good times in santiasco wow, what a great blog entry on santiago, or santiasco (asco=gross) as its detractors call it. you were really able to distill what was best about santiago and had a really good time while you were at it. it's too bad more internatinal "backpacker" tourists can't be as open as you two about the city. i'm sure as you travel around south america more, you'll run into a ton of travelers telling you santiago is shit and describing the city in a way that will make you think they're talking about a different place altogether. i don't understand since i think santiago is funky, quirky, and an all around very liveable city. it often gets panned b/c it's not as "fun" or "in your face" as buenos aires or rio, but i think santiago really reflects the chilean national character, which is much more subdued, mellow, restrained, unflashy or pretentions compared with other latin american people. if only more tourists could take in santiago like you guys. have a great time in chile and the rest of south america, but with your "dive in head first" attitude towards travel, that won't be a problem. cheers!
Aw! Aw lads what an amazing trip that was! Hope you're all doing well in South America and Wellington (if you're reading Sean!) and that we all have another adventure soon. By the way, are the amount of photos of us stuffing our faces really proportionally representative of the trip??? Scary...
Ah the whales ......! One of my dreams come true!!
Yes you do need to see beyond the "disney" and the "touristy" to how proud the young Maori are of their culture and their heritage and admire their resourcefulness in both making a living from it and promoting it at the same time. It's all some of them have and tourism is the main industry and source of employment in that area.
The language and culture is taught and all schools there now and all of NZers are proud of it.
Looking for ward to the Chillean blogs!
Aw, be kind to the bus tourists. Not all of them have the luxury of a year off and have to see it all n a week or 2. We saw and photographed that echnida on the Ocean Rd too. I think he's actor!!! :)
Thanks for your comment - I suppose it's that we hadn't been around a lot of Indian culture on our journey until Singapore, and Little India, with it's winding streets, bustle, colour, fragrances, was exciting and new for us.
yummy I take back that offer to cook you guys dinner when you get back. My updated offer is that you can borrow our kitchen and cook us a Thai dinner. Yummy xx
Great Pictures and blog I just want to say how much I enjoyed reading your great blog and looking at those incredible photos,enjoy your travels and watch out for anymore tutu dogs!
Hi guys, times have changed and now we are reading your blog but without a trip to look forward to :-( It's bittersweet reading your blogs as it looks like you are having a great time and we recognise most places so it brings back so many happy memories....but we miss it. Enjoy every minute. Carla and Matt
Yay, we're finally on the road!
After years of excited and nervous planning we took the plunge and left our jobs, rented out the house, said goodbye to the folks and friends, got married (well, you've got to be sure your travel buddy's there for you!) and headed off for places unknown.
And we're loving it, enjoying every second! Can't wait to see what's next.
Carpe Diem.
xx... full info
james st. james
non-member comment
good times in santiasco
wow, what a great blog entry on santiago, or santiasco (asco=gross) as its detractors call it. you were really able to distill what was best about santiago and had a really good time while you were at it. it's too bad more internatinal "backpacker" tourists can't be as open as you two about the city. i'm sure as you travel around south america more, you'll run into a ton of travelers telling you santiago is shit and describing the city in a way that will make you think they're talking about a different place altogether. i don't understand since i think santiago is funky, quirky, and an all around very liveable city. it often gets panned b/c it's not as "fun" or "in your face" as buenos aires or rio, but i think santiago really reflects the chilean national character, which is much more subdued, mellow, restrained, unflashy or pretentions compared with other latin american people. if only more tourists could take in santiago like you guys. have a great time in chile and the rest of south america, but with your "dive in head first" attitude towards travel, that won't be a problem. cheers!