The trip to Santiago was my first experience in South
America. In this post I have broken down, some of the neighborhoods and sites
that were visited in Santiago. Plus I am including my wildly random thoughts that
I jotted down as I toured around and listened to the varied tour guides. There is no rhyme or
reason to these notes which beautifully sums the Chile trip - full of
contradictions.
London Paris Neighborhood
If that neighborhood exists any where you know I am there! Even in South America I can find a bit of Europe.
The Chilean flag is almost identical to the Texas state flag. Red is for blood, blue is power, white is purity and the star
is an Indian symbol.
Chile has the largest middle class in South America and on
average only earn around $15,000 a year.
For this reason Chilean people seem to create their own jobs earning more money from people passing by then at a formal and or normal desk job.
Like the band above which walked, played and asked for money.
There are also many jugglers on unicycles that pop out
into the intersections and perform during red lights which was entertaining as the traffic in
Santiago is horrendous.
El Centro
Chile has had a female president.
During the tour at Pablo Neruda’s house the tour guide didn’t
want to talk badly about the United States as to offend me about communism in
the 1950s.
Random Street Art
Homeless Dogs
Everywhere in Santiago there are homeless dogs. They sleep in the middle of the sidewalk or follow you if they like the look of you. I questioned everyone I came in contact with about these poor dogs. Apparently every street (residential or commercial) adopts a few and feeds them. As the people of Santiago will tell you - they have the best life.
Castle Hidalgo
Chilean engineers are world leaders in earthquake building as this hilltop castle is still standing after numerous earthquakes.
During the massive 2010 earthquake one of the wineries we visited only lost two bottles of wine - now that is some Chilean engineering!
We had one tour guide that would not stop under a certain bridge in traffic as it had not been built by Chilean engineers. It has already collapsed once and was non-earthquake related!
Chile is isolated by a desert in the north, the Andes Mountains to the east
and the Pacific Ocean to the west.
Chile has been most active volcanoes in the world.
I can now say I have been on the Pan-American highway.
It can take you from the south of Chile all the way to Alaska!
An absolutely fantastic bottle of red wine went for four
dollars US in the grocery store.
We had a taxi driver who sang along with the Spanish version
of Route 66 Ruta 66.
