I was told that I had to plan a two week trip for my parents around where I had been over the last three year. It would be their first time in South America, and also the only time I would see them over two years. Previously, they had only known of my adventures from over skype, but now they wanted to get to know a little more about the last three years of my life: How do we do that in two weeks...?
We naturally started in Punta del Este, Uruguay where our family´s friends live. Once we had arrived, we spent a few days getting some beach time, tour around the area, and a Uruguayan Asado (BBQ)!!
Our next destination was Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay where I spent my first year in South America. We squeezed in as much as possible in one day, a tour around Pocitos where I lived, a cruise along the beautiful beach walk and lunch in Old Town. We had a terrific day!
Towards the evening we returned the rent car at the airport where our flight to Santiago, Chile also awaited us!
Santiago was the second big city I lived in just before I set out on my motorbike adventures. It is a beautiful, safe, and easy-to-get-around city. The back side is the exhaust that gets stuck in the valley trapping the smog in the city and actually prevents you from even seeing the Andes right on the boarder of the city (which you notice in the picture).
The city has really nice parks, monuments and museums easily accessible. We spend a few days cruising around the city. My friend Nelson acted our private guide and explained all we wanted to know.
Santiago is very progressive and does remind more of a western Europe city rather than Latin American. In the picture below we see the huge shopping mall, or as some like to call it "The Evil Tower of Sauron".
The next destination was Valparaiso, a city like no other, I was excited to show them this splendour of art, color and ungoverned city expansion. To follow in my footstepts as I first started my motorbike trip, we took the more exciting road up into the mountains...
And with an A-Team performance we were able to navigate the small roads through to the other side!
To fully get an appreciation for the unique relation between the city and its flourishing art form, we did a graffiti art tour with Valpo Street Art, which with great knowledge told us all about its history, development, and where it is in the present day. Captivating! (And highly recommended!)
At one point during the day we overhead a few gentlemen talking about a downhill race on mountain bikes through the city. The route they were planning sounded insane! But I guess that goes also goes far as to describe the riders! Watch the videos below!
And: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvKqAGT94s0
The city expansion has grown to cover the nearby hills in the most elaborate and creative manner imaginable.
One of the more prolific artists, which style you find in and around all of Valpo, was delegated the privilige to spray-paint these pieces impressively covering the side of a tall resident building! One is to be made from each season!
On the way back after dinner out
Once back in Santiago, we returned to Uruguay where we spent the last few days together; beach, sun, and each others company.
When my parents left, I was eager to spend some time in Montevideo with Caro to see my friends and enjoy the Uruguayan Murgas (part of the Uruguayan carnival) which lasts all through February!
A few days later were we getting ready for the next phase of our trip on the motorbike. We were heading for the waterfalls of Iguazú. But first a few days on the Uruguayan coast!
Stay tuned!
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