Arrived into Valparaiso at 16:00 and checked into Lincanantay Hostel.
I had booked this hostel when I was in Pucon before Christmas. I kinda left it too late to book accomodation for New Years and when I did go to book there was limited choice for hostels. They were also really expensive. I think the average Ive been paying per night in a hostel has been about 11-15 Euro, but for the 30th and 31st in the hostel, I was paying about 50 Euro per night but had no other choice if I wanted to spend New Years in Valparaiso. Over the past few weeks people have been telling me to get myself up to Valpo for the new years celebrations and the fireworks display across the bay.
After checking in to the hostel, I took a walk around Valparaiso ... you really would need to be fit walking around the streets here as the town is built on hills and some of the streets are really really steep! This town seems completely chaotic and walking the streets seems to be even more difficult than the centre of Santiago .. so many people.
Although having spent a few days here, I reckon that the 30th and 31st were just exceptionally busy in the town becuase of the build up to the New Years celebrations. Many Chileans (especially from Santiago) seemed to flock to Valparaiso to celebrate.
On New Years Eve the hostel were organising a BBQ out on the street outside. Had met a really nice bunch of backpackers before the BBQ ... including several people who I had met in Pucon. Was great to meet up with them again. After a very lazy day hanging out at the hostel, we all got started on the BBQ about 18:00. Loads and loads of meat! Was stuffed after it. Was a really hot summers evening, so was great to have a BBQ on the street and drink some beers.
Although having spent a few days here, I reckon that the 30th and 31st were just exceptionally busy in the town becuase of the build up to the New Years celebrations. Many Chileans (especially from Santiago) seemed to flock to Valparaiso to celebrate.
On New Years Eve the hostel were organising a BBQ out on the street outside. Had met a really nice bunch of backpackers before the BBQ ... including several people who I had met in Pucon. Was great to meet up with them again. After a very lazy day hanging out at the hostel, we all got started on the BBQ about 18:00. Loads and loads of meat! Was stuffed after it. Was a really hot summers evening, so was great to have a BBQ on the street and drink some beers.
About 21:00, Gonzalu (the hostel owner), his Chilean friends and everybody in the hostel headed up to one of the hills in Valporaiso to get a view of the fireworks. I dont think we had the best view top be honest as the place was absolutely crowded with people, but was still a great night.
After the fireworks I got chatting to a group of Chileans and we headed downtown to an open air concert in one of the town squares ... followed by a club for another few hours.
Needless to say New Years Day was a very quiet affair. I had hoped to meet up with a few English friends (who I had met in Santiago at the hostel) but they were leaving their hostel early for the New Years celebrations the night before so I never got to meet them.
I also had hoped to meet up with Suzanna (Norwegian girl I met in Santiago) for the New Years celebrations but she called over the hostel the next evening with her friend Goril. Arranged to meet them next morning (2nd January) for a day on the beach in Vina Del Mar (which is another town connected to Valparaiso). Spent the entire day on the beach but the weather was really cloudy. Headed out later that evening with Suzanna and Goril to the movies in Vina Del Mar.
3rd January
I checked out of Lincanantay hostel and moved to Che Lagarto Hostel in Vina Del Mar.
I wanted to spend a couple of days on the beach doing nothing. I probably could have easily just stayed in Valparaiso but having spent 4 nights there, I wanted a change. Vina del Mar is completely different .. looks and feels more like a tourist resort. It seems to be a really popular holiday destination with Chileans and Argentinians.
Was not too impressed with the Che Lagarto hostel. Some mix up with checking in and then I had to move rooms for the 2nd night and then I was promised a discount for the mix up but didnt get it. Was sharing the dorm with the noisiest people ever! Anyway ... glad I was only here for 2 nights. Despite this, Vina del Mar is was a nice place ... nice relaxing days on the beach. First day I went to another small town north of Vina del Mar called ´Renaca´ and spent all day on the beach. Next day I spent the day on the beach on Vina Del Mar. I also met a group of Argentinian lads in the hostel .. who brought me out to some local bar in Vina Del Mar. Another late night getting home, but good craic heading out with some locals who could speak the lingo. My Spanish is still miserably bad!
I couldnt decide where to go after Vina Del Mar, but eventually made up my mind to head back into Argentina to Mendoza. I caught a night bus at 22:00 on Wednesday night (5th January) ... 8 hour trip to Mendoza.
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