Chi Chi Chi Lay Lay Lay, Chile!
Trip Start
Jun 12, 2009
1
10
14
Trip End
Jun 11, 2010
Santiago,
Chile
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Riding the bus from Mendoza, through the Andes, to Santiago is a great tourist attraction in itself. For that reason Jeremy and I took this bus during daylight hours. The mountaineos and changing scenery is just fantastic, and by the time we reached the border we were surrounded by snow - just the other side of the border is Portillo, one of the famous Chilean ski resorts.
The border crossing... whatever you do do not cross into Chile with fruits or vegetables, or be prepared for the consequences! We were warned in advance of this thankfully. But we still had to endure what can only be described as a police line up at the border (and this was after having the passports stamped for entry). They had everyone from the bus facing forward with a bench infront for you to put your bags. They proceeded to seemingly look everyone up and down, and question some people
Snowy road near the border
. Not me though with my innocent face. We learnt that Chile is one of the only countries not to have some fruit killing disease, and they want to keep it that way.Then came one cool endlessly windy road, taking us down a good 1km in altitude in only a short distance. The windy road doesnīt stop the driver flying past the slow trucks whether theres a bend or not.
Hostel Life in Santiago
It was slightly more difficult to find a hostel this time round, but in the end we found a good one called Hostel Forestal, it even has a pool table (with unbelievably tiny pockets, impossible to pot in after a couple of pints). It was a Thursday evening so we thought it best to find a bar right away... and we happened upon the most lively street in Santiago immediately. Its called Pio Nono and it is closely overlooked by the large Cerro (or Hill) San Cristobal". The street is full of outdoor tables for all the bars that string along the street, and it was packed. One thing that immediately struck us as different was that the Chilean revellers were actually drunk! This a big change from the Argentinian norm, and I have to say I was quite happy to see it! Here we befriended our bar man called Hannibal, and that would become our local for a while (until it started to rain a lot)
The long and winding road
. I sampled my first Pisco Sours that night, which is a very refreshing drink. I was later to find out that the only way to drink it was freshly made, and that Marcela makes a great Pisco Sour.The big bang
We did the usual touristy stuff... walked the centre, saw the Plaza de Armas (which all cities have here), went up Cerro San Cristobal on the old school funicular (which has great views of the Andes and the city, provided it ainīt smoggy that day!), and we also went to Santa Lucia.
Santa Lucia is a park area on a hill in the centre of town, it also has a castle standing at the top of it. We ventured to have a look around, and whilst admiring the views we heard a massive bang very close by. I looked around to see where it came from but couldnīt tell, I thought it was some kind of bomb or such like. I swung around and saw Jeremy crouched on the floor in the duck and cover position, which was funny already. Then we both looked around, and then upward... there it was. A huge cannon was poking and smoking outside of a castle window, about 10m above our heads!! Then we noticed the locals cracking up laughing in the distance. It was 12noon on the dot. No one told us about that!
A cannon on Santa Lucia
Football game No.3
This time we went to see the biggest side in Chile play... theyīre called Colo Colo, in case you didnīt know. And this time it would just be 2 gringos alone, not with the tour group back up. Although not alarmed we were a little concerned by the reactions that everybody had when we said we were going to this game... every reaction seemed to be one of disbelief that we would even consider it! Even as we were on the Metro headed to the game, a lovely Chilean older couple spoke to us and wished us well. That was after regaling a story where there son was beaten up very badly for supporting the wrong team! Great
We neednīt have worried, only one gringo shout, and the game passed without incidence. Nice stadium. Fairly livley crowd. But crap football. Colo Colo won 3 nil.
By the way the title to this threat is based on a complex football song all the Chilean fans sing.
My new place in Santiago
After a few days in the hostel Iīd arranged to stay with my friend Catalina and her family in Santiago. Catalina and her cousin, Nata, had stayed at my house in Dublin the previous year because they knew my flat mate Glyn, who had previously stayed with Nataīs family in Concepcion, Chile. I love these interlinking international friendships!
