Big City

A few days in Santiago is probably enough – but a great reminder why I enjoy being in cities for a while with the crush of life and the vitality. With a population of around 6 million, it is a busy place with a great public transport system – including a modern metro which was uncomfortably warm at the end of the rush hour last night – a couple of good museums and a lot of very grand churches.

There also seems to be a very large police presence – carabinieri on every corner and squads on standby in buses around many a street corner. However they are as friendly as the rest of the population and perhaps help to enforce the sense of safety and security around the heart of the city!

There are also dozens of good restaurants and bars – went to Patio Bellavista last night to eat and drink – a sort of modern Covent Garden with street entertainers and music in the open spaces and hordes of people. Tried to check out one of the Irish bars but found it closed for the evening but still had a good time in the bar next door followed by an excellent meal and a session in the Jazz Bar listening to a Blues group.

It is also seriously warm – 33degC or more – although very dry. Not the uncomfortable humidity of Bangkok but still too hot to be out in the sun for too long. We are flying north tomorrow morning to La Serena for a week in the Limari and Elqui valleys – wine, pisco, star-gazing at an observatory, slightly cooler temperatures and much more we hope.