Santiago

In the summer of 2001 Edith, Donogh, Bryan, Mark and I went to South America for a few weeks of exploring Chile and Peru. We started with Chile and while we wanted to visit Patagonia in the south, the South American winter meant this was not possible. So our plans were to spend time in Santiago and then work north to the Atacama desert.

After marathon flights from Dublin via Dallas we got into Santiago. The city is situated on a narrow plain between the sea and the mountains. We didn't see the sea but the mountains couldn't be missed. You could even see the ski slopes above the city.

Santiago is a fairly modern city. You could occasionally be mistaken for thinking you were in Europe. But every so often there would be something like this Cathedral that would remind you that you were in South America.

Being a tourist is hard work of course. So we stopped frequently in cafes and parks. Ice cream is good for the spirit the world over. Of course we would like to think we were not your normal tourists. And out footwear usually gave us away as the outdoors sort!

But like all tourists we depended on our guidebooks. More than a few times you would hear "well what does the guidebook say". Its a regular source of discussion on these trips as to what is the best guidebook. Lonely Planet or Rough Guide? Me, I swear by the South American Handbook.

We had intended to go skiing but the weather turned very wet. Santiago was hit by heavy rain and flooding. So we changed our plans and fled north to La Serena, a resort and fishing town on the coast.