Santiago de Chile 03/04/08

My first full day on the trip is coming to an end. Although in another sense it's just beginning as we're about to get drunk and get loud and "loco" Chilean style. Anyways.. Distracted from my previous thought..

Today I woke up at quite the right time around 9 am.. Had breakfast and decided that it'd be a good idea to go out and see what the city of Santiago was like.. I enlisted the help of a fellow traveller at the hostel. She helped me get to grips with the city. We walked to a place called Santa Lucia which started out life as a hermitage and then turned into a convent and then finally a military installation. Today I am visiting it as I have been told that the fountains and curving staircases are quite interesting.



Following our walk up the hill we walked to the district containing the parliament buildings for the Chilian government these building were quite interesting in terms of architecture. They looked similar to the ones I had seen in europe. They must have been heavily influenced by the Spanish I guess..

At about lunch time we stopped by a restaurant that didn't look like much just a shop on the corner with not many people eating. The inside looked like an old 80's style diner from the US. I was told about the traditional drink from Chile called a Pisco Sour.. This to my surprise was actually an alcoholic drink which the Chilean's drink as part of their meals. It was actually very tasty and I enjoyed it. The meal I ordered was chicken "pollo" isn't that cool I'm already learning spanish.. I was also told to try the salsa that accompanied the breads. Wow this part was water in your mouth amazing, it was just tasty enough to give the taste of salsa but it didn't over crowd the taste of the bread itself..



By midday the place was completely packed.. I guess we stumbled upon a local favorite. It was hard to tell why.. The man outside the restaurant was dress in a tux just to greet the customers as they walked in and also when we ordered one drink he made too much and gave us the rest of what he made.. I swear he must have put half a bottle of Pisco in it.. Amazing lunch it was though.. Not bad for the first day..

I got back to the hostel around 4 pm and it was already starting to get dark, we went to get some drinks and 2 swedes turned up and an american. We started talking and drinking and then all of a sudden, it sorta got a little out of hand and I started doing stupid things.. But I guess when you're in Chile do want the Chileans do..


Update you guys tomorrow about whats happening..