Travelreport Chile-Chili

Chile - Chili 06-02-2008 t/m 27-02-2008

Travelreport:

Flyingtrip

A far journey you do with an airplane! And how it is, with me the feeling of holiday begins with searching about a trip, the packing of the suitcase with all the things you need. One person takes this with him or her, and the other takes other things with him or her with holiday.

So did i and it was planned to take less with me because Chile is a country with hot weather and it was staying hot i did read in the statistics of the weather.

At evening it could be cold so i took with me some long pants and sweaters. Well, taking less clothes with me didn't work out and at the airport i had 17 kg of luggage with me exclusive my handbags.

I had booked my ticket at E-bookers, because i had only a returnticket, my Chilean girlfriend had arranged an appartment. Easy eeh!! An E-ticket is a electronic ticket in the system what you can't loose. What an invention! Only your passport is enough to fly and do not have the fear of loosing your ticket.

The trip was going through Madrid where i should get another plane wich was flying to Chile. Without any delay  it would be 20 hours when i arrived in Chile. Een long travel but de stay in Madrid is always good to relax and stretch the legs.

Family took me with the car to the airport of Schiphol Amsterdam on 06-02-2008 and thats so perfect The train to the airport is very good but if you have family or friends with a car is and gad to help you then its an easy choice.

I had a nightflight and my plane left at 19.25 hours. Great time to leave because i connect to the other plane in Madrid on 23.50. The advantage of it is that you can go to sleep and arrive at your destination while not being tired.

But ok, as always i left to early because you don't want that anything is going wrong. I checked in at the counter of Iberia. Again perfect that E-ticket. Let them see your passport and you will get your tickets to board. Also i delivered the suitcase, always a pain in the ass, if you go to holliday. Also i did a question there, if my suitcase was going with me to the ohter plane. Because when you give your suitcase, then its gone, and i was curious about the way my suitcase would go. No problem the suitcase was going the same way as me and i could pick it up at the Chilean airport. Perfect!!

After a nice Dutch coffee with applepie on the airport of Schiphol i said goodbye to my family and i walked to the bordercontrol. Well there we go folks, always lovely that holiday eeh!!! The fun was soon gone because all my stuff was going through the x-ray and myself through a gate that detects metal. Ofcourse the damn thing did get off and a musscled security guard said that i must take off my shoes. Also i was being stripped if i supposed to be a criminal! Gentlemen!! i am only on holliday is this neccecary?? i asked the security officer. He smiled and said yes its now regular. Afterthat i heard that a reporter of tv chanele SBS6 tv was in the airport without any form of control!

Thanks, i thought in myself, because i had some bordercontrols in front of me in Madrid and Santiago! But ok i was in the tax-free building and next thing was shopping. Well tax-free is a big word because prices are skyhigh there. You better do your shopping out of the airport and you pay much less for the goods. But ok it's fun to begin your holliday with it! Nice also is that coffee there behind the bordercontrol but also prices are as the AEX-fair in uprising line.

But hee, i am on holliday, so no problem. Then i waited a while and after that i went to the gate of Iberia and i saw already that plane! Nice thing with wings in the Iberia colours. I wondered, if this organisation also is as good as the others i did fly, because with spanjards you never know. And yes when the gate openend it was all friendly and all good organised!

Airbus A321 Iberia Spain

The flyingtrip to Madrid was perfect, i had no problems. On this trip i did meet some Dutch people who knew also the spanish language. Well, i thought lets go all the way with them that will it make easier for me without any problems with the spanish language.

And that was a good idea! because we got out of the plane in Madrid and we saw on the tv's in the hall that our flight to Chile was canceled! Wowww thats not good! After that we did go to the counter of Lan Chile, the organisation of this flight. The people said that flight indeed was canceled.The reason was not given to us, but a hotel and diner was already arranged for us.

We had no other choice then go along with the whole bunch of people who supposd to be flying at Chile. The hotel was very good and the diner was perfect. With two bottles of wine i talked with the dutch peole and ofcourse i went to late to bed!

It was 3 am when i lay in my bed and at 5 am the alarm was ringing again. Wow i thought that is going fast and at 6 am i was in the hal where the bus was parked to take of to the airport.

After everyone was in the bus up we where going to the airport. The check in we passed and we where directly going to the boarding gate! Border control no problemo i went through that perfectly and very friendly to! On the airport of Amsterdam they could learn a lesson about that. Nice plane of Lan Chile and perfect organised. After take off we got breakfast and later on some diner. In this plane you are intertained on the screen in the chair ahead of you. Watching movies, listening to music, play games and read a lot of info. Soon my eyes where closed and when openend again i was far away already.

Airbus A340 Lan Chile

12000 km it is to get into Chile, so count with me, with almost 1000 km an hour. Thats the speed of an iron bird! The trip was 13 hours and 25 minutes. That time is very long and Lan Chile is a very good organisation but after 13 hours in a chair you are stil broken.

After landing i get an sms how to get out of the airport. A perfect guide i had. I just had to wait on my suitcases while paied attention on the drugsdogs that walking on the transportmachine.

No problems and soon already i stood outside in the hot Chilean sun with my hot Dutch leather coat on.

Holiday!

First thing was go to the appartment wich my girlfriend booked for us the next 3 days. And now i knew that you can't do much with the english language. Spanish is the world language here and you don't need anything else. So the Chilean people do not have to know the english language. After a pleasant taxiride through Santiago we get at the appartmentcomplex. A beautiful appartment with everything on it and all what you need. Counted in european Euro's it was 30 euro a night. A laughing as i look at Dutch prices!

Appartments like this there are a lot in the heart of city Santiago

Time difference is minus 4 hours so i had time left and it was on the middle off the day so we had the possibillity to explore the city of Santiago. Beautiful city with ca 5 a 6 miljon people . This city is alike every big city for excample Rotterdam and Amsterdam in Holland. And in my opinion better organised so this city has everything. The Chilean people are very friendly and you see all sorts of people. From wanderers and beggars but we have those in Holland to, till the normal people like you and me and ofcourse the higher standerd class with tie and suite.

All people are walking on the streets and use very much a taxi who is very cheap. Also use the Chileans the underground subway. A fantastic network of railways that take you everywhere. Very good because i did only saw this in Barcelona and Prague and now also in Santiago.

3 days we would spend to explore the city of Santiago. Santiago there are massive office buildings and appartments and the local houses wich are very different till very little houses where i would not live in it. Beautiful districts with beautiful houses with buildingstyle between America and Europe. The influences you can see very clear. Also the many streets and roads are very good, wide and at the sides planted with trees of every kind including palmtrees and bushes that bloom very well.

Impression city Santiago

Shoppingcentra's are very good if i can say so and have everything you need, also the things we have in the shops. Brandingnames are the most strange things i could see. Supermarkets are in small and big sizes. One supermarket was very very big and had never seen this before. The big supermakets are similar with our shops with welknown brands like C1000 and Appie Hein.

In short all is very well and i walked with my girlfriend through Santiago sometimes using the subway. Besides at this subway they are using the chipcard where in Holland politicians are debaiting about. So thats a good thing what Chileans did. The Chileans at in front with that and using of the chipcard worked very well. Tranquilo is the word in Chile because everything is going friendly and Chileans are well known of that. Important meetings then peole are on time. When you go to , for excample, visit family or friends then Chileans could be an hour later. In Holland when someone arrives you will call them with the question. Where are you?

Differents in culture i had that to for excample with lunch. Eating they do not at home but everywhere out of the house because it is cheap. Well ok i said some eggs with ham and cheese will do. Wrong!!! Because what i then get was for me diner!! It is used to eat very much at lunch and thats very normal there. I asked what diner will be at evening and i got the answer. Well very simple some fruit or a sandwich!

So time is well spen at lunchh and i wanted to eat all what Chileans did eat. And i watched out for a few things like water. No ices in cool drinks etc. Vegetables were washed in normal water so i did take care of myself to look at that sort of things. But sometimes you can't run away for that. Strange vegetables and spices came by and all is very well and tastes very nice.

I have enjoyed the Chilean kitchen very much and did eat al sorts of food like Empanada's and Churasco's. After 3 days my stomach was slightly beginning to react. I had some pills of Diacure and it worked very well.

The dokter in Holland advised me not to take away the Norrit pills. It s old fashion and you can't go to the toilet and if you go to the toilet you shit like a horse and thats not good. The dokter was right at this point.

Sights in Santiago are the presidents building La Moneda what is open for public people, Plaza de Armas, the square with historic buildings and the hill of San Cristobal.

The hill of San Christobal is be seen with a big cableway wich is bringing you to the top and where you have a fantastic view at the massive city of Santiago and the Andes mountains.

Ofcourse you gotta pay for the cableway but for Europeans a laugh and you can do a nice eating in one of the restaurants. What i also experienced, and that is the advantage of being invited by Chileans, is a Chilean party. Chileans can build a party let me held it at that way. I was invited and aftera walk we entered a restaurant where we took place. After a couple of cervesa's the diner was served. Several different nice things where served of meat and vegetables. I did my best with eat all what was served and after that i could not eat something anymore. I was fully stuffed.

Presidentsbuilding La Moneda

View city Santiago of a cabletrack San Cristobal

Party with friends of Chile

Valparaiso, Vina del Mar, La Serena

After the 3 days spending time in Santiago we rented a car there. Well i can tell you about the traffic that is very different but not very busy on this time of year. The reason for that is that Chileans are on holliday and Chileans are going away  to the countryside. Renting a car for a tourist is very expencive and is equivalent on european standards.

Renting a car costs you more then renting a appartment per night so count your money. I spend 38 euros a day to drive in that driving monster.

I had a perfect car, an Toyota Yaris Sedan Automaticly, a model that does not excist in Holland, and it drive awsome and that for an 1500 CC engine.

In short awsome. I did get in Holland an International driverslicence at the ANWB, and for 13.50 euros you can drive the whole world for that. So formalities were arranged and explained by the salesman in Spanish. I didn't understand the language but i did understand him ofcourse because he showed with his hands.

What they do know is money. First money then driving so Chileans are very smart. On our way out of the city. I was glad that i had a good guide to get me out of the city. Trafficsigns there but less and i was busy with the road so i had notmuch time to pay attention of that. Out of the city it was getting better and then we were at the highway.

Vina del Mar

Onwards to Vina del Mar the wineplace. Al the way driving you will see beautiful nature. Typical Spanish and also alike the nature incountries where it is warm in the Meditarainian countries in Europe Here you had a view of the massive mountains of the Andes.

Very beautiful and enjoying the view i drove further. Much hills we crossed with vines and i thought back at the time before i did go on holliday that i was drinking the Chilean wine El Diablo.

So this is the place where the wine is coming from and meanwhile we picked up some friends of the guide and we drove further. Nice Spansh talking in that car between the Chileans we drove further and ofcourse they translated very much for me!

The place Vina del Mar and the city of Valparaiso are very touristic with lots of Argetinan andAmerican people. Europeans you will not see very much. Nice it is to see some appartments wich you wanna have.There are every sort of appartment. This time it ws cheaper and we did sleap for some 15 a 20 euros a night.

Bedroom and douche/toilet it means and nothing else and ment for people who are passing by. And then you only need the appartment to sleep and shi... and go on so luxury i didn't need that. With such appartments there are some restaurants wich are very good.

If you have problems and must go much to a toilet stay close to home and don't make someendless walks. You can't walk in some restaurant because mostley you must buy a drink or something. The sewer system in Chile is very good as in Europe so no problems with that.

Valparaiso, Vina del Mar, La Serena

As a good tourist i walked through the streets and saw lots of stores with souvenirs wich you see also in Europe. Besides the Chilean kitchen i talked about before is very good and also you can get foreign food. We have tasted the mexican food and it was very tasty. In Chile people uses much spices and herbs and ofcourse our welknown peppers.

Sometimes the food is very hot and sometimes i was sweating very much and whenthat happened my South-American friends laughed very much. Sweet dishes they make mostley with mais.

But as a good European i was doing good and that words were coming from my friends so that was good and we went on. I found out that Chile is a very beautiful country with lots of possibillities. Much beaches with beautiful waters and no one was going to do something with that. I was wondering with the question if i could do someting with it because in my eyes this could not be true.

Beaches along the coast

The Pasific ocean or called the big ocean is different then the Atlantic ocean or other waters. Can you imagine, no wind and 2 meter high waves invite you to go into the water to swim.

I did go into the water and i was warned about that because the water was very cold! In a few seconds i did know and was in no time on the beach again. Unbelievible that the waters thee are so cold.

Now i know that some Chileans not like to swim in the water! The most will do ofcourse. For those who has money in their old sok and has experience of business with tourism can do that here with appartments and restaurants because the moest beautiful beaches along the coast are empty.

After a few days we left our friends and did go further. We went to La Serena a bigger city and on the way we did see beautiful pieces of nature. Very rough and you could see that you went to the north of Chile where the hottest parts are.

Here you had pieces of land whats beginning to like as a desert. Big dunes with sand and also cactusplants. Cactusplants grow everywhere where iit is hot and ofcourse here also and there are lots of those pants. Speeding with the car you don't have to do. The local police, named caribineirros, are everywhere and did check the cars on speeding. Also they have the welknown speedgun and some people know also that with a speedgun you can measure till 1000 meters away.

Sometimes you have controlstations at the side of the road and policeofficers do hold cars and check them. This happens sometimes without looking who is in that car.

La Serena is a very beautiful city, in my opinion this city i liked more than Valparaiso because the city is very wide builded. Wide roads are build perfect. There we went to look for an appartment at the beach. I saw very beautiful appartments nearby the beach. Much to expencive my girlfriend advised me but i didn't care.

I said come on lets stay her for a couple of days and already my creditcard rushed into the machine. Counted this was 80 euros a night with breakfast and free internet. Still cheaper then in Holland but this was 5 stars. Everything was perfect and we used the internet to check some mails and send some pictures around to family and friends.

The boulevard of La Serena was awsome to walk around. Much miles long you can walk around and everywhere you can do something. Playgardens for kids and souvenirshops for the women!

Men can look ofcourse at the ladies on the beach who parade in bikini and also there are a lot of restaurants and bistros. Besides i did eat there in an Peruvian restaurant and that was very good. I don't know what it all was and it was a walking buffet for 13 euros a person. Your stomach will be completely filled again.

Ofcourse the food was very spicy again and i was curious about my stomach. And it went well, my stomach was used to the spicy food in Chile. I had some pains in the stomach but not to much. A diacuurpil works perfectly and very direct.

After a 3 days we went back to Santiago to return the car and there we where to be lazy the last days. The people who know me i like the harder sort of music and i planned a concert. The Finnish band Sonata Arctica came by in Santiago and this band i wanted to see.

Besides most of the Chileans i saw like the harder sort of music what was to see and hear. My Chilean girlfriend loved that very much so there we go to an Chilean concert.

On that day we where early with the subway somewhere in the districts of Santiago here the musictheater was. Ofcourse we did eat there and at the theater was already a line of much people. Unbelievible because in Holland i didn't experienced that. 4 hours before a concert and then get in a line to get in.

I said these people are insane to be there very early. Also they were doing wild in the hot sun and they drink water a lot.

Well i did a nice restaurant and did some nice cerveza's and that was a very good plan. After when it was time we went in the theather in notime.

Beer or in Spanish Cerveza will not be bought by people who are visiting a concert because it is much to expencive. And indeed it was expencive. The beer i ordered was as expencive as in Holland. So getting rich they will not be ad drunk people you don't see there. Something you will not see at a concert in Holland.

In the programm before Sonata Arctica We did see a Chilean guitarhero. His name is Alejandro Silva and he is very famous in Chile. Because after every song he played there were big screams and applauses from the people.

All songs were instrumental with ofcourse a good band behind him. And indeed i am curious if he is going to be playing at foreign countries.

I have looked at his internetsite and for the people who are getting curious i will put it down here. www.alejandrosilva.com

Alejandro Silva

The main act Sonata Arctica then, came and conquered Chile. With the typical european fast powermetal they did make every Chilean crazy. Really i didn't saw such a fanatic crowd. It was a pleasure to see because i did sit on the first ring and saw the people in the arena of the theather.

All the people did sing along with the songs of the band, the english language most people don't know but singing the lyrics was no problem. Also amuse the people the finnish band did very well and with every note of music the Chileans screamed and were singing. The Chileans founded it all very fine and i never experienced such a public before.

Bands from Europe are very welcome in South-America but i did heard that a crossing to South -America is very expenncive so it takes a long time before a band passes by.

Sonata Arctica

It is told to me that the Chilean people are very wild at the dutch bands as Within Temptation, After Forever and The Gathering. These bands have reserved a place to be there and that was true because i saw a billboard ofWithin Temptation who are playing in April in Santiago.

Afterthe very good concert we went back to the appartment, at this time the subway was closed and the bus was the only transport and ofcourse the cheapest one. And again the chipcard did miracle things and it is working great that card.

This driver of that bus was not taking care of the speed of his bus and now it was a very bumpy road now. Little dizzy of the ride we went out of the bus and walked further to the appartment.

What i also did was bowling again. And it was a long time ago that i did bowling. And so we did because in Santiago they have everything.

Just at the middle of the day it is very busy there with people who are not stressing and just do a couple of hours of bowling.

Must those people not work then?? Yes ofcourse but with 6 miljon people in a city there are always people who have a day off. Also with visits at a movietheatre, it goes on 24 hours a day. i have seen people there buying tickets at 10 am in the morning and then they are going relaxed to see a movie. Something what is not possible in Holland.

The bowling with friends was very pleasant and it goes as the same way as in Holland and really its a relaxing thing to do. I laughed a lot there!!

Bowling is a lot of fun to do and i recomend it!

The last days i spend to be lazy again in and around the appartment, we had a very nice pool and after that it was time to get home. With much reluctantly i packed my suitcase again but i didn't want that. I would stay a little longer here.

Returntrip

Leaving Chile is not a problem! With a bus it is very fast because in an half hour a three quarters i was on the airport again and i enjoyed of some churasco with cerveza. Saying goodbye of my new friends did hurt and i know now that i will return much times to this country.

Chileans are friendly and passionately and also with saying goodbye. Soon i checked in already and after some formalities ,as giving the document what i did get at the flight to chile, i was behind the bordercontrol again.

Shopping again and you can do that perfectly there. The tax-free shops at the airport are perfect organized. But i didn't wanted to go shopping. My heart was in Chile and i wanted to go back behind the bordercontrol.

The 13 hours flyingtrip went without any problems and from Madrid to Amsterdam was also simple. The weather was bad and when we flew into Belgium the sky was grey again and soon i stood in the cold and iit was raining.

Now i know what Holland is! Its a country with lots of rain, wind and coldness brrrrrrrr.

Looking back at the whole trip to Chile i could say that who wants to have an adventure in South-America Chile is a perfect and safe country to begin with and for everyone there is much to do.

Did i visit a lot in these days then i must say no. The meaning of my trip was to learn the country and there are lots of places i must see. Chile is a very big country that you must do in a few times. Now i did choose the middle of the country. Next trip will be in the upper north or south where Eastern island is.

My thanks goes in the first place to my lovely girlfriend Lorena Correa who has made my holliday till a fantastic event what i never will forget!

And ofcourse all Chileans who i have met!

Gracias por la agradable momento estas tres semanas y por toda la ayuda que necesita en este viaje. Sois los mejores!

Yo te amo muchos mas!!!!!!!!

Greets Herbert

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