Day 12 - Chris - Today we were collected for a private Santiago city tour. The driver and our guide turned out to be a married couple. Working together all day - they must be crazy.

The day was really interesting. Santiago doesn't have the views or landmarks of Rio or Iguazu, but it was interesting learning about the culture, politics and history.

At the moment there is a great deal of civil unrest and protests have been continuing since last October. In a certain areas of Santiago - where the protests are centered, the protestors have sprayed graffiti on pretty much every unguarded buiding. Windows are smashed everywhere, and they have set on fire numerous police stations (just a few days ago) using molotov cocktails. We saw a military armoured vehicle that was also covered in graffiti. The police and military have reportedly been heavy handed in dealing with the protests, with approx 27 killed by the police and thousand injured. We have been told that 300 demonstrators have lost eyes in the last three months.

Interestingly, there is generally anti Spanish and anti USA sentiment in Santiago. Spain is resented for the way it invaded and treated the indigenous population and culture, In more recent history, the USA was instrumental in supporting the military coup in 1973 which brought General Pinochet to power. While he was in charge (until 1990) over 3000 dissidents were 'disappeared'. Our tour guide had an uncle wh disappeared aged 19 - no-one has ever found out what happened to him.

The photos show a little of the city. The palace looked good, but is fenced off now due to the demonstrations. We also went up San Cristobal hill and saw the statue of the Immaculate Conception.

At the main post office, at Xmas, children will leave letters for Santa Claus. These will not be asking for X-boxes etc, but basic items - books, or sometimes a bed or a table. Citizens are the invited to 'adopt a letter'. A time will then be arranged for the donor hand over the gift from Santa. They never actually get to meet the child as the child always believes this is come from Santa.