Santiago

We finally got a bit of time to see Santiago on the Sunday of our visit there.  For one thing, Conrad and I got up early to go for a walk.  Down the block to the riverside park and boulevard.  Over bridges and back.  On toward the Gran Torre Santiago, the tallest building in South America (just shy of 1000 feet).  

Past two Starbucks that were not yet open - South Americans, from our experience, are not morning people!  A nice little loop.  The boulevard turned out to be closed for a handful of hours at midday each Sunday so as to permit bicyclists and others to use it.  That was a nice thing to see.

Sunday was the first day that all of the group that Natasha had organized was together, the last few arriving in time for an afternoon tour of the city.  We set off in a shuttle with a driver and a guide, stopping at a few places, including the historic central city plaza,

popping into the Cathedral,

down central city streets

and then seeing the old presidential complex

where Allende was killed (or died - the cause is up for debate, apparently), then attempting to go up a funicular and get some views of the city from the top of a hill.  The lines for that last one killed it, and instead we wandered through a nearby shopping plaza in search of souvenirs.

It wasn’t much of Santiago.  The city is large, and I wish we had had time to see a museum or two, ride the subway, relax and enjoy it a little more.  After the tour finished, Conrad and I parked at a place across from our hotel, enjoying a drink each in the heat.  

Dinner that night took us only one block over to a Peruvian place that was perfectly fine.

And then at 2:30 in the morning we were in a shuttle to the airport,

leaving the city behind for the rest of the trip.  I would be interested in coming back.  We shall see if that ever comes to pass.