From Mendoza in Argentina I took a bus over the Andes mountains and down to Valparaiso in Chile. Some days the weather is so bad up here so no cars and buses are allowed to pass the border.
Chile is a very long and thin country on the west coast og South-America. Chile borders Peru in the north, Bolivia and Argentina in the East. There are 17 million people living here and Santiago the Chile is the capital.
If you love history, street art, and bohemian life, Valparaíso is the place to go. Street art and graffiti covers the citywalls everywhere and there are plenty of small cafees, bars and resturants.
Valparaiso is a major seaport and educationcenter. There are seven universities here. The city is located 120 km from the capital. Its also the headquarter of the Chilean National Congress.
It was here the the resistance movement against the Pinoche's regime started in 1973 after Pinoche deposed Salvador Allende in a military coup with support from the CIA.
I stayed with Claudio and Mario in their house in Templeman 571.
The house is situated in the most colourful area of town.
They bought this big blue house three years ago and turned it into a hostel for students and backpackers. Claudio and Mario are also living here.
This was a home away from home. I loved living here and I got a number of new friends because Mario let me into his sosial life.
Marios animals are so friendly and eager to meet new people.
Douglas is an artist from NY living most of the time in Rio de Janeiro. He had just arrived from Santiago de Chile when I met him. He was very upset because he got his backpack and passport stolen in the middle of the street. This was an awakening for me who had become pretty blunt after travelling for allmost a year without any bad experiences.
His daughter Kyla is studying sosiologi in Valparaiso.
Theo from Lyon in France is studying mathematics here.
Helt fantastisk
SvarSlett