Harrowing tunnel experiences, morning hill climbs, our old friend dehydration - all part of our trip from Santiago to Valparaiso Monday. Not to mention a meandering dirt bike path designed by an urban planner with an excellent sense of humor.
We have been recently and frequently spoiled, starting with Nicole and Pepe, owners of Epif vegetarian cafe in Valparaiso, who make the best bbq tofu burrito on both sides of the Andes and own a home that overlooks the entire port. Accommodations included a patio, a bed (!) a visit to an excellent gay bar and tranny show (!), a notable graffiti tour, a trip to the prison-turned-cultural-center, the cemetery, the open air fruit and veggie market, and the velodrome. Let me repeat that last one. VELODROME. Count yourselves lucky that you will ever see us again, for the attractions and exploits offered in this beachside community atop a series of endless winding hills are many.
After some notable misdirection and a ride that took us for the most part directly along the coast, we're in Nogales, a small eastern town where we slept in the lap of luxury with Meg's aunt's friends Susan and Ricardo, who own an orange orchard, five dogs, a cat and nine horses here.
We debate whether to travel the older inland road toward La Ligua, or to take the much larger Panamericana (ruta 5).
Photo-wanters take note: http://www.flickr.com/photos/getabike/
Also note than the creation of this page was a monumental pain in the ass, and won't likely be updated much, considering our usual lack of internet. (Again, this was the result of spoiling.)
Herding cats,
the mutts.
