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Dear All
I haven't a clue where the photo is from as it is impossible to read the text on this web page for an unknown reason. I know it's Chile and think it may be Punta Arenas which I did visit for 30 minutes, so..................... it's staying.
I'm in Santiago. Have been a few days and first impressions have not been good. Okay, I'm not hugely keen on cities (especially big ones) but when 2 locals 1 other extranjeros tells you you look like a tourist and you should beaware of your posessions re pickpockets and bag snatchers, it's not a good start. Makes me nervous which I do not like. Equally there are quite a few things that grate with me, so I'll kill them off before moving to the good things. There's a lovely hill with a large (albeit small compared to Corcovado in Rio) religious statue at the top. But all around are ugly mobile phone towers. The main paths to walk around the mount also turned out to be things called roads with cars on them. The smog (it's the 8th most polluted city in the world) is bad but better than expected, yet from the hill you realise you can't see the Andes around and they're HUGE snow covered mountains. The place is also full of concrete monolyths so seeing the beautiful old buildings is hard. It is in better condition that Buenos Aires, it seems wealthier, cars newer, the pavements don't need pot holing or climbing gear, but people are much less considerate and rubbish is ever present. This at least gives the people living on the street (they are more abvious, sleeping day and night) something to eat of or scavenge for. The driving is worse than Bue in the sense of more accidents seen. I am a clear stand out from the crowd (and I thought my tan was coming on- it's lovely and warm here while the BBC says it may be a wee bit cooler over there....) which gets strange looks at times and beggars. That's to be expected. Sadly the food hasn't improved over Argentina as I'd hoped for more variety. Worse, staff are also more pushy to get you out of restaurants.
However, the people are really nice. Even more so than Argentina. They are a beautiful race (albiet at times somewhat overweight) and really friendly. They even keep eye contact rather than frown if this happens- and if I smile I usually get a smile back. It's lovely. People are also really helpful- the first morning we got to the booked hostel to the surprise of the sleeping night staff (it was 08.30). She managed to figure out we didn't have a booking, called and arranged for us to go to another hostel, negotiated the price down, all before I did. She then walked us there (carrying Andy's wee bag even) and helped us move in. However even before we got to the first hostel we were unsure if the house we were looking at was it and the local security guard came out to confirm it was as he saw us struggling Cool. At the first hostel we were also invited to a birthday party of the owner (she was 29) when we came home at 01.00 so it was an 03.00 bedtime then. And tonight I was sitting in the Plaza de Armas when a local sat down and before lighting up asked if I minded- we chatted 30 mins before he went to meet his partner. Excellent. It's still T shirt and shorts weather here.... In fact at the Plaza there were lots of people playing chess (none in a kilt which I thought shocking), pavement artists, music and so on. A nice atmosphere. Interestingly they still have shops selling cassettes (you know the type cars use to have to play music) and again kids are out late as family units. It's lovely to see the interactions with little ones. Meanwhile couples of all ages don't simply hold hands (as occasionally happens in the UK) but really show their passion for each other and it can be a real snog fest (sorry, couldn't think how else to say it). I also had great pleasure in seeing the friendship hug movement was here (okay, seems a bit contradictory after what I just wrote). For those who don't know basically there's a wonderful new movement that has proven that hugs are good for the health. So groups of people go to a central place and offer free hugs to people walking past. It's amazing. I got 2 as we walked both ways up the street. Poor Andy was too Welsh brittish to let himself get a hug (so I gave him 1 rather than the hand shake he offered as we parted). Oh yes, something I keep forgetting to detail.... the toilets. There is a problem with the basic infrastructure so that in Chile they ask you (you're going to love this.... then again....) NOT to put the paper in the toilet but in the bin. Oh yes..... And for more fun, I had to use a public loo in the centre yeterday. I'm glad I asked before going into the cubicle for a number 2 as there were 7 cubicles but only 2 toilet roll dispensers...... and they were outside the toilets
They did provide paper covers for the seat though!
My first hostel was beautiful, the second is fine if old. I am now alone again, the others having all moved on to other places in Chile. This means the personal emotional tests will again come as I'm alone to feel. I have wandered around a bit but were it not for the fact I was today able to meet up with someone I had an amazingly strong connection with while dancing biodanza in Brazil April 2004, I would not be here still. I go to her class tomorrow night before visiting Valparaiso and Viña del mar Wednesday- Friday (said to be the Cannes and Nice of S.America) before back here for a weekend of biodanza. Then I plan to go to the wonders of San Pedro de Atacama but am finding it hard to get accommodation as yet.... And the prices are through the roof The joys of a telephone call tomorrow. My spanish is better, the guy tonight understood me. But it's still not wonderful.
So, nothing more to say at the moment. I suspect it'll be a good 15 days before I'll add to the blog, the dancing being something hard to express and SPdA being over 24 hours to get to and 3 days to see (you know, the usual things like magic geysers, lunar land scapes, high altitude lakes of different colours and flamingos, Salar de Atacama, Atacama the dryest desert in the world (how DO you spell desert? is it like this or dessert as in pudding?). So I guess it may also be a short blog (NOT!). I even plan to get some photo's onto CD tomorrow so may get these onto the site. A wee resume of where I've been for you to at last see. It's nice to see I remain an optimist eh
Take care guys and gals.
Love
Alan xx
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