Old Piles of Words Because the word is mightier than the stone.

Welcome to Santiago

Our first stop in the "Real" South America was, of course, Santiago, Chile.  This was a really nice city where we decided to spend two weeks to get to know the country a bit before setting off for more rural adventures.

Santiago was really a bit of a shock after the distinctly Latin cities of Guatemala and Mexico. Gone were the street vendors and crazy markets, the traffic and the disorder. Instead, we found ourselves in a city that could be anywhere in Europe, with a clean and efficient transport system, wide and well-lit streets and a distinctly western feel. Most locals seem to insist that Chile is a poor, developing country, but Santiago seems pretty developed to us.

We enjoyed our Spanish classes, Venla enjoyed her Photography classes, not to mention the plethora of small but fine museums that the city has to offer. Oh, and Chilean wine certainly lives up to its reputation.

Here are some pictures of Santiago, and be sure to stay tuned for more on the city later on!

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

123►