Santiago City Life!!!

12th - 15th February

Wow, we are in South America. Not as chilly as we thought either as its 30 degrees.......ha ha ha! The day we begin with a breakfast, of cereal and tea. Just like home. Still the tiredness from the flight is showing, so we take it easy and just wonder around the streets trying to take in the sights, the sounds, the smells. The place we are in Bellavista is nice and arty, so good to relax. We popped into the Celtika Bar, which is co-owned by Paul Dicker and co. He is busy with family for his wedding, so we say hello and leave. On route we stop for a beer, then two, then three. "Escudo" is tasty stuff, and cheap too. Playing cards, and then stated chatting to two Chilean people at the table beside us. The hand movements were everywhere trying to explain things as our Spanish is not very good, and their English is not good either. But we had a great time and stayed there until 3 am. In that time we saw a Chilean fight with chairs being thrown around, we had a charicature made by a really bad artist and well that was that.

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Angela, David, Matias & Mala

Next morning was tough, but we were excited. We were going to meet Ania Bezubka. It has been a long time since we have seen her in Ireland last. We met, we cooked them lunch, and went bus ticket hunting. Then some sightseeing of the main square and then got lost in a metro station. All that and more, we went on top of a hill to see all of Santiago and the Andes mountains. Beautiful, although a bit smoggy. Then dinner was served, and accompanied by a glass or two of Chilean wine....tasty stuff. It was so nice to see the girls again, and we chatted none stop all day.

Anna is cleaning her feet.

Little boy seems fascinated

Anna, Angela & David

Risotto Coocking

Santigo

Next day, is Valentines Day. How romantic are we. This was the test, and we failed. We had a hostel lunch, a hostel dinner, and finally managed to meet up with David and Natasha, who have been trying to meet us for a few days but missing each other. (Thats when we realise the necessaty of mobile phones.)

Went to the bus station via the metro system (which is good here) to get a bus to San Pedro de Atacama. Its a 22 hour journey to the north of Chile (should be fun). There we met Ania and Agnieszka in the bus station for the last time for coffee, as they are off to Mendoza in Argentina. But who knows we may cross paths again soon. Desert tomorrow evening.

Anna, David & Agnieszka

Anna & Angela

Angela & David