Santiago

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We arrived at the airport at midnight and got to our hotel by 1 am. Took a walk through the back streets of Santiago coming across a flower market and street sellers bartering their second hand goods a bit like a down market brick lane. Met an American couple from Arizona on our way up to Saint Cristobel a religious monument donated by the French government overlooking the city. It was quite a warm day but the views were masked by smog although the Andes could be seen in the distance. Made our way back to the Bellavista area where we had our first pisco sour and a three course meal with vegetables and fish really lovely. In the afternoon we took the city tour and saw lots of impressive public buildings and tree lined avenues in total contrast to what we had seen in the morning. Later that evening we went to the barrio brazil area which was lively but lacking in the type of restaurant we were looking for. Eventually ended up in a local place watching Van Helsing with vampires galore and eating huge portions that we didn't really enjoy so walked home to try to feel a bit better much to the dismay of the hotel staff who said we should have got a taxi, but it was only 5 blocks away. The area this hotel is in is not really the best.

19th October

Today we visited a winery about 50 minutes from the centre and it was still quite built up and we thought it would have been in the country. This was the Mailpu region And it was so cold this morning. On entering the winery it was like an English garden with wisteria and roses and beautifully landscaped. Olivia our guide in Santiago explained that the wine Diablo de Castellio was given the name as the owner was having an affair and wanted to take his mistress somewhere so to frighten people he called the cellars the devils cellar however the guide said it was to discourage people from taking his wine both stories seemed plausible and in the cellar is a picture of the devil. On returning we walked to the Bellavista area again where we sat in the sunshine eating tapas etc. there is a jazz festival on tonight so we might go there this evening. We are finding it hard to find ATMs to get money out still credit cards work.

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