After a few days of fresh air on the coast, it was time to return to the bustling capital of Chile.
With protests ongoing since October, it was an interesting time to visit. However, we still managed to find pockets of relative peace where we could enjoy some of the capital’s charms – like it’s colourful, vibrant neighbourhoods (Bellavista, Lastarria and Italia) filled with street art, restaurants and bars. We also took a funicular and cable car ride over the city with spectacular views.
Santiago is remarkable for the fact that you are surrounded by the Andes, the second highest mountain range on the planet, so you can see mountains (and some snow) from pretty much everywhere.
We were lucky to have a rooftop pool and terrace in our accommodation – this was great for cooling down but also for taking in the views. It also meant we could watch the New Years Eve fireworks from up high.
So, an interesting week!
**The protests in Santiago (and other parts of Chile) began on October 14th, initially in response to a rise in price on the metro, but which has expanded to include the increase in the cost of living and the stark inequality of Chilean society. Months of demonstrations have clearly taken their toll on the country and there is no clear end in sight. It seems unlikely that the centre-right government will meet the protesters’ aims and equally unlikely that the protesters will simply abandon their cause. As it stands, people (and tourists) just attempt to go about their business, breathing in tear gas and avoiding water cannon as they go.
Josh & Lisa in South America 