Big city boys - First 4 days in South America





Arrived Santiago airport and boarded  bus (CIL 1800 a ticket) to Los Heroes bus station. Walked with our backpacks down Av Libertador Bernardo, past La Moneda onto Mornade street to no. 280 a distance of 3 kms. 


A cozy apartment awaited us. we unpacked and made our way for lunch to "Mercado Market". The market is Santiago's wrought-iron fish market and is a classic for seafood lunches (and hangover-curing fish stews like the tomato- and potato-based caldillo de congrio). We skipped the touristy restaurants in the middle and ate at one of the tiny low-key stalls around the market's periphery










First day in a new city, first day of our trip. What better to do then take in the sights of the city, via a tour. We opted for a walking tour which took us 4.5 hours. Meeting point was across the Cathedral. Our tour guide for the day was Valentina a 24 year old girl studying Geology at Santiago University. We visited the Cathedral and said a short pray.






 The first part of the tour took us City hall, Old Congress building, the Supreme Court and La Moneda. This President works in this building. It was the old mint house. However, it has a lot of history behind it, including the infamous coup by Pinochet, where President Allende was overthrown and died in this very house. We witnessed the changing of the guard, although not as impressive as the other one I have seen in London.






 Video to upload (Pending)











We also visited the Stock exchange, Opera House. Santa Lucia hill, Lastarria Neighbourhood. We stopped here for lunch but I could only mange a Pisco sour. We passed the Forestal Park, Plaza Italia and visited the Bellavista neighbourhood. A class area with a lot of trendy cafĂ©s and bars. It is at the foothills of the San Cristobal hill. We completed the tour siting down on the steps opposite Pablo Neruda’s residence. (Do read more about this great poet)

Yoga at the park - Rat Shah must come here

   







The next day we were invited by Carlos, over to his place for Lunch and a visit to the mountains. We boarded a train from Plaza de Armas (Line 5) and disembarked at Plaza De Punte Alto, the last stop on Line 4. The Metro commenced in 1975 and was most impressed by the cleanliness, punctuality and sheer number of stations (approx. 100). “Rat” Shah introduced me to Carlos via Messenger. They studied together in London, and he mentioned to me Carlos was a 23 old single guy. Fortunately Carlos recognized me by “mop” of white hair. He is a 35 years old, happily married to Victoria with to wonderful daughters.









Local produce a PIQUE

  
Carlos is a practising physiatrist with a practice in Santiago. Carlos is second generation German emigrant, and grew up in Antofagasta.

He drove us around PIRQUE a pictures region SSE of Santiago on the foothills of the Andes, It is also home to one of the largest wineries in the World. Chonchay de Taro and is also home to Carlos and his family.




 














 
We toured the Chonchay to Taro winery, which although large the tour in itself was not impressive. Cannot say the same for the wine which was most impressive. Ever since we landed in Chile, we have been drinking wines from Chonchay de Taro, little realising that these were one to the best wines in the world.
Lunch was a Barbecue at Carlos is house, washed down with some lovely wines from Chonchay de Taro which is conveniently located at the side of his house.







 
After lunch Carlos drove us up to the foothills of the Andes past San Jose de Maipo, drove along the river bring the cold melted waters of the Andes. The ‘French curve’ is a 180 degree bend in the river and has a legend attached to the name. We hiked to the foothills of an unnamed “waterfall” and reached  the thermal springs “Termas Valle de Colina”







 

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