When it´s time to party we will party hard

Ok time for a serious update. Spent a few days relaxing in the dry heat of Santiago, then decided to return to the coast. Weather was not kind to me however, and beach swimming was not possible. However plenty of other stuff has been happening.

Great Colours!

Met a few French guys through my mate Neil. Oliver, Luc and Pierre. All top blokes indeed. So they asked me to play a "friendly" game of soccer with them and Neil, and of course I agreed. Little was I to know this was a SERIOUS BLOODY game. 5 on 5, tennis court size field, everyone giving it their best shot. I was totally out of my league. Can´t say I am incredibly fit, or gifted with a soccer ball... And in Aus we just don´t have the culture of "futbol" that they do in Europe and South America. So we lost. Big time. Probably around 20 goals to 4. In one hour. Hmmmm.

house party 1, Neil, me and Alan.

Anyway after that there were a few obligatory house parties to attend to. There are around 40 people who have done Neil´s uni exchange program with him, and they´re all leaving, much farewelling to be done. It´s totally like the movie "The Spanish Apartment" here - people of all nationalities, from British, French, Belgian, German, to Italian, Bolivian, Aussie, Peruvian... - all living pretty much within 100m of each other, speaking all different variants of spanish and having partied together for 6mths. I feel kinda jealous of them, being able to see now how much of an awesome time they´ve had!!!

So anyway, my point was that we attended a few house partied that night, at a house of Frenchmen, then at a house of Italians. The French was by far the better party. Lots of great reggae music, including a band I was introduced to, called Israel Vibration. Top stuff. Also met a crazy italian guy called Alan (I know, not a very Italian name).. one of the most entertaining blokes I have ever met. He´s the one with the long hair in the photos.

house party 2

Next day I ventured to the port town of Santiago, about 10km from Vina, called Valparaiso (aka Valpo). Picture several Chilean naval warships, plenty of white-suited sailors walking around, fairly dirty city but with plenty to offer once you walk for 5mins up into the hills. Totally contrasting with the glitz and glamour of touristy Vina. I walked around some amazing architecture, with some great looking houses painted in really bold and/or pastel colours. There is an "open air museum" 10minutes out of town, where 20 or so artists have done some weird but cool mural paintings in a district with the aforementioned architecture. Unique idea, I liked it! Also saw some filming of some horrendous Chilean soap opera, Chileans seem to love their soaps almost as much as the Brits love Neighbours. And don´t worry, the acting is equally as despicable.

Playa Sotomayor in Valpo

This brings me to this evening that I have just returned from. Neil, his g/f Annette, and crazy Italian Alan managed to somehow get the four of us into a gay club in Valpo. Why a gay club, I have no idea. It was one of the strangest and most uncomfortable experiences of my life. 85% gay men in the whole place, I swear. Transexuals, the whole works. Neil went to the men´s and said that blokes were unashamedly staring at his manhood the whole time.... Music suited the crowd I suppose, lots of Kylie, Madonna, etc.etc. However there was a period of contrasting music to this, with some Rammstein and Marilyn Manson which we totally rocked out to!!

So for me, it´s 2 more weeks in Chile, one of those down in the scenic lake district, then it´s up to Peru and some Inka/Inca trekking!

Renovators Delight

Some warships

Street Art in Valpo