Fantastic Kiwi fare in Santiago
Trip Start
Aug 06, 2007
1
36
Trip End
Ongoing
Santiago,
Chile
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
My first entry will be brief! Just to let you all know that Paul and I have made it safely to Santiago, Chile - phew! Step 1 is complete!
We are stoked to be staying with a fellow kiwi family friend, named Dell, who has been in Chile for about 10 years. She runs a busy wee Cafe named Melba, and a lovely restaurant called Akarana (serving great kiwi style fare - which is basically non-existent here otherwise) - located in the posh Santiago suburb called Las Condes. Her apartment is just around the corner from them both - and so we are very comfortable and happy here for 3 nights! A very gradual ease into the backpacker life I reckon! It was a fantastic stroke of luck to be staying with such a great and easy going host - we come and go as we please with a key - and nobody really blinks an eyelid
Cable Car
. We had an amazing meal at Akarana last night - starting with Pisco Sours (a yumbo South American lime cocktail) and moving onto lovely red wine and fantastic food. Dell had also invited a girl named Emma who has been in Santiago for 4 years - and who now works for the NZ embassy here (originally managing Dellīs restaurant). It was a lovely evening and we gained a lot of insights into South American life and all the doīs and donīts for gringos (us whiteys). We really stick out like sore thumbs here - and a lot of people on the street (mainly women) have been starring at my hair already!
It was a little different today when we headed on the underground metro into town and braved īthe realīSantiago streets and sights! We had a very touristy day - as we wandered around the central plazaīs and museums and then up the cable car to see the statue of the Virgin Mary.
The days here are lovely and sunny - but rather chilly (excuse the pun - Dad I know you will like that one!). A little like queenstown in winter I guess.
Tomorrow we may head to the Vega markets (local food markets) and get ready for our super early flight up to Lima on Thursday morning!
Thats all for now, Iīm shattered! Off to bed!
Adios Amigoīs!
