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Published: February 20th 2010
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Santiago
Center plaza Santiago, Chile is a city of many layers. Centered around a pleasantly clean skyscraper filled downtown, many of the residents live in the surrounding suburbs. Views of The Andes in the distance through the haze of summer smog look over the city of over 5 million. As I spent 6 days in the city and surrounding area the few things that stuck out were the exellent, cheap, frequent, clean metro system that delivered people to their destinations effeciently. Combating the air pollution issue. A very noticable stray dog problem here in Chile was in your face in the downtown with over 200, 000 dogs, sleeping in middle of side walks, rummaging through garbage, and patiently waiting to cross the busy streets with the locals who are decensetized by their mere presents, not to mention their suffering. The graffiti art in the city is some of the most artistic well thought pieces I have seen through my travells to date. Santiago is very much a developed city who´s thriving capatilism based economy is shown through the several shopping malls, expensive restaurants, posh nightlife and rather plump elders showing their wealth through their waist size and well groomed appeanance. The Chiliean people
Valpariso
Busy port hour from Santiago are fun, proud, generous people who have a curiousity for the outside world. As of most latin america they are particularly fond of western cinema, music and television. Learning basic english from the subtitles below their favorite programs.
As I arrived in Santiago I was welcomed at the english german speaking ECOHOSTEL new to the city. A very clean confortable hostel with a green theme throughout. A complete recycling program (rare in South America) accompanied by signs encouraging less consumption in the kitchens bath and bedrooms. They also were apart of placing travellers in volunteer programs helping the habitat of the Andian Condor and other endagered bird species. ¨The Earth we live with is a product of human decisions, and can be changed by better wiser decisions.¨ Overall a good hostel that is trying to make an impression on the backpackers to think about their footprint as they tread across this beautiful planet. After a couple days in the city doing self walking tours an art museum and a couple parks I was craving the pacific ocean. As it is summer in the southern hemisphere my travells have lead me to high elevation altiplano where it is rainy season.
Vina del Mar
Posh beach town just north Valpariso The coast where the hard working city folk migrate to is Valpariso and Vino del Mar, a hour and a half bus ride.
Valpariso an Unesco world heritage city is a worn city built on the surrounding hills. Mixed with bustling outdoor markets, artist, a busy internatianal port with mega freightors, and trendy night club scene that moves from Santiago in January and February. I found the city a bit rough edged and lacking the sandy beaches i was looking for. A city that definetely had to grow on you, however a definate must see for its unique character. Therefore I took the ten minute bus ride north to Vina del Mar and its well groomed streets, long beaches, and easy navigable center, with internatianal restaurants and side walk cafes. Almost fitting in with my boardshorts and flip flops. Reminded me a bit of California beach towns. A relaxing time and fresh breathe of home after 3 months on the road. Many activities abound, from beach soccer, rugby, field hockey, skate ramps, tennis courts, volleyball, skim boarding and of course taking a swim in the refreshing light blue waters of the pacific ocean. Met some Canadiens fleeing the cold
winter for a few weeks, so I took advantage of exercising my english. Rare as many locals and backpackers alike speak little english here in Chile, and my spanish is struggling to improve. A very good time at the beach and well needed as the plan is to go south into the unpredictable weather of Patogonia.
Back to Santiago for two more days this time staying at the artsy Bellavista hostel in a trendy neighborhood. A different side of Santiago more hip and alternative to the conservative shopping culture of the downtown area. Here I met many new friends backpacker and locals alike. Enjoyed a night out or shall a say early morning as the clubs don´t get going till around 2 am. A chance to catch up on emails and calls, and the north American tradition of Super Bowl in spanish with some Brazilians, Canadiens, a Brit and two fellow Americans at the hostel.
A good tranquil time before I head south into the outdoors and camping. Next stop the lake district of Chile and Argentina with its volcanoes endless lakes, and ample oppurtunities for adventure sports and trekking. Thanks everybody for following along wishing me blessings
Sunset
Vina del Mar and keep the comments coming!!!!
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james st. james
non-member comment
the west
i found it interesting that you mention chile's love of "western" music and cinema. chile (and argentina, and most other latin american countries for that matter) has always considered themselves to be a western country, since they speak a european language, practice european religious traditions, and have a european outlook on life (as opposed to east asian, african, native american, musilm, or east orthodox perspectives). as a south american who's travelled around africa and asia, i can tell you that we are always perceived as westerners and nothing else. south americans find it condescending when americans think "western" is limited to western europe and anglo-america since, again, latin americans have always believed themselves to also be a western offshoot. after all, if latin america (and chile specifically) is not western, what is it? eastern? it's not about race or money, but about culture. it's an interesting subject to engage latin americans in, and i'm sure you'll get some interesting conversation out of it. anyway, enjoy the south and the rest of the continent. you've had a great adventure so far. cheers!