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Welcome to our Radltour!
Nov. 27th through Dec. 10th 2012
Participants:
Iris, age 67, retired
Road bicycle tour to another top of the world:
here the South American top
Review of the bike Tour
The author of this review: Iris from Austria - now retired
Chile 2012
about 410 kilometers only - but please consider the circumstances...; and made a climb up to nearly ~ 4.000 meters
Winter in Europe is not my time...
Too cold, too much wet.
The other side of the blue planet is more inviting.
And some airlines have lowered the price upon their alliance policy.
You pay nowadays just ~ EURO 1.000,- and you fly in to Santiago de Chile.
Chile is a rather safe and clean country. People are honest and helpful. Moreover, they have a good public transport system (...this in case ones leg gets soared...).
There are a lot of but's...:
one is the traffic and the smog. Both is against bicyclists.
Roads between major cities are freeways. Service roads are often ending in a sort of road Nirvana..., than one is supposed to ride on the shoulder of the freeway (which is officially forbidden in Chile - but what to do?!) Constructors simply have forgotten on 'normal' roads.... And, it increases the problem: Chile has no long distance train (only Metro, e.g. Santiago and or Valparaiso - good system - but you cannot take a bicycle to the Metro).
The other issue is the smog. You may see the smog cloud, one you approach Santiago by air. But this smog cloud is so heavy, as it penetrates houses (living room, sleeping room...). My mouth is maybe to sensitive, but I felt a permanent bitter taste.
Long distance travel in Chile is done via a very good bus system. Rather cheap and reliable.
Language is another issue, because, Chileans speak Spanish and English is outside Santiago very rarely spoken. In one hostel I have been talking with my landlord via Google translator. It worked.
Going out to the metro, and or restaurant, you need to get prepared in time.
Roads are made for cars and trucks, not for bicyclists; and bicycle shops more or less not present. I have seen just one, and this was closed, the time I passed it. One, who intends to ride a bicycle has to be equipped with reasonable spares, like spare tubes and even a outer tube. Most preferable with an anti-flat inlay.
Chileans, mostly youngsters, riding a bicycle just short distances on the sidewalk for some blocks. They never travel long distance on a bicycle.
Once you are on the road, you are in the way of other cars. But most dangerous are local taxi-'kings' and bus drivers... It seems to be a rule, that a bicyclist is always cut-off...
Nevertheless, people are nice and helpful, particular to strangers (they laugh about us, white face 'gringos' - that`s the way, I have been called...). But as a `gringo`, take care: they eat eat you away, like a young chicken...
The price level off daily needs, except transport, is a little above the price level of US.
No need to make reservations in advance, except high season, which is mid of December until end of January. There are so many hostels around. Hotels are available in big cities, but they are rather expensive.
Chileans work hard to increase the population... A man is a man, a woman is a woman. I think they are going to meet each other at least once a day...
I have been just in the area of Santiago, Los Andes and Valparaiso.
Los Andes, is a place whereas you may hit on the tour up to the top of the Andes. Final destination has been the monument of Christ the Redeemer of the Andes at the paso Cumbre; located at a height of nearly 4.000 meters (~12.000 feet)
A lot of side trips has rounded my tour.
See details in my report.
Enjoy the pictures and details of my report.
Good luck to my followers.
General Info:
1 EUR = 603,89 CLP
100 CLP = 0,16559 EUR
Depart Tuesday 27th Nov. 2012 – return Vienna Monday 10. Dec. 2012
Flight to Santiago de Chile:
Flight back to Vienna:
Tour details:
28. 11. 2012
Wednesday
1.day
Arrive Santiago de Chile
Hotel:
http://www.ecohostel.cl/en/to-ecohostel.html
EcoHostel (a multi lingual, green and clean place - recommended!)
Adress: General Jofre #349 B, (Metro Universidad Católica), Santiago centro, Chile
Teléfono: 56-2-222 68 33
Details - see pictures:
the ecohostel
the stairs to the upper level - the `voliere`
the permanent electrical overall power consumption meter
it says `play me`- yes, I will
it`s an Int`l place: meeting people from all over the world
or from Holywood, this time, Macarena
that's how Santiago looks on sunny says:
a view towards the Andes mountains
A huge city topped mostly with a smog cloud
A city with unbelievable high traffic
You will see many churches - this here is the Los Dominicus church
free strolling dogs - reminds me on Greece
As most cities in Chile, Santiago is surrounded by "rolling"hills
have taken a bicycle tout to the hill "cerro Santa Lucia":
a wonderful bike-way up
looking back - with no anger
Iris - getting old
A view, down to the city
a view down to the city of Santiago
...another view...
arriving at the "cerro Santa Lucia" hill
greeting my followers
Santa Lucia monument
Iris - on top of the hill
on the way to "cerro Santa Lucia" monument
close to the top
just for witness: my bicycle was there
a good view down to Santiago
seen on the way down
and more of this...
this is in the middle of the city
view to the downhill
a typical vegetation found near the road
...more of this...
day bicycle riding distance: 50 kilometers
29. 11. 2012
Thursday
2.day
explore Santiago de Chile
hotel, same as the day before
pictures above
the surroundings of the Eco hostel:
the music and event hall nearby
Santiago - Plaza Baquedano
a good food place:
suuuper restaurant
...again..
fine vegetarian food
candelabras well designed
more impressions of the city of Santiago:
I like the free strolling dogs
so tired...
...waiting for a ride...
wild river flows throughout the city
That`s what it is: pure Adrenaline
day bicycle riding distance: 30 kilometers
30. 11. 2012
Friday
3.day
ride to Los Andes
Hotel Manual Rodrigez
price: pesos, 20.000,-
A dangerous ride
see details on pictures:
...passing wineries...
...and monuments...
loading the bicycle in order to pass the freeway tunnel
...a bicycle should not be like this...
and here the tunnel - impossible to ride with a bicycle
..end of tunnel - thanks god, I have been in a car...
Arriving at Los Andes
a fruity food stop
dinner at Los Andes
and the bicycle waits...
day bicycle riding distance: 80 kilometers
01. 12 2012
Saturday
4.day
With the bicycle from Los Andes to the paso de la Cumbreand back to the hotel at Los Andes
see details on pictures:
my navigator shows oncoming curves
...right...!
impressive Andes mountains
the Andes bird
the Condor
slowly climbing up...
passing a gap
looking back...
...work done...
the sign says: curve 26 ...
...reminds me on South Tirol
the main road (Hwy 60) passes a tunnel which leads to Argentina
I have left the main road in order to climb higher
...have left Chile - never arrived at Argentina...
...and the bicycle rests, whilst I am doing pictures...
sensitive vegetation close to the road
...same...
the bicycle witnesses, I have been here...
...on this lousy road...
a power consuming climb
you see the grinder-stone: has grind many oil sumps of SUV`s going up
riding with 28 mm width tires (4-seasons)
...but even this tire is not good enough for that road...
going further up
a shelter, in case of bad weather
reached the snow
me, photo taken with "3rd arm"
my personal record in hight
wow, what a mountain
the Andes top - Argentina/Chile border:
pictures taken from Google Earth (copyright Google Earth):
passing the gap on Hwy 60 towards the Rendentor pass
here it starts - see the winding road
the middle part
another winding road to the Christo Rendentor
day bicycle riding distance: 80 kilometers
02. 12. 2012
Sunday
5.day
ride with the bus to Valparaiso
stay in hostel
bicycling round the city...
see details on pictures:
the bus, I have been using to reach Valparaiso
"my" hostel
the door opens: "what a surprise"!
I never slept alone
monument of Arturo Prat - Chilean naval officer
one of the famous assessors
they have so many of them
all passes the inspection ?!?
sign says: way to the Navy museum
the vista point platform...
to see the complete city of Valparaiso - what means "paradise valley"
Valparaiso is known for colored houses
...so many...!
if you see this officers, you know, there must be danger somewhere
...on the way to secure the city...
...an old Peugeot, still bears a licence plate...
...people take care, to `dress` houses beautiful
... architects...
another view to the harbor, for what the city of Valparaiso is known
end station "port" - another architectural masterpiece
cruise ships waiting for tourists
day bicycle riding distance: 40 kilometers
03. 12. 2012
Monday
6.day
ride with the local metro train to El Salto, visit the botanical garden
stay at hostel, same as the night before
see details on pictures:
starting at the Bandon station
the directions table
botanical welcome sign
...to the `French`garden
the garden center
wonderful blooming trees and bushes
a rose arch
...and cactuses...
this makes it impossible to take a bicycle onto a train
the Valparaiso metro train
day bicycle riding distance: 30 kilometers
04. 12. 2012
Tuesday
7.day
ride with the local metro train to Quilpue, visit the Valparaiso zoo
I couldn`t resist, to visit my friends
see details on pictures:
a house on the way to the zoo - given up...
welcome sign at the zoo
info...
even animals need a rest room
I am ashamed: a huge cat in a chicken cage
???
I think this is a peacock
???
Chile is popular for Lamas
in real nature, males are more beautiful as women
A condor, very popular in Chile
???
herds of friends I met...
my friend, please do not spite!
???
day bicycle riding distance: 30 kilometers
05. 12. 2012
Wednesday
8.day
explore by bicycle the city and surroundings of Valparaiso
see details on pictures:
monument a the naval military zone
Chile is a defensive country since ever
Valparaiso as whole Chile is surrounded by of the `ring of fire`
a view back to the harbor...
the `lonesome rock`
`winding road ahead`
`ring of fire`
the shore on Valparaiso`s back side
with a light house tower
and a ship propeller, as monument
light house tower from the far
sometimes I found road surfaces like this
taken with my `3rd arm`
wild nature, close to the city
see the birds on the beach
seen on the way: that is Valpo cemetery
it seems `Tsunami`is a serious issue at Chile
now arrived at the final back end of Valpo
day bicycle riding distance: 40 kilometers
06. 12. 2012
Thursday
9.day
explore by bicycle the city and surroundings of Valparaiso
see details on pictures below:
This assessor was founded 1883 and still is in operation
the walkway to the acsesor Conseption
colors of the city
the naval museum
don`t know what it means - maybe die united
each house is a `castle`
another view to the paradise city
...architects...!
and enjoyed a harbor tour:
"my ship"
sun tanning elephant seals
...some more
Gringo visitor
Chile is a defensive country - here a submarine
heavy loaded - but now given load away...
a view to Valparaiso from the harbor tour
...another view...
cruising between ships
...view...
day bicycle riding distance: 30 kilometers
07. 12. 2012
Friday
10.day
ride with bus from Valparaiso (Pacific coast), back to Santiago de Chile
stay at a former hotel: the Ecohostel
see pictures below:
back in Santiago - visited the nearby park
very well kept
stairs in the park
Santiago comprises a huge music instrument mall - for me?
day distance round: 30 kilometers
08. 12. 2012
Saturday
11.day
My last day in Santiago - using my time in visiting a winery:
See pictures below:
the welcome sign to the winery I went
alley at the winery
the `old `admin building
a winery with a lot of stroll ways
another stroll way
monument at the winery
water irrigation system
"Schnaps" nose
grapes growing
major grapes Chileans harvest
it is what the sign says...
it says : `Merlot` :-)
Pinot Noir
Syrah
well stored wine - all in oak barrels
our fist wine tasting session (Pinot Gris)
the entrance to the wine cellar
oak barrels
interesting - but safe!
and well indicated
red wine bleeding
a very special wine brand
in the haunted cellar
barrels, barrels, barrels
very old and special brand behind iron bars
the founder of the winery
the "chairman"...
another little statue
Iris between barrels, maybe that`s the way she like to die
our second tasting session: Pinot Noir
The bottle bears th name of the visited winery...!
Salut!
quick, a last glass of wine...
...and fly back home...
distance round: 0 kilometers
09. 12. 2012
Sunday
12.day
fly back home
THANK YOU !
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