Well after 2 friday the 21st of September 2007 I was in Chile. Flight was fine but cold nice food on LAN. Got to Santiago and we could see the Andes sprinkled with snow on top. My first thought was I should have learned Spanish but its a bit late for that now. So back to trying one word and pointing. A women tried to have a conversation with me in the supermarket about mushrooms! Was glad to get to hostel which is okay. Think Jan is surviving it all. She is really into cooking she might get a job as a chef in Chile. We had a barbeque on Saturday which is traditional here. On Sunday went to San Cristobal a hill with a statue of mary on the top of the hill. Mass is said up there, it was a very peacefull place. Further down there were lots of Chileans out on the lovely sunny spring day having picnics. Lots of cyclist at the top of the hill too it is a big hill to go up but they were flying down. Jan and I took the funeculiar railway up.

On Monday we did the city tour the mayor in the 18th century was a McKenna and there is a road named after him and some statues he was from Spain (but maybe a wee bit scottish too). We went to Santa Lucia park where there is a beutiful yellow water feature with lots of statues. We saw humming birds outside the park taking necter from some flowers. They arwe only found in the Americas and the Carribean. We saw where the parliament building is it is gaurded by the very handsome and beautiful male and female police officers. They look very smart in there green uniforms. There is lots of art pieces in the grounds. We went into the cathedral it is beautifull all the marble came from Europe. Did not take any pictures inside it lots of people using the church. Saw st Theresa of the Andes statue. There are Chilean flags everywhere in September it is the law you have one in your house. We had just missed the week of celebrations for the independence. For any male reading this there are coffee houses with legs. These are coffee bars where you are served coffee by attractive ladies in very little bikinis. These are only found in Chile. We were taken into one for a minute it would certainly brighten up any mans day. I was so embarresed I did not know where to look.

Today we went on the underground which is very clean, cheap and efficient. Got a taxi and went to a winery Concha y torro where we tasted three wines. It was in beautiful grounds.The wine was nice I think I have seen some of there brand at home, but it was fun. They do organic wine too mum. This tasting was better than the organic one in Edinburgh you did not have to spit it out