Wanders of my Life

Wonders of my life, found on the Wanders of my life

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Chile - 2018

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Puerto Rico

I always try to travel to new places, and try not to hit the same place twice before I finish off my bucket list(which is extremely long). However, Puerto Rico is somewhere that I would go back to in a heartbeat. 

I travelled to Puerto Rico in February, 2016. This was before any of the hurricanes which decimated the island, along with many other places around it. There still exists a massive humanitarian crisis, but there is some rebuild. Puerto Rico is an exceptional country, and the only thing I wish is that the US would recognize this amazing place as unique, vibrant and full of its own culture, which is to be respected. 

The island truly is amazing. The only negative experience I had here was actually with a couple of Americans that had moved to PR from somewhere in the south for a few months. While sitting next to them at the bar and starting up a friendly conversation, I asked why they had wanted to come live in PR. The one responded with, “We own this bitch. This country is ours. This beach is ours. This whole country is ours!”. I then asked what it mean that PR is commonwealth of the US, and none of the 3 could answer. It was extremely disappointing, however interactions with the locals were much better. 

We arrived in San Juan via a WestJet flight that cost around $600/pp. It’s good to keep in mind that going around the entire perimeter of the island takes about 9 hours total, so it’s not very big - but it’s full of amazing places and sights to see.  Day 1  We arrived in San Juan earlier in the day. The car we rented came from Alamo at the San Juan airport, and cost us about $360.00 for 8 days. Alamo has reliable cars, but their service could be better. The lines are long and the staff are in no rush, so be wary. We rented via rentalcars.com, which is where I always rent from and have always had a good experience with.  From San Juan we made our way to Isabela, on the West side of the island. It is said that the sunsets here rival those of Hawaii, which I strongly agree with. On the east end of the island, it’s a bit busier with more of a “night life”, but I was looking for adventure - and that can definitely be found on the west.  We booked an AirBnB for $900 for 8 days in Isabela. Isabela is a small town, but extremely beautiful. It give you access to all the amenities you need, and has a very cute town square. If you’re looking for more night life, try Aguadilla. It’s one of the bigger cities on the West Coast.  We went into town and got groceries for the duration of our trip, and enjoyed the sunset from our backyard. 

Day 2 This day was a beach day for us. Jobos beach is a 10 minute drive from Isabela, and is totally worth it to go. It’s a smaller, local beach with bars that line the shore. It’s great to grab a drink and sit out on the terrace, watching crystal clear waters crash on to the rocks. There’s a strong pull here in the water, as there is everywhere, but do to the circular shape of the inlet there can sometimes be a current that swoops around. Just be cautious, but on sunny, calm days you’re more than find to go swimming. There is also some really cool rock formations that jut out that you can walk on. Just remember to bring your shoes as they are quite rough and can’t be walked on in bare feet!

If going to Puerto Rico, heading to the waterfalls in San Sebastien is a must. Located on Rte 446, San Sebastian 00685, PR, you’ll find Gozalandia Waterfalls. There’s a hiking trail to the lower and upper falls. Above the lower falls, you can swim in the pools, and at the upper falls you can swim off of a tarzan rope into the deep pool below. It’s a 30 minute drive from Isabela, which makes it an easy trip. Plan to spend a few hours here, as you’ll have some fun exploring to do and hanging out in one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. 

Day 3 On day 3, take a 35 minute drive to Arecibo to check out the Window Cave, Cueva Ventana. It’s a large cave on top of a limestone cliff that overlooks the Río Grande de Arecibo valley. You can access it from a trail that begins adjacent to a Puma gas station located along PR-10. On your way back into Isabela, stop at any of the small local restaurants to get some cheap, local food. There are tons of places that almost look like gas station stops, with outdoor patios - these are the best ones!

Day 4  On this day you can do a bit of a longer trek, given the weather is good. Heading 1.5 hours south, you can check out Ponce for lunch. Ponce has a long stretch of beach and groves that you are free to walk along, as well as an incredibly beautiful boardwalk that is extremely busy in high-season. Ponce is located in the south-west of the island, and has some really great architecture in the town itself, including an old fire station that you can go in and check out. The town square is also beautiful, and there are tons of little shops on the small streets. 

After having lunch in Ponce, head to La Parguera. It’s a small tourist town where you can buy tickets to catch a night-boat to see the Bioluminescence in the bay. When the water is disturbed, you can see glowing green in the water, which is really an amazing sight to see. The best bioluminescent bay is in Fajardo, on the east side of the island, but La Parguera is also quite good, and the little town is great to grab a drink from before you head out on your trip. 

Day 5 For another lazy beach day, Crash Boat Beach is a definite must. The sunsets here are world reknowned, so make a day of a trip to this beach and enjoy the beautiful sun, sand and waves. Crash Boat is about 45 minutes from Isabela, so leave in the late afternoon so you can catch the sunset before heading home. There are tons of beach vendors selling food and drinks, but bring a beer or wine(if you’re into that) so you don’t pay for any inflated prices. 

Day 6 Head back down south to Cabo Rojo, which is about an hours drive. Cabo Rojo is often described as paradise, and has tons of beautiful sights to see on the beaches. Here you can see the salt flats(Las Salinas), and check out the amazing Morillos Lighthouse. From the lighthouse, there are tons of trails that lead you to natural sea-made architecture in the coastline. On your way back, grab lunch in Mayaguez at one of the many sea-side restaurants along the highway. 

Day 7  On day 7, you can start to make your way back to the capital, San Juan. It’s good to spend at least 1 night in San Juan to walk the city streets and experience the night life.  Pack up your bags and head back along the highway, going all the way to El Yunque, the only rainforest in the “USA”. It’s a straight 2 hour drive, but totally worth it. There are a number of different trails, however If you’re up for hiking 2 then definitely take either La Mina or Big Tree Trail. Both of these lead to a stunning 35 foot waterfall where the water flows over huge rocks into a pool, where you can swim and take a quick dip. The water here is absolutely freezing, so beware - but if you do the entire hike up to the top of El Yunque, and then take on one of these 2 trails, it will most definitely be well-deserved and refreshing! Once done in the rainforest(budget at least 5 hours), head to San Juan where you can stay in any hotel downtown.  Once downtown, this is the night to go out. You can either find a pub in Old San Juan where you can play pool and have beers, or try a real club out like the San Juan Hotel, or Stargate(which closes later than most clubs in San Juan). Either way, the city buzzes on weekends and weeknights later in the week. 

Day 8  If you’re headed home this day, hopefully you have some time to walk the old streets of San Juan, check out the port and eat some amazing food before heading back to the airport, It’s a great city to walk, with fantastic infrastructure and tons of shops and restaurants to check out. If you’re heading home on Day 9, stay in San Juan and enjoy a relaxing evening at one of the great restaurants in the core. 

Puerto Rico is an incredible island that has so much to offer for being so small. The diversity is amazing, and the people are even better. 

Happy travels! Dede

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Puerto Rico - 2015  Travel Itinerary to come on www.wandersofmylife.com

(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AO4S9BvXF0I)

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Scotland

I’ve always identified as being Greek - as a kid I went to Greek Orthodox Church Camp in Greece, I savour baklava and I eat copious amounts of lamb on Easter. However, when I meet people they always seem to be surprised that I'm Greek - could be the fair skin and freckles, which I inherit from my Scottish side. I had never been interested in my Scottish side, despite my extremely Scottish and common last name, Ramsay, until I was introduced to the show Outlander this year. For those of you who have watched it, it takes place in Scotland, and I finally had an interest in going. I’m not sure if it was because of the hottest read-headed Scot I’ve ever seen being on the show(Jamie Fraser), or if it was seeing that the history of Scotland was rich, and something I had overlooked all my life, but I decided to make the trek out there this July. 

Scotland is a beautiful country. It reminded me quite a bit of Iceland and in certain parts, just not as cold when I was there. It does rain quite a bit, but going in July I only had 1 of my 9 days where there was any precipitation, so I don’t believe it’s as dark and gloomy as people expect it to be. Edinburgh and Glasgow, two of the main cities, are located closer to the south of the country. There are some fantastic beaches to hit south of these two cities, mostly on the west coast. Even travelling north, the west coast is more dense and has more to see than the east. Scotland is not a heavily populated country, and travelling north you’ll find many small little towns that pass in the blink of an eye, but the highlands are definitely worth checking out. That was actually my favourite part of the trip - the north has something amazing about it, and I’m very glad I rented a car to get up there and see it. 

The one difficulty with this is that in Scotland, they drive on the opposite side of the road. It’s quite a shock to see cars coming at you on the wrong side of the freeway, so wherever you are, make sure you do a little bit of small driving before you get onto the big roads. I always use rentalcars.com to book my cars, and by doing it at least 1 week in advance you’ll save a ton of money. For 1 week my car rental was $350.00 by booking in advance, but at the counter it would have been over $1000.00 - you have been warned!

I tried to cover as much as I could during my 9 days, and if I were to go back a second time I would do a few things differently. I would stay longer up in the North, and check out some more of the Isles. I only got to Skye, which was absolutely stunning, but there are many more out there to explore. 

Day 1 -  I flew WestJet and arrived in Glasgow. WestJet has a night flight, so you get there in the morning, which means you avoid losing a whole day of travel as long as you can sleep on planes. The Glasgow airport is quite small, so it was easy to pick up my rental car and drive around a bit to get myself familiarized. From here, I made my way up to Dalwhinnie, a 2 hour drive out from the airport.  There is not much to see in Glasgow itself, as it’s very industrial, but there are some nice parks and downtown areas. This is actually where my Scottish family is from - they were a poor, working family who didn’t seem to have much until they went over to Canada.  On the way to Dalwhinnie, you’ll hit Perth, where you can stop for lunch and also see the Scone Palace. It’s a great little town that has some awesome Haggis and Ale, if you’re looking to stop for a nice Scottish lunch. From here, I carried on and ended at Balsporran Cottages in Dalwhinnie. It really is a cute little B&B in the middle of nowhere. There’s a few nice streams and hiking opportunities in the surrounding hills, which is very nice, but don’t think you’re going out drinking if you stay here. It’s very peaceful, clean and well-kept - perfect for a first relaxing night in Scotland. If you’re arriving on a weekend, I’d suggest staying in Edinburgh so you can enjoy the nightlife there, but coming in here on a weekday is just fine. 

Day 2 -  From here, I started up to Mallaig, which is a 1.5 hour drive from Dalwhinnie. On the way, there are a few great things to stop by and see. En route, you have to stop at Fort William, an old Scottish fort-town. It’s got tons of great shops and little restaurants to eat at. I bought an awesome raincoat here for $60, so it’s not outrageously priced. It’s definitely a must to stop at, and is also close to Ben Nevis. Ben Nevis is the tallest mountain in the Scottish region that take about 8.5 hours to climb, round trip. If you’re outdoorsy, it’s a big tourist destination and can get you moving and your blood pumping. The view at the top is one you’ll never forget. If you’re a new climber, I’d think it may be a good idea to do a half-climb up, as it does get quite tricky in some areas.  Just past Fort William you’ll find Glenfinnan, where they have the Hogwarts Express. It’s a quick 20 min detour from the main route, and you’ll see the train winding through the mountains as you drive as well. This is actually called the Jacobite Stream Train, but if you’re a Harry Potter fan, this is definitely a quick stop you must take. Finally in Mallaig, you’ll smell the sea and salt, in this little ferry town. There are a couple of great coffee shops here, and I highly recommend staying at the West Highland Hotel. The rooms are small but clean, there are no key-cards for the doors(they are actual keys), but the bathrooms are completely renovated and there is a bar, restaurant and library on the main level. At night, people sit in the reception area and there is live music near the bar, so it’s perfect to meet other travellers and enjoy some Scottish sounds. The hotel is also located a bit up on a hill, overlooking the inlet. It’s a great view, and I would definitely stay here again.  If you are taking a ferry the next day to the Isle of Skye, it’s best to book it the night before, It books up quickly, and if you don‘t have a confirmed ticket, there’s no guarantee you’ll get on with a car. You can book the ferry tickets at CalMac: www.ticketing.calmac.co.uk/booking/asp/web100.asp . 

Day 3 -  I made an early start in Mallaig to catch the 8am ferry over to the Isle of Skye. There’s a small coffee shop right by the ferry dock, where you can grab a quick bit to take and grab some java. The ferry is a short 30 minutes to the Isle of Skye, where you’ll land in Ardvasar. The island is actually quite large, so unless you stay a night here it’s best to do a pass-through and end up back on the mainland. I chose to visit the Fairy Pools, which is about an hour from the ferry. Staying on the island can be quite costly, running you about $200/night for a small room.  Along the road to the fairy pools, you’ll see tons of gorgeous waterfalls and off-road scenery. It‘s an awesome drive on a good sunny day. When you get to the fairy pools, located in Glen Brittle, you’ll see parking is limited. It’s best to park on the road, and then walk down to the entrance. It’s really just a bunch of waterfalls running down from the mountains, which makes for an incredibly breathtaking scene. You can walk up quite a bit, but once you get to a certain point they all look the same, so I suggest going up about 30 minutes. The water is cold, clear and refreshing. If you're daring, you can definitely take swim, but it is quite chilling and there is no place out of the open to dry off.  You can also check out Dunvegan, which is another hour north, however the Fairy Pools are the so serene, it’s good to budget at least an hour and a half here. Look out for Moo-Cows as well, which can be found en-route to the Fairy Pools.  Head back to Kyleakin, where you can take cross over a bridge to the mainland. Right in Kyleakin there is a grocery store, gas station and some really cute restaurants. You can enjoy a late lunch here on your way back over. The bridge is pretty cool, and quite long, offering a great view of Loch Alsh. Try to do the cross-over before 4pm or so, as you’ll be able to stop into Eilean Donan castle. It’s got tons of great history, and has been passed down for generations within the current family, so there are tons of interesting objects in the home. It’s right on the loch, which makes for some incredible photo opps. The castle closes around 6pm, so be sure to get there before. From the castle, head up to Inverness, which is about 1hr30min. You’ll drive right beside Loch Ness - unfortunately, I didn’t catch Nessy on my trip, but maybe you’ll be lucky enough to.  Inverness was by far my favourite place in Scotland. It’s all based around the river, and there’s a decent nightlife here as well. There’s tons of things to do for tourists here, as well as great shopping at their main downtown mall. Small boutique shops have tartans for every clan you can imagine in the downtown as well, and there’s tons of food(including McDonalds - however please don’t,,.. just don’t). All of the bars and pubs run along the River Ness, making it easy to pub-hop and check out all sorts of different bars. You can stay at the Crown Court Hotel($164/night), which is about a 10 minute walk into downtown through a few beautiful side street. The houses along here are all older and covered in flowers and greenery, so it’s a great walk. You’ll pass Inverness Castle on the way in, and if you really like you can go to the top of the castle to see a great view of the entire town during open hours. 

Day 4 -  The next day, grab breakfast or brunch in Inverness(tons of great spots downtown), and then head out to Culloden Moor, which is just outside of Inverness. You can pay for a tour by entering into the main building once you arrive, or you can park a bit closer near the entrance itself and walk yourself around the fields. This is where the Jacobite army fought against British troops, and were basically destroyed. There are tons of plaques as you do the walk around explaining different components of the battle, as well as headstones for the different clans and flag poles marking the position of the British and Jacobites. It is a must-see, full of history and amazing to see what happened on that soil back in 1746.  After checking out Culloden, you can either stay another night in Inverness(which I would have done if I could redo the trip), or head up to Dornoch. Dornoch is a bit more north, and follows the sea with is really nice. However, the farther north you go, the cooler it gets. Up in Dornoch, there’s the opportunity to see Dunrobin Castle before heading into your hotel. This is an incredibly well architected castle with amazing gardens, and really cool to see. If you decide to stay in Dornoch, I highly recommend staying at the Dornoch Hotel($90/night). It’s right off the sea, and has a great restaurant in the hotel. Dornoch itself is a great little Scottish town, with some awesome restaurants and sweet shops. It’s quite small, so you can walk downtown from the hotel, but if you choose to drive there are tons of parking spots available. If you get to Dornoch before sunset, it’s a quick walk through the golf course outside of the hotel to the beach. The beach is absolutely stunning, with white sand and cool water. I actually ended up getting a sunburn here, not realizing how strong the sun was!

Day 5 -  If you’re up for it, I highly recommend doing a horseback riding tour at Highlands Unbridled, about 30-40 minutes from Dornoch. You can choose rides of a few hours, or a day ride. Depending on your experience level, you’re able to gallop along the beach, or just happily walk along - they’re great at gaging the best experience for the group. They have a ton of different ponies, all of which are fantastically well cared for and seem quite happy, including Highland Ponies. I am not a pony person, I prefer horses, however these ponies were my absolute favourite! The day trek includes a stop at the top of one of the hills for lunch, so be sure to pack enough water and food to get your through a 6 hour day. You can check them out here: www.highlandsubridled.co.uk.  After the horse trek, you’ll most likely be quite tired, so staying in Dornoch is idea. The Dornoch hotel has great ocean views and is quite relaxing - you’ll most likely be sore the next day if you’re not used to riding. 

Day 6 -  Make a late start to head back down Fife area. You can do this 1 of 2 ways depending on your tolerance for driving. You can take the coastal route down the east coast, stopping in Aberdeen for lunch and completing a total trip of 5 hours, or you can cut through the inland for a total trip time of 4  hours. Both are great drives, but if you like the sea then I would suggest spending that extra hour.  Your destination is Anstruser, a small town with the most amazing fish and chips you can possibly find. Even the Princes eat the fish and chips from here at the Anstruser Fish Bar, and were seen here often during their studies in St. Andrews. It is absolutely to die for! This little sea town has tons of one-way streets, which can be a bit frustrating at times, but there is little need to walk if you stay at the Murray Library Hoes Hostel. Although it’s a hostel, can book private rooms here as well for a great price. It’s has renovated washrooms, super clean rooms, awesome common spaces and is right beside the sea. The hostel owners are extremely friendly, and the place is very secure. I would highly recommend to stay here if in the area.  There are also a ton of great trails in this little town, one of which will take you out to the meadows outside of town. The Scottish landscape can truly be appreciated here, giving you a mix of beautiful fields and the sea. In the summer there’s live music and festivals in the main square by the beach, which is a great spot to meet people. The town is super friendly and a great place to wind down and ground yourself. 

Day 7 -  Make your way down to Edinburgh, which is about an hour from Anstruther. There’s no need to rush out, as it’s beautiful to watch the sun rise over the ocean. Once you get to Edinburgh, there’s a ton of great sites to see. There’s lots of walking to be done, so park your car at the Safestay Edinburgh, where you can stay the night and be central to the city for $120/night.  Head into the old town of Edinburgh, where you’ll find old architecture and, of course, the Edinburgh Castle. You’ll have to pay a fee to get in, but it’s something that should be done if you’re interested in history. The gardens around the castle are also beautiful, and you can walk around the main streets into back alleys and different shops, which are scattered all over the old town. There's also tons of churches that are absolutely stunning. Be ware - you can’t take photos unless you pay a fee, so if you’re going to use a camera make sure you’re sneaky about it! The bars and pubs here are endless, so if you’re looking for some good nightlife the city is really your oyster. Bramble is a small bar that has amazing beer, and is very well known - making it easy to meet people as it’s always packed. For breakfast, try Roseleaf, which has amazing reviews and lives up to these reviews with their awesome food. Edinburgh is really a city for walking and drinking, so enjoy the livelihood and density, which is a sharp change from the north. 

Day 8 -  This day can either be spent in Edinburgh, or you can head out on this day to Glasgow(an hour drive) to catch a flight home. If you prefer, you can also leave from Edinburgh, however dropping the car here will most likely be more expensive as it will be different from where you picked it up. 

Scotland is a stunning country rich of heritage and thick accents. The north is absolutely perfect if you’re looking for adventure, with the stark contrast to Edinburgh and it’s density, which makes for an awesome nightlife and the opportunity to meet tons of new people. 

Hopefully you have the opportunity to enjoy Scotland and all it has to offer.  Happy travels, and remember - 

Travel far, Wander further. 

Dede

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My Spiritual Journey

This isn’t a story about a trip I took in an airplane, but rather one that I took over a very long period of time, and which has brought me to where I am today.

When I was around the age of 10, I went through a phase where I constantly asked myself questions like, “Is this what God would want me to do? Is this the right thing to do?”. I was so in my head, that I lived everyday asking myself if what I was doing was right. This went on for about a year, and when I look back on this year I can feel myself cringe. What a terrible way to spend a year of my childhood, wondering if what I was doing was okay and always second-guessing myself! Kids aren’t supposed to give 2 shits about what they do, and the detention room should be a second home! To this day I'm not sure what sparked these questions in my head, however I do feel that it may have had something to do with my father, who I had lots of issues with growing up and didn't see for a period of about 7 years due to restraining orders and legal matters. On the other hand, I had my step Dad in my life from the age of 12, and he was the perfect example of someone who loved and cared unconditionally for my family and for myself, even though I wasn't technically his.

You probably think I'm crazy after reading at. What kind of kid would ask themselves, after every action, if this is what God would do? To be honest, I know I'm a little crazy, but I have definitely made leaps and bounds from that time.

Growing up, I never had a boyfriend. I believe there were two reasons for this. 1) is that the boys I like to know I existed, and 2) I had no interest in the boys that did like me. There may have been a third factor, which was my horrible home-dyed bleach blonde hair and poor outfit choices(see above picture), but I'm giving myself a pass on this one. Not having a boyfriend for my entire life meant that I constantly questioned myself and asked myself WHAT was so horribly wrong with me that I couldn’t find a guy? Why could other girls who were total weirdo’s have boyfriends, and I couldn't even get a first date? Then, one day I met a good-looking, kind guy that actually seem to like me. So obviously, I did what any girl in my situation would do, and treated him like crap throughout the entire duration of our relationship. I just could not wrap my head around the fact that somebody could really like me for who I was. So to no one’s surprise, after a little over a year, I was dumped. At that point, I had finally realized that I really cared about this guy, who had really cared about me throughout the entire year of me pushing him away. However, he was done with me, and so being the control freak that I am, I decided to change the only thing that I actually had any say over. I finally decided to take a look at myself.

My stepmom, who I am very close with, introduced me to a Healer. This healer also happened to be her best friend, however Janet Amare, who works out of Brampton, Ontario, turned my life around starting the first day I met her. If you saw her in the street, you would think she was just as normal as the next guy, but this woman has a talent for connecting people with their purpose and helping them understand and work with energy. At the end of the day, that's all we really are, even scientifically speaking. All matter is just energy, and so to be able to understand and utilize this energy can also help us grow and better our lives. Janet helps people connect in a way that they best understand, that they feel most comfortable with, and that is most beneficial for what they want to see in their lives. She respects everybody's individuality and how they connect with higher power, which is unique to find and a world where we follow so many rules and think of energy work as “cultish”. 

Over the next two years I took numerous Energy Medicine courses, read hundreds of books about healing and attended many seminars. This has gotten me to the point where I feel that I can connect with God, Spirit, the Universe, or whatever you want to call it, in my own way and on my own time. Spirituality is not so much a chore or a task for me, but it's ingrained into my daily life. For example, I pray every night before I go to sleep, and I always list at least three things that I'm very thankful for. I also have a journal at my desk at work where I write in everything that I'm thankful for that day. Writing things down helps me really feel them, and it's a way that I best connect and see the bigger picture of what's going on with my life. I'm also not afraid to ask for what I want to see happen in my life, however I always try to focus on the essence rather than the details. Through learning about the Law of Attraction, which was also a very long process and hard to wrap my head around in the beginning, I began to live my life with this as one of the guiding principles. Basically, that the universe is full of abundance, there is no shortage of anything that you may wish to have or do, you just have to 1) ask and 2) allow. Obviously, Step 1) asking is quite simple. Step 2) allowing is the more complicated part. There are many inhibitors that affect how we allow the Universe to work in our daily lives, and these are the things that are good to focus on clearing or fixing, if it's some deep-rooted issue. Sometimes we don't even know what the issue is, because we only see the symptoms. That's something that I've learned from Janet - it's like when your finger hurts but it's actually caused  by a pinched nerve in your back; you’ll never fix your finger if you only work on the hand, and you don't know that one is related to the other until you get a second opinion or you stopped looking at just the symptoms and trace it back to the actual problem.

Some great resources that have helped me along the way on my spiritual journey have bean some of the below books, as well as organizations.

Esther and Jerry Hicks - Money and the Law of Attraction(sign up for their daily quotes) Wayne Dyer - The Power of Intention Andy Dooley - Leveraging the Universe(sign up for his daily quotes - they’re hilarious and uplifting to start your day with) Sanaya Roman - Creating Money 

Organizations - Oneness University 

Hopefully this helps you on your own spiritual journey. For me, I tried to see other people's paths an follow them, but it really is to each their own. All you have to do is focus on your best self, set your intention, and read lots of books. I would recommend getting dumped by someone you care about, as that was the best way for me to do it, but I know this doesn’t work for everyone and it‘s very painful, so maybe seek other methods. :p

Happy travels! 

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Chile

A trip to Chile - where to begin! Chile was definitely the most impressive travel experience that I have ever had, and I’e had quite a few. 

If you’re looking for raw, real culture that is full of history that is engrained into the people’s daily lives, this is where you want to go. Because Chile runs vertically up South America, you’ve got an abundance of different climates and geographical wonders. English is not spoken save for the capital, and even then it can be pretty scarce, so if you do not speak Spanish be sure to bring a phrase book or something to help you along the way. Chile is one of the more developed countries in South America, however it’s still a good idea to be attentive when out in the bigger cities, such as the capital, Santiago. It’s very easy to be pick-pocketed, and they will clearly be able to see you're a tourist. What I normally do is refrain from wearing any expensive jewellery, and carry just a wallet with my passport somewhere inside my clothes like an interior pocket, bra(ladies, I know you’ve done this too), or pant pockets. There’s no reason to be afraid of travelling alone or to these areas, just keep in mind that you’re not on your own stomping grounds and things are done differently in other countries. 

My trip was from Santiago(the capital) to the north, which hosts the Atacama desert. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to go South on my trip, which I would love to do - Chile runs down to the Antarctic, to Torres del Paine. It is a dream to go there, and I’ve got a plan to make it there in the next 2 years. Chile also borders Peru and Bolivia, so there are many options when you’re down there. 

My trip was a 2 week adventure, where I brought minimal luggage to be able to ride a bike and camp when I wanted to. The best flight to get to Santiago from Toronto is the Air Canada direct flight which leaves around 10pm, takes about 10 hours and gets you to Chile the next day. Being on the opposite side of the world, Chile’s seasons are the opposite of Canada’s. However, it really depends on where you go in the country that dictates what to pack. 

Day 1 - 3: Arrive in Santiago. At the airport, I rented a car and headed out of the city. As soon as you get off the plane to pick up your car, you’ll see the mountains looming in the background. It‘s an amazing site. It’s good to note that cars in Chile are manual, and transit can be pretty city-centric and difficult to use if you don’t speak the language! From here, I went to Valparaiso, which is about 1:30hr by car. Valparaiso is a beautiful town on the seaside, with many steep hills and colourful houses. I spent 3 days here, and that was just enough time to cover everything. 

A great place to stay on a budget is a little bit into the city, but is clean, comfortable and give you great walking access to the main parts of town. It’s safe, quiet and beautiful. These are separate rooms with shared bathrooms, but extremely spacious and full of light. There’s also a shared kitchen for you to prepare food if you prefer. This averages about $26/night.  

https://www.airbnb.ca/rooms/4906501?location=Valpara%C3%ADso%2C%20Chile&tier_override=0&s=M9J7QS7T

A nicer place to stay would be around $100/night, but you can have an entire apartment or home to yourself, and even a pool on your rooftop! If you split this between 2 travellers, it can definitely be worth it. These are 2 great examples of Chilean standards for hotels, which you can book online through AirBnB(www.airbnb.ca). 

https://www.airbnb.ca/rooms/21357333?location=Valpara%C3%ADso%2C%20Chile&tier_override=0&s=M9J7QS7T

I explored the city, which has tons of stairs, hills and artwork. There are also some great spots to eat, and if you head down to the water you can find anything from Oyster Bars to fast food. 

Day 3: Drive up to Highway 5, which takes you all the way up North to the Atacama. Along this drive, I camped on beaches in parks and road my bike along these roads. It’s pretty sparse in terms of people up here, and many of the towns along the way are small fishing towns. Don’t be surprised to see shipping containers turned into houses on the beach - this is quite common in these small villages. The people are super accommodating and the food in these towns are great!

A good place to stop over is La Serena, which is about 4:30hr from Valparaiso. It’s a great town with some awesome restaurants, and you can find amazing lodging for under $80/night right on the water. Sunsets here are amazing, and the infrastructure is that of a more modern town. You can spend the evening meandering around her and make a late start the next morning to continue north. 

Day 4: Drive up to Copiapo, which is about 3:30hr from La Serena. When in Copiapo, it’s the same deal for lodging - great lodging for a small price! Definitely worth checking out is the incredible beach, Bahia Inglesa. It’s incredibly picturesque, and definitely worth a picture for the gram! It’s also an hour north of Copiapo, so you can check it out en-route the day of departure, or stay there overnight instead of Copiapo. 

Day 5: From Copiapo, head up to Antofagasta which is another 6:30hr. It is a beautiful drive, and on your way you’ll see “el mano“, an enormous structure of a hand jutting out of the desert. It’s an awesome photo opportunity! Throughout the drive, make sure to make stops by the seashore, as when you get to the Atacama, there’s no water to be seen for miles, One incredible place to stop is Pan de Azucar national park. The beaches here are breathtaking, and you may be lucky enough to see dolphins out on the surf. If you’re looking to camp on the beach, this is the place to do it. Everything here is massive in size - the beach, the mountains and the rocks!

Day 6-9: Another 3:30hr will get you into the heart of San Pedro del Atacama - you’ve arrived! Plan to spend a few days here. There’s tons of bars, tourists, hostels and more. It’s quite dry here, so make sure you stay hydrated and wear sunscreen. Although it can be a bit cool, the sun is sure to get to you. Prices can be a bit elevated compared to the rest of Chile, which is mainly caused by the amount of tourists around. There are a few things you must do when in San Pedro. 

La Valle de la Luna: The landscape here is absolutely breathtaking, and was named after that of the moon’s. Go on a tour, or you can explore on your own. There are tons of caverns, unique structures and caves that will keep you walking around for an entire day if you wish!

Salt Flats: These are massive expanses of salt lakes, which are incredible to see in person. There are tours that run from San Pedro de Atacama, however you can do this on your own as well. 

El Tatio Geysier: If you can make it in the morning, the sight is all the more incredible to see - over 80 geysiers shooting out from the desert against an incredibly colourful sky. 

Day 9-11: Once you’re done exploring the Atacama, head back down to Pisco Elqui, which is a bit more green and refreshing after the dry desert. This is a 15hr drive down, so if you want to chop it up into 2 parts you can check out any of the places you stayed on the way up, I camped out again at the Pan de Azucar national park, which I absolutely loved. Once there, you can find great accommodations on AirBnB for an amazing price. My suggestions is to find a place with a pool. Where I stayed was absolutely incredible, and can be seen below. It was clean, accommodating and the pool was a nice change. 

https://www.airbnb.ca/rooms/9458663?location=Pisco%20Elqui%2C%20Chile&tier_override=0&s=HF-aJc8S

When in Pisco, there are a few things to do as well. 

Check out the Destileria Pisco Mistral: This is where they make some of the best Pisco, which is a common alcoholic drink. 

Go on a Horseback Riding or Bike Tour: Check out Turismo El Quijote, or just start talking with the locals. We had the “dueno” of 100′s of acres of land offer us a horseback riding tour. It was an overnight trip in the mountains, where we found acres upon acres of natural quartz deposits. It was absolutely amazing to experience. 

Check out an Observatory: Observatorio Andino Chakana is close by, and totally worth the visit. Seeing the sky from the other side of the world can really take your breath away, and give you a new “view” of things!

Day 11-12: Head on down to Maitencillo,where you can get a great beach house and see some amazing landmarks. There are some really cool geological formations along the coast, which are called Salto El Puquen. These are in Los Molles about 20min away. 

Day 12-14: To complete the trip, check out Santiago. There are tons of museums and restaurants that are amazing and a decent price. At this point, you can drop off the car and take taxi or walk around. Just keep in the central areas, rather than walking the darker alleys at night. 

A few parks to check out:  Cerro San Cristobal, Parque Araucano and Parque Forestal. 

Churches to see:  Santuario de la Inmaculada Concepcion and Iglesia de San Agustin

Along with tons of interesting museums, there is also el Museo de la Memoria y los Derechos Humanos, or the Museum of Human Rights. Chile has gone through quite an interesting struggle, and this depicts how they got to where they are. 

Chile is an incredible country, full of rich history, incredible landscapes and amazing people. If you’re thinking about a trip down here, I would highly recommend it and truly encourage those who love nature to do some camping. There is nothing like waking up on the beach with looming mountains on one side, and an expanse of ocean on the other. 

Check out my Chile photo album to see some picture from my trip!

Dede

Travel far, wander further.