Magnificence best appreciated up close and personal

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Santiago is a magnificent city combining spell binding historical architecture with a thoroughly modernised city. It could not be more removed from the backward remoteness of Easter Island. And that is the culture shock we walked into as we left the airport at 8pm following on the shirt tales of our Slovakian friends to their pre-vetted accommodation an hour by bus and walk away.

And we arrived to find the Hotel Londres, a 100 year old splendid building that provided us affordable accommodation, while 100 years ago it would have been one of the modernised flag ships of Chile, this highly successful and modernised South American country. The irrepressible Ha Ha Ha Haimez (spelt James but with Spanish pronunciation) greeted us at the counter and proceeded to make our stay a humorous pleasure. Quote: I have a problem ... but thats OK (when he was struggling to find a room for us).

Arriving at night, we had a great evening bashing a ping pong ball and table air hockey puck against team Slovakia amid howls of laughter. We (read: Benj) had to be content to do some night photography of the architectural treats on offer from our limited range of vision - a theme that was to persist. The morning gave us the chance to hit museums of history and art to appreciate the massive changes our beautiful hotel has survived. Economic crisis, followed by a socialist experiment of the Allende government, overturned by the brutally repressive military regime of Pinochet. In one of the gorgeous squares, people had gathered around a banner asking of the still missing political prisoners. Many people dissapeared.

And the pre-colombian art museum was a full broadside of the myriad of cultures that have occupied the continent over the last few centuries - just what Arlene needed after waiting (very patiently) for Benj to emerge boggle eyed from the history museum.

For the New Zealander armed with a camera and a limited exposure to Old European statues, squares and buildings, Santiago was an incessant gob stopper. But still we could see little of the rest of the city, being surrounded by dense and tall buildings.

So up the local hills we went which are parks, stunning upward shafts of rock, landlocked by city. The extent of the pollution really hits you when the view from the bottom is vastly better than the view from the top. Vague glimpses of the majestic Andes forming an arena around Santiago show the dense smoke in between. But those postcard photographers works were there to be seen at the little shops at the summit. Maybe they are better at photoshop than I, as there was a clear view of what was thoroughly concealed from our eyes and lenses...

And how can you not be moved by the silent but potent broadcast from the statue of the Virgin atop the San Cristobal She now competes on an even footing with the multiple broadcast masts also taking advantage of the high ground.

Santiago - stunning city of architecture and majestic views - I think...

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Photos

Church
Arlene's first cathedral

Comments

[RobAndKrista]

Beautiful photos! I especially love the night shot. We are getting on a 14 hour bus soon, argh. Have been sick, blah. Hopefully better soon! X

[Les]

Amazing architecture, guys, big spanish influence. You're looking very touristy, Arlene!

[Sarah and Ben]

Magic Camera?
Hi Guys, just had a look through your pics of Santiago - they are great, were we in the same city? All our photos of the capital are grey and grubby...yours definitely bring out the best of the place! We are now in Mendosa scoffing Malbec and steak...mmm. Did a vinyard tour by bike and yesterday went on a horse trek, just the 2 of us with a friendly Gaucho called Enrique and his 3 black labradors who accompanid us the whole way throught the Mendozan outback. Also managed to get our Skiing sorted and survived a great week on the snow in Portillo, with no broken bones...just a dent in the bank account! Happy travels!