Santiago, Chile!

After going through immigrations on the Bolivia side of the "frontera"...I hopped into a "collectivo"and for the first time in three days I felt asphalt underneath the tires...surprisingly a comfortable and safe feeling...the tires didn´t slip out on turns and the shocks were at ease coasting down the smooth black surface. Even the camera in my hands was smiling, for it was able to calmly snap effortless photos of the snow capped mountains, still at an elevation over 4,500 meters.  I´m in Chile!  The most prosperous country yet! I can see it, feel it, and smell it!!!!!

I was pleasantly shocked to see my first luxury vehicles...I was walking down a main dirt road (yes, back to dirt roads in the small "pueblo de frontera" of San Pedro de Atacama, Chile) looked right, stopped, doubled take..."is that...? No...Wow a Corvette!" Despite its age, this early 2000 model, bright red Corvette stuck out.  It was sitting in a garage, ungated, un protected...just parked like a normal Vette in the States...This put a smile on my face for the rest of the day, no sure why.  It´s like those Oreos I ate earlier in the trip that somehow remind me of home, a feeling of comfort and familiarity.

The language is a bit different, I couldn´t really understand the people as well.."como...que"  I was having them speak slowly and repeat themselves..huh...well I somehow bought a ticket on an overnight bus...some 24 hours to Santiago, which wasn´t going to leave for a few hours.  Internet, food (slab of steak and tomatoes...so far not impressed) and then some snacks for the bus...and then, by the shear luck, which I´ve seemed to have had this entire trip (law of...what´s that called again...ATTRACTION) I met two Americans (number 8 & 9 on this trip) who happen to live in Santiago.  This was of great help...because they explained to me the different idioms, slang, and dialect that so distinguishes the Chileans from the rest of the continent. Plus...they gave me a ride to my hostel in the massive and busy capital of Santiago, Chile.   After about ten pinapple juices and a bunch of local complimentary sweets, we arrived to the grander of Chile.

The city is beautiful.  Clean, busy, sunny and warm.  There is an amazingly efficient and convenient underground metro which costs a buck one way.  The free walking tour, which took the better part of 4 hours, was a perfect first day introduction to the city.  I learned, well, I was told about the culture, the history of presidents and political eras, and the rise and collapse of regimes.  The guide was a young Chilean who had fantastic English vocabulary and a perfectly appropriate heavy Latin accent.  He was energetic, engaging, funny, and waged his opinions (explicitly stating that this is my opinion, which was nice) on various political and social elements so prevalent in the country´s past.  He provided a very well balanced view of the current and past bureaucratic climates.  I like him, good lad!

My favorite aspect of the city was the massive outdoor markets...a huge fish market, meat market, and produce section...even a flower market that had various arrangements and exotic selections.  This is where the locals ate cheaply, hence my immediate and natural gravitation towards the centers.  They were busy with people making orders, tossing their hands in the air, pushing and shoving to get to the front of the cheese line...the vender's kept asking me what do you want...I just stood there ah-struck and said I´m just looking thank you...they rolled their eyes...I was an observer...going to each stand...I must have visited 20 different avocado stands, comparing prices, quality, and types...I was just enthralled by the movements, the foreign sounds, and smells.  I have so much time, no hurry, I just wanted to watch.   It´s really easy to find the quality places, the "tiendas" with the best value...just follow the people...you don´t have to speak the language, you can just observe, and it all makes sense.  Point if you have to, write it down, there shouldn´t be any affinity with this process...I truly embrace these markets, they´re some of my favorite past times.  Plus...sitting down with the older women who call me "joven" and make me their favorite dishes is so pleasing and welcoming.  Sure they want my "plata" but the smile I lay on them is unmistakable and they eat it up :)  I practiced my Spanish while eating my "empanda con pina." I ordered a second one "para llevar" (to-go), which I´m still not sure if it was because I was still hungry or because it was so easy to say and to interact with the locals.  I bought my groceries, found the perfect avocado, and left with my favorite fruit smoothie in hand, "platino y mango con leche sin azucar y un poco hielo" (banana and mango with milk without suger and with a little ice).

Buen Viaje!!