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Published: January 3rd 2006
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We arrived in Santiago at about 8pm on the 30th December. We went to the hostel that we had previously stayed at expecting it to be getting full ready for the new year celebrations in the capital.
However when we got to the hostel we found quite the oppoiste, it was much quieter than when we had previously stayed here. Speaking to people it sounds like many travellers in this part of the world at new year head to either Valparaiso or Buenos Aires.
The day of new years eve we set out sight seeing, however the heat got to us and we were rather stupidly trying to get into museums at siesta time. So we gave up and decided to siesta ourselves and recharge our batteries for the evenings celebrations.
The New Year celebrations began at 9pm at the hostel, there were only about 12 of us but we had a meal cooked by the hostel staff and drank Pisco Sours and red wine. All the people were a good crowd and up for a big party regardless of the hostel being quite empty. Just before midnight and well oiled at this point we headed outside the
hostel where we had a good view of the Entel tele-communications tower where the fireworks show was to be. There were massive crowds outside the hostel and the adjoining main road Alameda which was closed off was full of people.
Alameda is a wide road with 6 lanes of traffic in each direction with a large pedestrianised area in the middle and it was packed with people. There was a big stage with a live band and then further down the road close to where we were staying there was a large screen and sound system relaying what was going on furhter up the road.
As the clock struck midnight fireworks were set off from the top of the entel tower and Alameda erupted in showers of confetti and champagne. Speaking to a chilean family they were loving the celebrations and freedom remembering that it was only around 16 years since Chile was ruled under a dictatorship.
After watching the fireworks and lots of oooosss and ahhhhs! (its the same all over the world when watching fireworks I think!) we headed into the street party. Although some people with Children were strating to head off home there
were still lots of people drinking and dancing in the street. We were parting with some Irish guys, a Mexican couple, a German, an Isreali, Chilieans and an English guy from the hostel.
We partied until about 5am when the Irish guys headed off out to a club - I couldnt take anymore. Suzanne managed to get the biggest cheer of the night by dropping a bottle of beer just as everyone went quiet before the fireworks, with the applause lasting for a good couple of minutes.
The next day the whole hostel was like zombies and more and more zombies kept arriving as people came to Santiago after spending new year in Valparaiso or Buenos Aires.
Andy went out to try and phone his dad but everything was closed, so we spent the day playing pool and having a late new years day dinner. The hostel has a great kitchen so it was nice to cook a big dinner with mashed potatoes and lots of veggies!
The 2nd of the new year we awoke with all good intentions - just half an hour more and then we will go out sightseeing. However I didnt resit
the alarm properly and we awoke at 9.30am. We did what we had to do in the morning and reconfirmed ouf flights and that kind of thing. Then in the afternoon we headed off to the Parque Metropolitano de Santiago.
We got the Metro across the city which is great. It is so cheap, clean and efficient. It is the same price, about 40p a ticket no matter how far you go. We exited Baquedano Metro station and we on a large plaza with the park in full view and the roads lined with peopel waving flags for political parties. I am not sure what is happening as the elections here were held before Christmas, however the parties seem to be campaiging pretty hard. We are going to try and find out before we leave.
The Metropolitain Park is the biggest Urban Park in Chile with an area of 712 hectares. It is an Oasis of green which rises from the flat urban sprawl of the city. We caught the fenicular railway upto the top of the park, where there are fantiastic views of the city. When you are in Santiago you do not realise just how big
Policitcal Flag waving
Not sure what the purpose is tho is it but once at the top of the park you can see that the city has a population of more than 5 million people, the city fills all the flat land running upto the foot of the Andes and for miles in the other direction too.
We had been told by Jenni and Brian that the park was lovely on a hot day and that there was a nice swimming pool to sool off in. After reaching the top of the hill and going on the cable car, which was damn hot in the backing sun we were ready for a cooling dip. We got there and saw the pool, clean, sparkling inviting water, shady trees and closed!!!
So dishartened we went on into the park and sat under the shady trees and read for a while. It was only when we returning to catch the cable car we found out that there was another swimming pool which was open on a Monday but by that time we were too hot and bothered and wanted to get back and have dinner.
That brings us to today! After playing musical bedrooms (Tonight will be our third different
A birds eye view of Santiago
From the top the strangest church I've seen. bedroom in as many nights!) we set off to Concha y Toro Vineyard.
We caught the metro to far outskirts of Santiago and arrived with ample time for our 11.30am tour of the vineyard. This is one vineyard Andy really wanted to visit as it so well known.
The tour takes you around the estate of Concha y Toro. Don Melchor Concha y Toro built the house in 1875 which is a typically Chilean estate residence, with splashes of Italian architecture. In the grounds in addition to the winery, bottling plant and vineyards there are 23 hectares of beautiful parkland which were designed by the French landscape artist Guillaume Renner.
After the tour of the grounds we went into cellars and spot where the Casillero del Diablo legend was born. It is in the centuries-old cellar built by Don Melchor Concha y Toro next to his residence, to create and age wines from the fertile Maipo Valley.
On one side of the Cellar, Don Melchor closed off a small section to age the best wines. After a while he found that bottles of his best wines were dissapearing and someone had found their way into his
celar. Therefore to stop people stealing his wines he made up to story that the devil lived in cellars of the estate. It is from that the legend of the Casillero del Diablo (Devil’s Cabinet) came to life. During the tour we were given two wines to taste including the companys signature wine Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon (which was $50 a bottle) and afterwards we had Tapas and more wine tasting in the wine bar at the estate.
We headed back to our hostel and little drunk and after a few glasses of water here we are getting our blog upto date.
Tommorrow brings with it our last day in South America. We plan to see some more sights in the morning and then at 6pm we fly on to the next chapter in out travels, French Polynesia.
South America has been fantastic and we definately would love to return if we ever manage it again.
I hope you all had a good new year and good bye until the next instalement if we havet been eaten by sharks!
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Sarah
non-member comment
New Year looks awesome. See you soon xx