I've stayed 2 weeks in the Northern half of continental Chile and 4 days in Easter Island. I expected Atacama and Easter Island would be great but I wasn't prepared for such amazing beauty. Landscapes and archaeological remains are absolutely breathtaking ! I though going to Easter Island was a once in a lifetime experience but now I really hope I'll be able to go back there one day.
Chile
21Mar 2011
Chile : the end
19:10 - By Arno - 592 views - Chile - no comment - traduction
20Mar 2011
Just awesome
01:51 - By Arno - 523 views - Chile - See the gallery - no comment - traduction
Days 166-167
Easter island will remain one of the highlights of my trip. Those last 2 days, I've kept visiting the island wonders. Yesterday we went biking on the west coast with Maxime. As usual, the weather was really hot and humid and the road was quite steep and bumpy. However the sights were great !
This Moai is the only one of the island with his eyes. According to the tradition, the Moai with eyes were those which were alive. For this one, it's only for touristy purposes. Since the end of Rapa Nui civilization, all Moai are dead.
18Mar 2011
Remotest land on Earth
05:27 - By Arno - 529 views - Chile - See the gallery - no comment - traduction
Day 164-165
Visiting Easter Island (Rapa Nui) has always be one of my dream for many years (like many people, I guess). Its remoteness from any other land (3500km from Chile), its unknown history (historians don't really know how people arrived on the island or why they disappeared) and its mysterious Moai tickle my imagination.
I've finally made it yesterday and I haven't been disappointed !
16Mar 2011
Last days in Santiago
01:28 - By Arno - 351 views - Chile - See the gallery - no comment - traduction
Days 161-163
I've spent the past days wandering around Santiago. Let's be honest, to my point of view, there's nothing absolutely essential to visit in this city apart from the Museo de la Memoria which I've already visited. Santiago is a nice modern city but it's not really exotic for a European tourist.
13Mar 2011
Escaping the Tsunami
01:56 - By Arno - 502 views - Chile - See the gallery - no comment - traduction
Days 159-160
Yesterday I left Valparaiso before the Tsunami arrived from Japan. The news were pretty alarming, especially those coming from France 
Actually, the locals didn't seem to be really stressed with fear. Those I've spoken to only said they would go out on the balcony or on one of the many hills in the city to enjoy the show... Of course it was before the government requested everyone to evacuate the coast all along Chile (about 700 000 persons). Luckily, the Tsunami was only a 50cm high wave. Anyway, I arrived safe and sound in Santiago.
11Mar 2011
Alrededor de Valpo
14:23 - By Arno - 441 views - Chile - See the gallery - no comment - traduction
Day 158
Después de tanto recoger los cerros de Valpo, sus callejuelas y callejones, decidí visitar unos museos ya que el día estaba parcialmente nuboso. Empece por el museo naval. Se centra en la historia marítima militar de Chile, en particular sus batallas contra la Corona española para su independencia y contra Bolivia y Perú durante la guerra del Pacifico. En general, todas estas campañas fueron llevado a cabo por mercenarios (ingleses, franceses, estadounidenses...) que a los que luego se otorgo la nacionalidad Chilena. Lo mas interesante del museo es que esta en la cima de un cerro y desde alli se ve todo el puerto.
10Mar 2011
Urban colors
02:45 - By Arno - 438 views - Chile - See the gallery - one comment - traduction
Day 157
I arrived yesterday evening in Valparaiso, the main harbour and the most bohemian town of Chile. The maritime aspect of the city is pretty obvious : it's on the Pacific ocean and its large bay hosts quite a lot of ships, both civilian (fishing boats and freighters) and military (frigates, patrol vessels...). However, sailors are not really well-known for their arty/bohemian qualities... (Please don't tell me drinking games and hostess bar hopping is bohemian!)
08Mar 2011
Coquimbo
13:39 - By Arno - 441 views - Chile - See the gallery - no comment - traduction
Day 155
Coquimbo, home of Paola the famous Chilean Spanish scholar, is the sister-city of La Serena, just 10km South on the coast. To my opinion, it actually has more character than its big sister. It's a colorful harbour with some quite shabby but charming houses.
07Mar 2011
Stars & spirits
02:46 - By Arno - 876 views - Chile - See the gallery - 2 comments - traduction
Days 153-154
I arrived yesterday to La Serena after a 18h bus ride from San Pedro de Atacama. Chile is a very extended country and there's not so much to retain a tourist between Atacama and Santiago. La Serena is a nice city close to the ocean but it doesn't have a lot to offer... a few historical buildings, plenty of churches but no believers, some dusty museums (with human mummies) and a long beach.
04Mar 2011
From dusk to dawn
03:34 - By Arno - 429 views - Chile - See the gallery - no comment - traduction
Day 151
What a long but rewarding day ! We woke up at 3.30am this morning to go and see the highest geothermal field in the world at sunset (about 90km North from San Pedro de Atacama). When we arrived in the field at 4500m above the sea, it was freezing (-5°C). Despite the 4 layers of clothes I was shivering : I don't have any real winter clothes in my backpack.
03Mar 2011
Photographer's paradise
02:38 - By Arno - 455 views - Chile - See the gallery - one comment - traduction
Day 150
I already used a lot of superlatives to describe the landscapes we passed through yesterday coming from Argentina to San Pedro de Atacama. Consequently, I don't know how to qualify what I've seen today...
02Mar 2011
Best bus ride ever !
03:20 - By Arno - 496 views - Chile - See the gallery - no comment - traduction
Day 149
I left Argentina today and my last hours there were gorgeous. The road to Chile was the same as we used yesterday to go to Salinas Grandes but this time, it was sunny ! The landscapes were absolutely stunning !
