Our Last Day in Santiago

When we closed our last entry, the plan was to scale cerra san cristbal (hill of St. Christopher was named after St. Christopher as the hill provided a landmark for travelers) and that is how we started the day. It was a beautiful sunny day and the rain had washed away the smog. We started out at 10:30.
This is simply a lovely neighborhood on the way to the hill.
And speaking of walking anywhere, it seems as though "Don't Walk" lights only apply if there is traffic coming. Locals will cross whenever they feel it is relatively safe to do so! We Canadians are very conditioned to the rules. We also noticed that locals tend to carry babies instead of using ATV strollers that we see in Canada.
















This is a tree that we have come to like although we don't know what it is. The roots are huge and largely above ground. Most look like enormous elephant's feet!















Here is our destination. Among the communication towers on top is a statue of the Virgin Mary along with lookouts, gardens and chapels.












On the approach to Cerra San Cristobal, there was another stray dog. As mentioned before, they are very common. This one isn't dead (I don't think) . . . just having a siesta!












We were glad not to have to walk to the top. This a million year old tram (funicular) to the first level of lookouts. It provides a wonderful view of the city and the Andes.













The movie doesn't do it justice but it was a bit of an experiment to use video on the blog. As much as it was a very clear and sunny day, you can still see a haze over the city. The city is surrounded by mountains and so the smog doesn't have a chance to blow away.







Ahhh . . . the summit! Yesterday I thought that we would find St. Christopher but alas, it is only the hill that is named after him. Mary looks out over the city from it's highest point.
To get down we took a cable car that provided another wonderful view of the city, walked another mile through a neighborhood of individual dwellings, mostly fenced and very well kept, and caught the metro (subway) to our next destination, Cerra Santa Lucia. (hill of Santa Lucia)









We are on top of the Santa Lucia with Cerra San Cristobal in the background. Santa Lucia is a maze of pathways, castle fronts and turrets built into an outcrop of rock. A most amazing place. I would like to find a post card as our photos can't possibly capture this wonder. The founder of the city first camped here in 1540.








And speaking of the city's founder, here he is, Don Pedro de Valdevia.

































Our last stop of the day was the Presidential Palace. Salvador Illende committed suicide here during the coup that brought Agusto Pinochet to power in 1973. So far we have seen no official sign of Senor Pinochet!









Back home now to check email, get supper together, sip vino tinto (red wine) and pack as we are on the road to Valparaiso in the morning. It is on the coast about an hour and a half west of Santiago by bus.








The sun setting on the Andes. This from our balcony.















We now know what living in an ant hill must be like! At certain times of the day, the steets are literally jammed with pedestrian traffic and the smell of exhaust is ever present. We have become comfortable with the subway but we have yet to get a seat! It is always full. The city has been good to us but we are ready to try a little slower pace. We are in tourist mode but are starting to feel the need to put down some roots.

Until next time, we'd love to hear from you.
Love,
N & C