Yesterday, Charlie and I had a leisurely morning driving Wally to Wagville, setting up lights. Since our flight wasn't until 2:30 we didn't have to leave the house until 10:30 Got a GoSedan vehicle to the airport. Sat in the United Lounge waiting until our flight to Houston. LA - Houston 3 1/2 hours. Walked over to the terminal with the flight to Santiago. Houston - Santiago 9 hours. Sounds awful - but everything was on time and very relaxing. After immigration and customs, found our guide and driver. Our room wasn't ready ( we had arrived there at 11 AM) so we hung around like stuffed animals. Had a coffee. Hung some more. Had lunch. TADA room ready. Lovely room worth the wait. Here are some photos out the window.
We went downstairs at 1:50, and there was our guide. We drove around Santiago. Things have really changed since the last time we were here. The place has probably doubled in size (maybe more). The tallest building in South America is here. As well as some massive earthquakes (1985 - a 9 and more recently in 2010 and 2014) We decided to check where the stairwell was in the hotel when we got back. Many older homes in the city have been converted to university buildings, museums, and small offices. There's a rule here that older buildings cannot be torn down for new development. Solutions: 1) do expensive repairs 2.) burn the interior so there's nothing left to fix. 3.) leave the outer shell and do new things to the interior.
The major buildings in the old downtown area are the Palacio de la Moneda. A structure originally for the Spaniards to mint coins. Changed to the prime minister's offices after the Spanish were driven out. The old Cathedral built during the time of Valdevia (guy who developed the area to begin with), old train station (no longer operational), many miscellaneous government buildings. One of the prettiest is the old congressional building. Pinochet decided that the congress should meet in Valpariso, a town along the coast. The congress hated it since most of them lived in Santiago. The building itself is used for special events, but we gathered the congress still meets out of town.
We drove to Cerro San Cristobal. An incredibly steep hill in the north end of town. The views were lovely - but the smoke from the fire along the coast cut some of the more dramatic views. We took a funicular to the near-top of the hill. It was the longest, steepest funicular I've ever ridden on. The top of the hill had a huge Madonna statue. We hike the stairs to the top. For the first time in two days, my lack of sleep began to get to me. Apparently I'm good for about 40 hours, then I begin to slide.
Reflections of the city on a building across the way. Note the V-shaped earthquake supports next-door.
The Andes in the distance. Smoke due to a fire along the coast cuts our view a bit. Santiago is reminiscent of LA
We went downstairs at 1:50, and there was our guide. We drove around Santiago. Things have really changed since the last time we were here. The place has probably doubled in size (maybe more). The tallest building in South America is here. As well as some massive earthquakes (1985 - a 9 and more recently in 2010 and 2014) We decided to check where the stairwell was in the hotel when we got back. Many older homes in the city have been converted to university buildings, museums, and small offices. There's a rule here that older buildings cannot be torn down for new development. Solutions: 1) do expensive repairs 2.) burn the interior so there's nothing left to fix. 3.) leave the outer shell and do new things to the interior.
A fun park attached to a huge green area across town. Lots of parks throughout the city - no others have Fantasialands attattached
Former expensive houses were next to a large horse track. We couldn't walk into the place - in the distance two large stands to watch the races. Horses here ran clockwise (one of the few that don't run the other way around)
Former older expensive home now one of the university buildings
The major buildings in the old downtown area are the Palacio de la Moneda. A structure originally for the Spaniards to mint coins. Changed to the prime minister's offices after the Spanish were driven out. The old Cathedral built during the time of Valdevia (guy who developed the area to begin with), old train station (no longer operational), many miscellaneous government buildings. One of the prettiest is the old congressional building. Pinochet decided that the congress should meet in Valpariso, a town along the coast. The congress hated it since most of them lived in Santiago. The building itself is used for special events, but we gathered the congress still meets out of town.
La Palacio de la Moneda
Wandered through a local market. Huge puppet-man was fascinating.
Windows/walls above were part of a castle-like home that had been partly destroyed in an earthquake. In order not to destroy the whole building (against the law), the outer walls were saved, the interior was turned into a mall.
Another portion of the castle/house from outside. It had been an interior patio.
Another government building
A view of the Congressional building
We drove to Cerro San Cristobal. An incredibly steep hill in the north end of town. The views were lovely - but the smoke from the fire along the coast cut some of the more dramatic views. We took a funicular to the near-top of the hill. It was the longest, steepest funicular I've ever ridden on. The top of the hill had a huge Madonna statue. We hike the stairs to the top. For the first time in two days, my lack of sleep began to get to me. Apparently I'm good for about 40 hours, then I begin to slide.
Another view of the Congressional building - the front.
The tower in the distance was the old cell phone company (note shaped like an old Nokia phone). Now owned by Intel
View from the funicular
How two funicular trains pass one another
The American Embassy. No windows - solid walls - would make a lovely prison.
We got back to the hotel. Decided that taking a subway to dinner would be entirely too much energy, so ate at the hotel, and went to bed early.
Internet is working nicely. Tomorrow a tour of coastal towns.
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