Thursday, 28.08.2003 20 o'clock:
Actually I have at all still no happyness, on the forthcoming trip to San Pedro de Atacama. A
little desireless I begin, mean backpack to pack. Wild... which one carries forward there so? After one hour then also am I and go sleeping. I am nevertheless fetched ... Read review
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Thursday, 28.08.2003 20 o'clock:
Actually I have at all still no happyness, on the forthcoming trip to San Pedro de Atacama. A
little desireless I begin, mean backpack to pack. Wild... which one carries forward there so? After one hour then also am I and go sleeping. I am nevertheless fetched on Friday very early.
Friday, 29.08.2003 5:15 o'clock:
freshness showered and with my
backpack I get into the car. ... ...minute. After a scarce hour I am then also at the airport. I do not have holiday mood yet. I check in and
wait then for the fact that I can enter into the airplane.
7:30 o'clock:
the machine rolls to the Flight. It goes loosely. The
airplane has additionally still 2 grades on board, which are very loud. Still no holiday mood. Only, when I look to hours from the window after 1 ½ and see this wonderful desert landscape, ... more
Thursday, 28.08.2003 20 o'clock: Actually I have at all still no happyness, on the forthcoming trip to San Pedro de Atacama. A little desireless I begin, mean backpack to pack. Wild... which one carries forward there so? After one hour then also am I and go sleeping. I am nevertheless fetched on Friday very early.
Friday, 29.08.2003 5:15 o'clock: freshness showered and with my backpack I get into the car. TransVip, which is airport transfer, as always punctual on the minute. After a scarce hour I am then also at the airport. I do not have holiday mood yet. I check in and wait then for the fact that I can enter into the airplane.
7:30 o'clock: the machine rolls to the Flight. It goes loosely. The airplane has additionally still 2 grades on board, which are very loud. Still no holiday mood. Only, when I look to hours from the window after 1 ½ and see this wonderful desert landscape, little holiday mood arises. In addition, only a little.
9:30 o'clock we land in Calama. It is already a little warm. I take my luggage of the conveyor and begin to look for the transfer... Searched, found!
11 o'clock: After a scarce hour of drive, we arrive at San Pedro de Atacama. The place is small and consists only of sand ways. Slowly holiday mood comes. We keep still short with the travel agency to deliver and the routes plan over the Voucher and already continue to go it also into the hotel. There everything is clarified. Unfortunately we can refer the rooms only at 14 o'clock. Thus I still another little do not explore the place give much it to see there. There is the Plaza and a church. Well, I think... and went back to the hotel. On the way I bought still another poncho in one of the innumerable small shops. Really beautifully. At the "main street" is a tavern. Outside I am addressed whether I do not want to eat or drink something. I do not want however. I have vacation and want to relax.
12 o'clock: To my walk and souvenir purchases I return to the hotel. Still 2 hours remain. I take myself an ashtray and sit down with my book after outside on the terrace. It is very beautifully there under the pepper trees. The holiday mood continues to rise always. The two Italians, whom I met in Calama at the airport come also again. We converse a little and afterwards deepen I again into my book.
14 o'clock: It is so far. I may refer my room. I got the number 7. Apart from the 13 my favourite number. Well, if which one does not have to mean anything! It has... The room is very beautiful. With 2 beds and an extra sofa. I ordered a single room nevertheless. Well... is not also further wild. In the bathroom I discover a sticker of the NDR with Antje above in the corner. Am I at home?
15 o'clock: My first route begins. We meet in the Travel Agency. With a minibus we drive off. Ivan, our Tourguide is very nice. Our group consists of 9 tourists. The two Italians, 2 Brazilians, 2 Spanish, 1 American, 1 Chilene and my fewness. Everything thus very internationally. Unfortunately Ivan hardly speaks English and no German. Thus I had to exert much, in order to understand which. But it functions. The group is very nice. From the agency it goes only into the Valle de Muerte (death valley). Exactly the same it there also looks. Simply fascinatingly. In the first moment think I, it can become not at all better. We drive between rock the way long. After we arrived in this ravine, we step out, and run at the dunes and volcanic rock the ravine down. It is simply gigantic. Everything is so enormous, humans against it works very small. Down arrived Ivan already waits for us. To a short break (the sun has completely beautifully burned), is also far direction Valle de la Luna (moon valley). Occasionally we make still times a stop. We climb a ravine down and climb into a stick-dark cave. Absolutely err... we have only 2 flashlights thereby. One can see really nothing and I pushes so several times the head... In for instance the center (sorry,but I did not have any orientation more) to examine we then the salt crystals. The light of the flashlights is sufficient fortunately. After a scarce half hour we are again at the daylight and it continued. Nevertheless will it later and the sun should soon go down.
17:30 o'clock: We arrive in the Valle de la Luna. Before us is an enormous dune. Actually it does not look at all so largely. But with the climbing one already notices it. After the first station I make stop and sit down on a small rock. The others lift-off still the remainder. Together with hundreds other tourists. No, which I must not have. Between so many people stand and the sunset look at. No thanks, as romantic. I remain on my rock and do not regard the play not from next proximity. Nevertheless it is very moving. Primarily the silence pleases me. Until I see the colors. The more the sun goes down, the more multicolored becomes everything. The rock shine in all possible red tones and become gradually green and blue. Thus are enough, until the sun disappeared perfectly. Simply class...
Ok... it became better! But this event cannot be over-bid!
19 o'clock: I arrive in the hotel. The day was simply class. Dead tired case I into my bed and reads still another little. On Saturday it should also continue.
Saturday, 30.08.2003 7 o'clock: The bell rings. I must rise and make me finished for the next route. The day long and I are discouraged a little. Fast I jump under the shower, put on me my trousers from yesterday and get myself dte. The trousers from yesterday? I have nevertheless still more also. But no, I have vacation and today again in the sand will play.
8 o'clock: I am fetched from the Tourguide. A young man named Guillermo. He speaks very well German. The today's group looks a little differently. We are 7 Americans, 2 Malaysianerinnen, 1 Spaniard and I. Guillermo gives itself very much trouble. He explains everything on 3 languages. That is a very good training for me. Our first stop is Toconao. There we can go walking little. That does also completely well, because so we can get accustomed already once to the height. San Pedro lies on approx.. 2400 m. Guillermo shows us different plant types and tells us very much about Lamas, Alpacas and sheep. Interesting to know...
11 o'clock: I experience a renewed high point of my journey. We arrive with the lagoons Miscanti and Miniques. Meanwhile we are on approx.. 4200 m. It is very calm. Only our group is nobody there above and otherwise. The wind blows and it is a little cool. Around us are mountains and volcanos. Guillermo and I stand directly at the lagoon. It is very nice and one can well with it converse. I close the eyes for a short moment and get deeply air. It is like a dream. Only which I hear the water. Simply err... indescribably beautifully. I made still another meeting with a fox. A very beautiful animal. No a little shy, but I white not... are nevertheless dangerous normally. All the same!
13:30 o'clock: Unfortunately we had to drive further. I wanted no longer away. Meanwhile we arrived to the Laguna Tuyajto. It looks like an oversize Swimmingpool. The water is light blue to white. It is not a normal lagoon. With this lagoon it concerns a salt lagoon. The soil is from salt and lime. Thus the water works so brightly. It dazzles already nearly in the eyes. The wind becomes stronger, so that I mean myself pulli again tighten must (the same from yesterday). The mountains and volcanos do not have any longer completely so much snow. They look, as painted. In many different colors.
15 o'clock: We arrive at Socaire. There are the lunch. In front a very tasteful soup and thereafter filled a Zucchini. Very tasteful, only unfortunately I am not so hungry. I still am about to digest the impressions. After the meal I make still another small walk. I sit down on the Plaza and think. In Socaire there are 2 churches. If one enters one as a woman, then it is called, becomes pregnant one within a yearly. Am I to die the risk? No, rather not. I think of Guillermo. It is really very nice. I think of the work. All the negative things, which I experienced in the last weeks, are suddenly so far away. Yes, am I correctly well. I am about to recover me finally correct.
16:15 o'clock: We drive on. It goes to the last point of our trip. To the Salar de Atacama. The Laguna Chaxo. An enormous salt desert.Center in it a few flamingo stands and between them runs for tourists long. Nevertheless it is impressing. Guillermo means, I am to wait, thus he to me the thing with the flamingos (why those pink are) also for German explain can. Well, I understood the English version already very well and then also still the Spanish version. In addition I before already knew that. Nevertheless I wait. I said also, honestly, no desire, walk. But I got still information over the Inka time and the volcanos. Guillermo is very nice. I like it.
18:15 o'clock: The day passes. We drive back to San Pedro.
19:30 o'clock: I am tired, but I sit down nevertheless a little on the Plaza. However already because of the headache. I smoke still another cigarette and suddenly stand for Guillermo before me. I legend it that it is to visit me, if it comes to Santiago. It is pleased and says that we will still times see ourselves before.
Am I falling in love
21 o'clock: I go sleeping.
Sunday, 31.08.2003 3 o'clock: The bell rings. Still more discouraged than yesterday I jump under the shower and finish. I seize automatically to the trousers from yesterday, but me nothing more constitutes.
4 o'clock: I am fetched. It goes to the Tatio tatio-Geysirs. Completely tiredly I fall asleep in the car. I do not receive, who in our group is.
6:30 o'clock: After a long, holperigen travel we arrive at the geysirs. This time our group consists of 2 Italians, 2 Americans, 2 Malaysias and 5 Germans. Still not at all completely there we are, but I feel already cold weather. The disks freeze from the inside. Fast I become encrusted my jacket. Outside it is bitterly cold (minus 8°C). It is interesting at the geysirs. As steam comes from the soil and the mountains. To regard beautifully. But cold weather... I must check whether I have still all fingers, or whether me already few dropped. No, there is still all to. One has breakfast in (to some extent) the warm car.
8 o'clock: It continues to go to the thermal baths. The people spiders. Those go nevertheless actually bathing. Surely the water has 27°C. But that is nevertheless no reason. The two Americans are by the way totally nice. They asked me whether I can translate them, which the driver said. Hui... that even folded. Well, the most important information.
8:30 o'clock: It continues to go... Back to San Pedro. But not on direct way. We drive in the middle by the mountains. An terribly beautiful landscape expects us. Indescribably beautifully. Mountains with shrubs and between them a small brook. Lama and Alpacas. We arrive at a small village named Machuca. Here it gives not much. A church and a few houses. Here only 4 or 5 people and each quantity Lama and Alpacas nevertheless live.
12 o'clock: After a very beautiful and partly also sleepy travel am I again in the hotel. Am I sleeping to go? No, but I am not tiredly enough. I set myself after for few outside on the terrace.
13 o'clock: The terrace in the long term does not make lucky also. Thus I go purely, to stuff me my trousers highly, snatch me mean sweater (everything from yesterday) tighten my Flip Flops, snatch me my book and cigarettes and go to the Plaza. There I set on a bank into the sun and read myself.
16 o'clock: It becomes me a little too hot in the sun and I states that I got a sun fire. Thus I go to the Feria opposite. There very beautiful handmade things are sold. I slam shut and buy 2 caps. Simply class. Afterwards I make still another small walk. I am addressed by a man. A Chilene. He is very nice. We go still another one while. After a half hour approximately the disappointment comes. As I it legend that I work at the embassy, want it a visa of me. I legend no, and go.
17 o'clock: I arrive again to the Plaza. The sun shines still and I looks for a bank. Unfortunately all are occupied in the sun. On "my" bank a young man sits. I go to him and ask whether I may set myself. It makes immediately place. We come fast into the discussion. He comes also from Germany and today only, to a Trip by Peru and Bolivia to San Pedro arrived. He is very nice. We converse about God and the world.
18:30 o'clock: The sun is away and it becomes cold. He asks me whether we in the evening still which drinking and eating want. Clearly, there legend I not no. I nevertheless find it beautiful to talk with it.
19 o'clock: I fetch him at the youth hostel. The tavern next door is equal. Very much inviting. Still (or already again) the workers before the door stand and invite me to come in. We make also. We order Pisco. The evening is very beautiful. The music very well and at all...
21 o'clock: 3 musicians come into the tavern. They make very beautiful music. We buy both to CD. I can not differently and ask the musicians whether they can mark me the CD. Nevertheless a beautiful memory is, to a very beautiful short vacation. They are very nice and we converses certainly still another one hour with them.
24 o'clock: The tavern closes. Is that already everything We want to go both not yet home, but make something crazy. I ask the staff, what one can still make. It recommends a tavern to us, where still which is loose. Directly around the corner.
Monday, 01.09.2003 0:15 o'clock: We arrive in the La Casona. Err. The bar is outside. Humans dance to the music around the fire and all this under clear starlit sky.
1:00 o'clock the tavern close. Is that everything No, we do not want yet to bed. We meet again the people from the first tavern.
2 o'clock: After long back and forth we land on a birthday party. Outside. All laugh, dance and sing. In the garden a barrow with fire is located. Err. Meanwhile the man of the bank and I came us a little more near. We kiss ourselves. It is simply wonderful. Nevertheless are we us united that it will be only for these one night. I nevertheless fly today also back to Santiago.
4:30 o'clock: We are in the hotel and lie down.
8 o'clock: He goes back into the youth hostel. I go to me under the shower, seize the clothes from yesterday and begin, mean backpack to pack. Exactly the same discourages, as on Thursday. This time however, because my holiday mood reached the high point...
9:30 o'clock: We sit again in the tavern, around to breakfasts. Afterwards we sit down on the Plaza. After some hours we go walking a piece, in order to set us thereafter again on a bank. But that is not it, which we want. We continue and to search a small spot, where we are unimpaired.
14 o'clock: We found one. A "meadow" directly behind the hotel. Beautifully calmly, beautifully warmly and very romantically. We simply only lie down. After a half hour it takes my hand. Thus we lie there. Times we put ourselves. We converse about all possible things. It is so beautiful.
15:30 o'clock: We go to the hotel. In a quarter hour I am fetched. Already there the bus is. I get mean backpack invite it. We kiss ourselves and he want my E-Mail address to have. I give it to him. Perhaps finally he comes still to Santiago and we meet.
I get into the bus and it goes loosely. Direction airport. I do not turn
17 o'clock: I sit in the Café at the airport and eat a little thing. My airplane landed straight.
17:55 o'clock: It goes loosely... Back into the reality... Tears run down...
Advantages: Stunning scenery and enough adventure to last a lifetime Disadvantages: Huge distances and the developing transport system
As a volunteer English teacher in the very depths of Patgonia here I managed to explore the region fully, experiencing the culture and seeing the lives that enfolded before me each day. It was only by spending so long in this beautiful region that I fully discovered what Chilean Patagonia, let alone the rest of Chile, was about. As it is such a huge country that I can only begin to describe the beauty of this part of the country and what amazing ... ...with Coyhaique, the capital of the XI Region, about half way from between Santiago and the end of the world, Tierra del Fuego...
Coyhaique: this town, of population 40,000, is a bustling centre of all activities in the XI Region. With easy access from Santiago Airport to Balmaceda Airport (1 hour drive - taxi buses are cheap and easy to find in the airport), Coyhaique is experiencing the tourist explosion. Its advantages are more than obvious:
...
Piers85 15.04.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of General: Chile
Advantages: stunning scenery and wildlife,unspoilt,great ice cream,chocolate,beef,fish,beer,fruit,and wine (all home produced and cheap by european standards). Disadvantages: long flying time,still not a cheap destination but good value.
Chile is one of the best countries i have ever visited aswell and i too am very widely travelled.you must be a lover of the great outdoors and adventure though,to experience chile at its best.i can only speak for the southern part of chile that is santiago down to punta arenas,patagonia.in chile due to the thinness of the country and also due to the glaciation that still is found down south,flying is the best way around the country.one of the national ... ...can obtain last minute offers or book super apex fares within chile-this is what i did.if i had have booked with lanchile offices in gatwick,surrey or one of the uks travel agencies my flight within chile would have cost about double what it did which is crazy!the reason is,lanchile's website is based in chile and all fares are the same discounted prices you would get,if you were actually staying in chile itself.
Also look out for lastminute specials ...
theothegreek 12.01.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of General: Chile
Advantages: AMAZING scenery Disadvantages: food's a bit boring
I went to Chile last year and spent a fantastic month visiting the central and northern regions. There are two disadvantages to visiting Chile - firstly, it is a bit expensive so is not that well-suited to backpackers or those travelling on a shoe-string, and secondly it is such a long/thin country that travelling around it can be a bit difficult. Having got these out the way, I can tell you some of the numerous advantages. For a start, Chile has ... ...attractive cities (like Santiago), fun nightlife, good beaches. Also, I have travelled around a lot and Chile is unquestionably the most beautiful country I have visited. The landscape is amazing - partly due to the fact that the country runs between two stunning mountain ranges so you are always surrounded by mountains. One great experience I had was bathing in some hot springs up in the Andes with snow falling around us - an unmissable experience! ...
Eloise 28.06.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of General: Chile