Santiago, Chile

July, 1998

Trip Rating: 5/5

Santiago is a wonderful city.   I found myself saying that I could live in Santiago.    The place was spotlessly clean (compared to Peru!), well organized, and generally a most likable country.   The city has successfully combined a new hightech world with a old spanish look.    I love Santiago.    Many people told me of the troubles that I would have traveling in Chile, but I had only one hilarious (now) episode.      When I arrived in Chile at the Santiago airport, I had read my Lonely Planet Chile guidebook, and knew the general area of town that I wanted to stay in.   I had picked out some hostels, and I had arrived early enough that I didn't have to be worried about being caught out in the dark without a hostel.   Well my bus driver wanted to know where I was going to stay, and I mistakenly told him that I didn't know yet.    I planned to walk around for a while and decide later.     He didn't like this at all.   He wanted to know where he could drop me off.   This went on for a while until all the other people had been dropped off.    I then told him that I wanted to be dropped off at the next corner, but he wouldn't do it.    He insisted that I was going to stay a a hotel that he picked out for me.    I finally said ok, just to get him to stop the van.     He stopped and ran around and started talking with the bellhop.    They were exchanging stuff, money for him bringing to the dumb gringo in to stay at the hotel, and I grabbed my bag out of the van and started walking the other way.    The driver was furious and shouted for me to come back and stay at this hotel.     I found a nice little hostel around the corner for the equivalent of $7 US with breakfast.   I later went back to the hotel and inquired about prices.   It was over $100 US which is outrageous in Chile.   I still laugh about that guy.  Overall though, Chile  was wonderful.  I hope to get some more pictures up very soon. 

Jere is front of the famous flower clock in Valparaiso.

Getting around in Santiago

people have visited virtual Santiago.

This page last updated on 02/19/99.