OCT 26 - Sat - Day 9 - Santiago City Exploration

Last Updated: 29-NOV-2019

OCT 26 - Sat - Day 9 - Santiago City Exploration

DAILY WRITE UP - This was our first night of sleeping at a normal altitude and we both had a great night of sleep which was the first in many days

Today was tour Santiago day. The curfew that started at 6 p.m. Friday night, and over a million people were protesting in the center of the city approximately 3 miles from our hotel. The rioters were pretty well-behaved from what we're hearing so tonight the curfew was cancelled. Really did not matter to us because we we're back at the hotel by 6 p.m. and had no plans on being outside at night as sunset is 8 PM here.

So we left at 9 am and went to an old Cemetery which had a number of parrots flying around. This area is not that tropical again some people compare it to the climate of Denver but they do have palm trees here. (research after the trip suggests its closer to San Diego but they do get snow) The cemetery was interesting because it had all the names of the people that the dictator had killed. I'm not really sure how they know that but it was in a relatively shady part of town and along the streets near the cemetery were many flower shops as people buy flowers every week to go decorate the graves.

Our second stop was the city center and the National Cathedral of Chile. Again, quite impressive and we walked around the square where some of the protest had occurred and it really felt quite safe. There were some troops walking around but all-in-all no problems. People here don't eat dinner till 9 or 10 at night so they are not early risers so we figured as long as we got out of the center city area by mid-afternoon we would have no issues

We then actually drove right through the protest area on our way to our next stop. Took lots of photos, an amazing amount of graffiti and we saw some armored troop carriers and then big vehicles that look like they dispense tear gas & high pressure water. It was quite interesting that even though a million people were in that area was no trash so they must be very clean in their protests. The graffiti is not from gangs, but is political messages.

So we got out of there and went over to an aerial tram that takes you up on top of San Cristobal hill which is in the middle of the city. Was very interesting and there were many different trails and people actually would load their bicycles on the tram and take it up and then ride down the hill which was cool. The weather was cloudy in the morning but while we were doing this the sun was coming out and we were able to take a number of photos of the snow-covered Andes Mountains east of town.

After that we went to a restaurant near our hotel which was very good and then the afternoon was free for us to do what we wanted to do so Mary and I went for a long walk in the city had no issues it's probably safer here than most cities in the US

The tour guide was saying that very few Americans actually come here and the people here think that all Americans are Mormons or movie stars because during the dictator time the only people that would come here we're Mormons trying to convert everyone

Using a GPS tracking software to see exactly where we traveled each day.. Here it is overlayed onto Google Earth. Today was exploring Santiago and hoping to not be killed in a riot.

ROAD SCHOLAR WRITEUP -- Santiago, Museum of Memory and Human Rights, Free Time

Santiago

B,L

DoubleTree by Hilton Santiago

Activity note: Driving approximately 20 miles total; about two hours, with stops for field trips. Walking up to two miles throughout the day. Getting on/off a funicular rail car.

Breakfast: At the hotel, enjoy a breakfast buffet, including milk, juice, coffee, tea, and water.

Morning: Chile's capital city is a sophisticated, sprawling metropolis wedged between the Andes and another coastal mountain range, and is home to 6 million Santiaguinos - one third of Chile's population. We will begin our field trip with a drive up San Cristobal Hill where we will get a panoramic view of the city and the omnipresent Andes. During an overview of the city provided by private motor-coach, we will discover the city's main landmarks including a stop outside the presidential La Moneda Palace. Originally a colonial mint, it was designed by Italian architect, Joaquin Toesca. We will then walk through the Plaza de Armas main square, surrounded by beautiful buildings and visit Museo de la Memoria y los Derechos Humanos, also known as the Museum of Memory and Human Rights, which depicts the history of the Chilean people's struggle for democracy between 1973 and 1990. Independently with audio guides, we will take in the exhibitions that document the events leading to the Pinochet regime.

Lunch: At a local restaurant, we will have plated meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: Free time.

Dinner: On your own to sample the local fare.

Evening: At leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

The day started out cloudy. Or day would be different as the Riots were causing some of the museums to be closed. We were going to the Museum of Memory and Human Rights which Ken wanted nothing to do with that. After 35 years at DOD human rights were not in his vocabulary.

So off to the Santiago General Cemetery - Largest and oldest cemetery in the country. Lie buried close to 2 million people, among which are the most important persons in the history of Chile.

On the ground. This was not in the best part of town and we were being watched by a number of shady characters. This was probably the most dangerous place we were at on the entire trip but we had no issues.

Various photos

The flower market just outside the cemetery. They do not grow roses in Chile because the climate is not right, but lots of lilies, carnations and statice. Interesting flowers in the trash.

Some serious dudes driving by in an Armored personnel carrier

Various city views - Not our kind of place.

Now on foot in Plaza de Armas (Santiago de Chile) - is the nucleus of the historic center of the capital of Chile (Riots were appx 1 mile from here)

Statue of Pedro de Valdivia

Museo Historico Nacional & the white building is Municipalidad de Santiago (city hall ?)

Cool fountian in the center of Plaza de Armas

Looking West down Cathedral street

Our group

This guy was not having much fun

History maps

The Cathedral of Santiago - Santiago Metropolitan Cathedral (Spanish: Catedral Metropolitana de Santiago) is the seat of the Archbishop of Santiago de Chile, currently Celestino Aos Braco, and the center of the archdiocese of Santiago de Chile. Construction of the neoclassical cathedral began in 1753 and ended in 1799. The architect was the Italian Gioacchino Toesca. Further alterations ordered at the end of the 19th century gave it its present appearance. Previous cathedrals in the archdiocese had been destroyed by earthquakes. The cathedral, located in the city's historic center, faces Santiago's Plaza de Armas and stands near the Palacio Arzobispal de Santiago, the administrative center for the archdiocese. The cathedral is also close to the Parroquia El Sagrario, a Catholic temple and a Chilean national monument.

Sad that the protest idiots are spray painting graffiti on this historic structure. They need to be shooting people...

Funny we look all over the place in the states for bigfoot and here he is out in public in Santiago Chile. (Probably Chewbacca)

Funny rules here. Good that we can take photos. Bad that I can't being in ice cream cones. I guess bowls are ok ?

Inside The Cathedral of Santiago. Impressive

Some very high mountains of the Andes are just east of Santiago. It's difficult to know what peaks we are looking at but some go well over 20,000 feet and are active volcanoes.

So, we drove right thru the protest area. Over a million people were in this area the night before but they must like to sleep in. Probably not a good idea to take a bunch of un-armed tourists into this but it was fun and we had no issues and got some good photos. Mary was flipped off by some troubled protester for taking his photo.

Various photos of unknown buildings (To us) and considerable graffiti and lots of traffic for an early morning.

This is the seat of the presidency. Chile's presidents live in their own houses during their presidential terms, and only use the palace as a work place and for formal occasions. This palace was reconstructed and slightly modernized after 1973 when much of it burned following an air bombing raid during the military coup that deposed Salvador Allende, during which he died by his own hand in a confusing situation.

Various photos of unknown buildings (To us) and considerable graffiti and lots of traffic for a early morning.

Where Mary got flipped off - main protest area. (Kept similar photos)

Various photos of unknown buildings (to us) and considerable graffiti and lots of traffic for an early morning.

Cement river with a nice bike trail.

Again because of the issues we went to San Cristobal Hill which was much better than a human rights museum.

The hill can be seen from most places in downtown Santiago and is an impressive landmark. At the top is located a statue of the Virgin Mary along with a hidden church and outside amphitheater type area. The summit can be reached by a number of ways. A funicular railway built by the monks over a hundred years ago, goes to the top of the hill or else a two stage teleferico reaches the top. The hill is a national park and has numerous attractions such as a public swimming pool, restaurants, zoological center and craft shops. At the weekend it is very common to see people running, cycling and walking up the road to the top of the hill.

Oasis Station - Santiago Cable Car

Zip lines

Great views but a bad place to be in an earthquake

Some very high mountains of the Andes are just east of Santiago. It's difficult to know what peaks we are looking at but some go well over 20,000 feet and are active volcanoes.

Looking west

Location & Elevation

Looking East

Crazy tourists

The small church on the summit - Capilla de la Inmaculada Concepcion built in 1930

Lots of antennas

Monumento a la Inmaculada Concepcion - The image of the Virgin represents her Immaculate Conception, measures 46 feet tall. It weighs 80 thousand lbs. and was manufactured in Paris by the Val d'Osne Foundry. The image is located on the summit of Cerro San Cristobal at 1,122 feet above city level. This statue is the main symbol of the city.

As I have said in these pages we saw very few insects. This was a cool beetle but the locals behind me killed it seconds after I took the photo.

Walking back to the bus

We had lunch at PinPilinpausha which was very good. Anthony Bourdain was involved.

Walking by my favorite place

View from our hotel looking east

We went for a long walk with no issues. More views of Gran Torre Santiago - is a 64-story tall skyscraper in Santiago, Chile, the tallest in Latin America

Snowcapped Andes mountains in between some of the buildings

Most of our group enjoying included wine in the hotel bar

We were on the 16th floor. The hotel was 18 floors so I went up to 18 to see if we had any better views. I was amazed to discover the entire floor was open and dark.

Mary and the open areas. When it dark it was very hard to find your way around the floor.