**Feliz Ano Nuevo**

Buenos tardes nos amigos!!

Feliz Ano Nuevo!!

On the advice of our trusty lonely planets, we set off on the 31st to bring in the new year in Valparaiso. Surviving our first encounter with a chaotic Chilean bus terminal in Santiago, we sat back and relaxed on the 2 hr trip unaware of what was to come.

The drama started to unfold before we even got off the bus, a man who spoke a little English informed us that our hostel address was not in fact an address. A non-english speaker at information gave us some more instructions and a bus number which did not really help us much. A local then ushered us onto a local bus. After the kind help of some English speaking Chilean tourists and a kind bus driver we arrived at our "stop". We found a hostel and received a map and directions from evil twins. Initially more confident we set of to find the hostel which was supposedly 5 blocks away. We walked up and down hills and stairs through shanty towns (see Kates unimpressed face below) and cemeteries, every so often having to ask for more confusing and conflicting directions. Kate was confident when we found the correct street, but Monique remained cynical with reason! (Kate thankfully assured Monique that this was not within the normal realms of the backpacking experience!!) The hostel was number 1 however the street only went to Number 6 (the number system is different to say the least!). The people at number 6 had NO idea where Number 1 would be.

Frustrated, sweaty and fearing the demise of our New Year celebrations we returned to the city centre well aware that all the accomodation was booked out. We decided to try our luck with a hostel in the city near the bus terminal as a last hope. Our hearts plunged as the boys in front were offered a room with one single bed. Obvioulsy unaware of the lack of rooms and too macho to share a bed they turned it down. The night was looking up!!!

And here started the bread and cheese binge that 48hrs later has left us unable to even look at cheese. Newly obsessed with hot, doughy chilean bread, we stocked up on bread, cheese and champagne for our New Years picnic. All dressed up, we joined the masses descending upon the Valparaiso harbour. Filled with locals adorned in wacky paraphernalia, we soon acquired our own bags of confetti and bad shiny wigs!! We set up for the night, making friends with the locals surrounding us, then cracked into the champers as we awaited the show. On midnight, the air filled with confetti and fireworks, as we embraced all those around us and were surprised to have our drinks tipped out and refilled with champagne for the new year!! The fireworks did not disappoint as they went off at least 8 different points along the harbour for at least an hour!!

This was quite a turnaround from the disasters of the morning!! We then spent the next few hours enjoying the atmosphere, Chileans sure know how to bring in the New Year!!

The next day (after an intimate breakfast of bread and cheese in our cosy double bed), we boarded a bus for our next destination, La Serena. Staying in a beautiful family run hostel in La Serena now (with HOT showers)...more stories to follow....

Love xxox

Money & Cake