| Santiago --- 9 & 10 January 2006 |
Our flight from New York's JFK International Airport the previous night at about 11:00pm,
made a brief stop in Lima (Peru), and arrived in Santiago, Chile, shortly after noon. We were
met at the airport by the local guide who by bus took us on a drive through parts of Santiago,
including a stop at Cerro San Cristobal, a hill providing a panoramic view of the city.
made a brief stop in Lima (Peru), and arrived in Santiago, Chile, shortly after noon. We were
met at the airport by the local guide who by bus took us on a drive through parts of Santiago,
including a stop at Cerro San Cristobal, a hill providing a panoramic view of the city.
Part of Santiago viewed from
Cerro San Cristobal
Cerro San Cristobal
The bus tour ended at the Kennedy Hotel, in an eastern suburb of Santiago, where we met the
woman who was to be our group escort for the entire tour. The Kennedy was a good hotel
offering many amenities but located unfortunately in a Santiago suburb several miles from the
city center.
We had a few hours on our own, which I used to visit the nearby "Parque Arauco" shopping
center and change US$60 into around 30,000 Chilean pesos, making each U.S. Dollar equivalent
to 500 pesos.
woman who was to be our group escort for the entire tour. The Kennedy was a good hotel
offering many amenities but located unfortunately in a Santiago suburb several miles from the
city center.
We had a few hours on our own, which I used to visit the nearby "Parque Arauco" shopping
center and change US$60 into around 30,000 Chilean pesos, making each U.S. Dollar equivalent
to 500 pesos.
That first evening the Finnish woman who was our tour escort conducted an "orientation
session" consisting mainly of an effort to sell the various optional excursions not included in
the basic tour price. She also proposed that each tour participant pay an equal amount into a
fund from which she would tip porters, waiters, etc.; several tour participants voiced
objections to that plan, preferring to tip individually in accordance with the services they
received, and the proposed plan was dropped.
Following the "orientation session" we enjoyed an excellent get acquainted dinner in the hotel's
dining room.
session" consisting mainly of an effort to sell the various optional excursions not included in
the basic tour price. She also proposed that each tour participant pay an equal amount into a
fund from which she would tip porters, waiters, etc.; several tour participants voiced
objections to that plan, preferring to tip individually in accordance with the services they
received, and the proposed plan was dropped.
Following the "orientation session" we enjoyed an excellent get acquainted dinner in the hotel's
dining room.
The following morning we had a city tour. The first stop was at a race track, where we saw a
few horses being trained. Next we visited the Cathedral, a moderately interesting
romanesque structure. There followed a visit to the excellent Per-columbian Museum. We
also made a stop in front of the Presidential Palace to watch the changing of the guard.
After touring the principal sights in the historical center of Santiago we and a number of
other tour participants wished to be let off the tour bus there for lunch downtown and to
pursue personal interests there, but were not allowed to get off the bus downtown and were
required to stay on the bus for a visit to the outlying "Dominican Handicrafts Market", a
collection of souvenir shops at which we were stayed for 45 minutes, in addition to a
round-trip bus ride of at least half an hour. Because of the many complaints regarding that
episode the guide agreed to bus us back to downtown. Our tour escort remained silent
during these events.
few horses being trained. Next we visited the Cathedral, a moderately interesting
romanesque structure. There followed a visit to the excellent Per-columbian Museum. We
also made a stop in front of the Presidential Palace to watch the changing of the guard.
After touring the principal sights in the historical center of Santiago we and a number of
other tour participants wished to be let off the tour bus there for lunch downtown and to
pursue personal interests there, but were not allowed to get off the bus downtown and were
required to stay on the bus for a visit to the outlying "Dominican Handicrafts Market", a
collection of souvenir shops at which we were stayed for 45 minutes, in addition to a
round-trip bus ride of at least half an hour. Because of the many complaints regarding that
episode the guide agreed to bus us back to downtown. Our tour escort remained silent
during these events.
Changing of the Guard at the Presidential Palace, Santiago
Main Altar of the Santiago Cathedral
After finally getting back to the central part of Santiago around 3:00pm Virginia and I had a
pleasant lunch among the locals in a large restaurant near the Plaza de Armas. . We then walked
to the "Museo Historico Nacional" with excellent exhibits showing the highlights of Chile's
history. We also visited the "Museo de Santiago" devoted to the city of Santiago. Then we
visited the beautifully renovated Correo Central (Main Post Office), closely resembling the
"Palacio de Bellas Artes" in Mexico City. The functioning post office also contained a small
postal museum.
pleasant lunch among the locals in a large restaurant near the Plaza de Armas. . We then walked
to the "Museo Historico Nacional" with excellent exhibits showing the highlights of Chile's
history. We also visited the "Museo de Santiago" devoted to the city of Santiago. Then we
visited the beautifully renovated Correo Central (Main Post Office), closely resembling the
"Palacio de Bellas Artes" in Mexico City. The functioning post office also contained a small
postal museum.
A postal exhibit in the Correo Central
Presidential campaigners, Santiago
During our walks in Santiago we noted many political banners and a few small parades on
behalf of each of the two leading Presidential candidates. We later learned that Socialist
Michelle Bachelet won the Presidency, the first woman to do so.
In the gazebo of one of the parks we watched a group of men playing chess.
behalf of each of the two leading Presidential candidates. We later learned that Socialist
Michelle Bachelet won the Presidency, the first woman to do so.
In the gazebo of one of the parks we watched a group of men playing chess.
Chess players in the park, Santiago, Chile
Chess players' gazebo in park, Santiago, Chile
At the end of our walks and visits in central Santiago Virginia and I took the subway from
the "La Moneda" station passing eleven stations to "Escuela Militar" at the end of the line
from where we took a twenty minute walk to our hotel. The subway was clean and well
maintained with attractive murals at some stations.
the "La Moneda" station passing eleven stations to "Escuela Militar" at the end of the line
from where we took a twenty minute walk to our hotel. The subway was clean and well
maintained with attractive murals at some stations.
Santiago impressed us a large moderately prosperous modern city providing good cultural and
recreational facilities to its residents. We thought it notable that we saw practically no
non-white persons and no visible poverty. This may be due to our visiting only certain parts of
the city.
recreational facilities to its residents. We thought it notable that we saw practically no
non-white persons and no visible poverty. This may be due to our visiting only certain parts of
the city.