Renee and Pete's Honeymoon Adventure (RAPHA) - The Santiago Experience Pt1

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After almost 20 hours of travel, including sitting on the tarmac in Cairns for an hour, and then running for 2 different planes in both Brisbane and then Auckland we finally arrived in Santiago on time. (BTW, in Auckland, when the information board says 'Final Call', this doesn't mean the final call. It means the final call before we start calling the important people onto the plane first....). After spending more than hour in Santiago Airport looking for Renee's bag, we left with the assurance it would appear the following day. It appeared at our hostel that evening via special delivery. Santiago is an interesting place. As my first experience in a country where I didn't know the language, I was overwhelmed yet excited. I loved the anonymity of it all, and the struggle to try an understand and be understood. Our first view of South America, I had to take a photo of. Snow capped mountains. I was hooked on travel from that moment. The best way to feel fully comfortable in Santiago was our Tour 4 Tips the following morning, which was a 3 hour walking tour of the local markets and a bit of history about Chile, including a great version of recent history while walking through the cemetery which was an experience in itself. Following this, we went up our first of many hills in South America, Santa Lucia, and although only small, it was worth the walk! During our time in Santiago, we have tasted an array of Chilean wines, local Chilean food and some interesting drinks; the Terremoto was meant to shake you like an Earthquake and the Pisco Sour was like a sour Tequila and soda. The Santiago Zoo was a little depressing, but Renee got to see her first flamingo....a taster for what is to come. Catching the Funicula was a definite experience as was seeing the Virgin Mary Statue, a massive statue on top of a San Cristobal hill, about 880m up. We head off tomorrow for Ecuador, first stop Quito, and with this will come our first experience of high altitude, stay tuned - Pete

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Photos

Union Solidarity
Even in Santiago, on our second day in the country, I successfully pick out the Union Protest. They were protesting and stopping the production of a road due to poor working conditions and bosses allegedly on the take. To prove their point, they strung a car up on a crane to prevent work from happening. :)

The Funicular - View from the bottom
This is the Funicular, a train carriage pulley system that takes up almost directly up the San Cristobel. It works on a pulley system, carries about 40 people per trip I think and is rather interesting ride straight up the hill.

The Funicular - view looking back
This is the view looking back to our starting point...

Day 2 Selfie
With the statue of the Virgin Mary in the background, at the top of San Cristobal...

Me and the Virgn Mary Statue
Rather impressive structure...

The Peach/Wheat Drink -
Called a Mote Con Huesillo, this drink is a tea based drink with wheat and peaches in it. Despite the description, it tasted alright.