Melbourne Cafe knows me now and got my double espresso without me having to ask. That done and its time to say goodbye to this quirky, scruffy, ramshackle place that has so much colour and character that it has to go on my list of love places. Truly an artists haven and home to poets, painters, sculptors, musicians alike.
I managed to find my way to the trolley which would take me to the bus station. Problemo! The trolleys were parked up for the day but thats ok I figured out which bus to grab and made my way to the bus station taking a few pics as I went.
I get my ticket and the helpful guy circles the relevant details. 12:40 departure at gate 8. Seemed pretty clear so I wait at gate 8. By 12:50 no bus in sight so I ask a couple of ladies. The drink vendor overheard and the two of them escorted me to gate ONE where my bus was just about to depart. Thanks for the wrong info Mr Ticket seller. Never mind I made it.
Adios Valparaiso. I loved my time here even if I didn’t get to the vineyards.
It was an uneventful and quiet bus trip with the peace only broken by the occasional buzz of someones phone. It makes me laugh as instead of answering with the Spanish ‘Hola’ (pronounced Ola) most everyone answers with ‘Allo’, even though it is probably the only English they are ever likely to know.
After arriving back in Santiago I wandered off to the train station with a detour into a shopping mall for a bite to eat. Like all malls there was a food court. "Yay" I said to myself. And once I checked it out my next reaction was "oh no". About 20 places to choose from and every single one a chain fast food outlet selling anything from donuts to hamburgers to hot dogs. Wendy’s to Maccers to Dominos to Burger King and Dunkin Donuts. Ok then and I kept going.
Was enthralled again when I got back to Central Station; the shops, the alleyways, the buzz was awesome. And there in the middle of the station I found ‘Schoppdog’ a Chilean chain where I ordered Mongolian Lamb. As you do! Well it was edible and cheap and pretty much as you would expect from a railway station meal.
The noise of the touts calling out and trying to sell lottery tickets or Cambio (money exchange) was overpowering but all part of the noisy insane chaos and I love it.
As I was going to the train station I passed yet another ‘growshop’ so went to check it out. A shop dedicated to growing marijuana. They had all sorts here, smoking paraphernalia, marijuana oil, rubs, seeds, heat lamps - you name it. Obviously it is legal here.
As I got off the train in my new neighbourhood and walked into the local park I could hear a cacophony of birds. On checking them out they were gorgeous bright green squalky things very similar to lorikeets. Very very pretty but I’m not sure what they were and I couldn’t find a match on google.
I get to my hotel and it is even lovelier than I first thought. An old home with a lovely homely lounge, dining room, out door eating space (on imitation grass) and a beautiful staircase leading up to the rooms. What a contrast to the past two totally functional and bland places.
I check in, dump my stuff and go wandering. The neighbourhood is beautiful, lots of trees and beautiful parks. Lots of medical centres, flash medical specialists rooms, a gorgeous hospital and a number of university colleges. Just beautiful. Even amongst the stately homes there is always a bit of fun in this country.
A shame there’s not much for dinner options round here but I did find a Peruvian Restaurant in my street and that’s where I went for dinner.
I was surprised to get a menu in English as that hasn’t happened very often and here even the middle aged waiter spoke English. While I was trying to decide what to have and reading about all the dishes I found that the meal I had eaten twice in Valpo was actually supposed to have soy sauce it it as the dish originated from the Chinese who went to Peru. Soy sauce or not the first one was much better than the second.
Tonight’s order was for Patagonian lamb (Seco Cordero). With my glass of cab sav I got a wee bowl of roasted corn, a wee bowl of what looked like pesto with a very strong cumin flavour and another wee bowl that contained something mixed with horseradish. Both pungent and yummy.
I’d pay big money for a loaf of No1 and a pound of butter right now, but oh well, hold that dream.
The lamb was divine with a delicious sauce but the star for me were the beans, softly mushy and slightly acidic with a hint of coriander. Delicioso! It was such a big meal that I couldn’t get through it and sadly had to leave bits behind.
A delicious end to my day.
Think you are right and they are so gorgeous. But boy do they make a noise.
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