South America Day 36: Santiago to Rapa Nui

January 2012

When I was younger a primary school teacher showed us pictures of the statues of Easter Island, I had grown up around people that had travelled to all types of places (East Germany, Israel, Afghanistan) but from this point on Easter Island and it's Moai's was the pinnacle of travelling. Little did I know that 20 something years later I would be married to someone of Polynesian heritage who's interest in this Island on the tip of the South Pacific region would be nearly as strong as mine.

So after a 5 hour flight from Santiago we arrived in Rapa Nui (or Easter Island or Isla de Pascua).

After checking into our hotel, we took the short stroll down to the water and along to Haka Honu for lunch. We enjoyed the local raw fish and a baked crab and cheese dish.

We had an afternoon dip in the rock pool at Playa Pea, we even saw a sea turtle swimming.

We had dinner at a Pizzeria - the large pizza would have fed 4, before calling it a night.

Stay
O'Tai Hotel

Eat
Haka Honu, so much better than what Trip advisor says (and where there were plenty of locals on a Sunday afternoon)
Pizzeria La Esquina

Do
Swim in the rock pool
Walk along the main street

South America Day 35: Santiago

January 2012

Up to catch the tour bus. Once on the bus we headed 2.5 hours North West from Santiago out to Vina del Mar. We first stopped at the botanical gardens where they hold concerts every year and they have an old house (currently being restored due to damage sustained in a major earthquake).

 
We then stopped at the Easter Island museum, where they have one of the large Moai's on display. We then headed towards the coast stopping for a fish lunch on the Pacific ocean.

We then headed towards Valparaiso to the Chilean Poets Pablo Neruela, we didn't do the tour but took pictures of the outside and walked to the poets park.

We then visited the painted buildings and rode the funicular. We then headed back on the bus to Santiago.

That night we had a quick dinner. I had a large Churrasco Completo which was a beef sandwich with sauerkraut, tomatoes and salsa. DH had the Churrasco pobre, which was steak strips, eggs and chips.

Stay
Blue Tree Fundador

Eat
The Red Bar

Do
Valparaiso
Vina del mar

South America Day 34: Iguazu to Santiago

January 2012

This day was a prime example of how things when travelling never go to plan. There was meant to be a 5 hour gap between our flight landing at the domestic airport and the flight departing from the international airport in Buenos Aires. By time our plane was 1 hour late leaving Iguazu, Argentina and baggage taking over an hour at the domestic airport, the mad dash across town in what was now peak hour traffic, we only made our plane to Santiago because that flight was delayed 1.5 hours.

The joy of travelling...

Stay
Blue Fundador, Santiago

South America Day 2: Santiago to La Paz

December 2011

Up early for our flight from Santiago to Lima to La Paz.

Living in Australia there's not much in terms of altitude, so when we landed at 4,200 m, we could definitely feel the change in air and our breathing. We caught a cab to our hotel and spent the rest of the afternoon adjusting to the altitude (the advice is take it easy, limit or have no alcohol and eat light for the first 24 hours). We did duck out for a quick dinner at one of the many local Frita el Pollo's.

Stay
Hotel Las Brisas

Eat
Frita el Pollo

Do
Nothing - adjust to the altitude

South America Day 1: Sydney to Santiago

December 2011

Our first stop was La Paz, Bolivia, but to get there we had to fly through Auckland and Santiago.

We arrived mid-afternoon and checked into the airport hotel (we had an early flight the next day). We then caught the blue airport bus into town (much cheaper than the cab). We got off the bus at it's last stop near the Los Heros station and walked to the Funicular at San Cristobal Hill. It was a nice flat walk and good to stretch our legs after the long flight. We caught the funicular to the top of the hill for a great view of the city.

We stopped for a quick, late lunch at the bottom of the hill for one pork loin and one steak sandwich, before catching the metro back to Los Heros to catch the bus back to the airport.

Stay
Holiday Inn, Santiago Airport

Eat
Venezia Bella Vista

Do
Funicular, San Cristobal Hill