Bus $80) from San Pedro to Santiago seemed to last forever. The bus took the Panamerican which is a single lane highway through the desert. The desert is so dry you dont see a single plant on the ground or a cloud in the sky. We passed through a few coastal cities which made me think Chile was one big California - packed between the mountains and the ocean with people for some reason reminding me of Californians. I dont know if it was something I ate or the journey itself but I was pretty sick (nausea) by the end of it and for a day after.

We reached Santiago on 13th morning around 9 AM (bus 1.5 hr late) and took a taxi (10000 pesos) to the Andes hostel. Thankfully the hostel was great (very clean and nice space in a great part of town) and I just slept for the rest of the day. Hostel a bit modern (=less cozy) for my liking but comfortable and nice people. Large group (=20) of Americans here for a 2 week orientation as part of their teach english in chile program. So kinda crowded with folks on their laptops : ) but all nice.

Santiago seems like a regular cosmo city... nothing specifically to see/do in the city but seems like a nice city in hang out in. Decent public transport, taxis not cheap and tons of pharmacies for some reason. Been taking it easy and not doing very much. Saw sweeney todd yesterday (finally!) with a couple of people from the hostel.. was fantastic but rather crazy ending. Sugar coated popcorn is very popular here.

Santiago highlights (for me)
- bella vista and anothe nearby neighborhood ... lot of neat graffiti
- fish market... ooh stank... but huge fish market with restaurants in it
- the metro... huge stations
- banco de chile building... most beautiful (and hugest) bank building i have ever been in
- the pizza and snack place near the hostel... awesomest chilli sauce
- watching sweeny todd in cine hoyts
- hostel drama : )

Ready to leave for Valparaiso tomorrow. About an hour from here and supposedly very beautiful. It´s about 15 min from the coast. Was a little bored today. Prolly my first bored day on this trip. Prolly should have gotten out more but was very hot in the afternoon and not feeling like much at night.