The theft happened in the perfect place. The German Embassy in Santiago de Chile is just over two hours away by bus. She agrees to stamp my driving licence copy. After Christmas. The police give me three entertaining Spanish lessons, then I have my ten lines of theft report.
- The B’n’B style Landay Hostel is in a central and quiet location in the stately home of the old Chilean poetess Iris. Super friendly staff and lots of good wine round off every evening in these venerable walls. Highly recommended!
My dear host Cristian from Los Vilos gives me a guided tour through hip artists’ neighbourhoods, parks and up to Cerro Santa Lucia. Santiago de Chile was founded here 500 years ago. Today, you stand here at eye level with the skyscrapers of a cosmopolitan city with a population of 8 million.
Prices and the standard of living between parks and colourful pedestrian zones are high. Santiago’s inhabitants are much friendlier and less stressed than, for example, the arrogant elbowed Rambos in Lima.
I walk for hours through the centre among interesting old and new architecture in search of a leucoplast-like strong adhesive tape to seal the massively leaking seams of my drysuit. In the end, only armour tape remains as the best possible solution. I will probably be the first kiting icicle in the fjords of southern Chile.
In the evening, I have a few drinks with the wonderful biologist Francisca from Cusco in the bars of Avenida Brasil and later on in the hostel until late at night with a lovely Frenchman who prefers beer and gives his wine away.
Travelling south towards the silent night, I oversleep my 10,000th kilometre on the Panamericana III…
I wish you dear wonder people at home a wonderful holiday!
Frank Woelky, born in 1973. Kitesurfer since 1998. Since 2006, I have been combining kitesurfing and web design on trips lasting several months off the beaten track.