Hola!

Well Santiago is a bit of a disappointment it has to be said. However I have made the most of being here. Today I walked up San Cristobal where there is a huge Statue of the Virgin Mary watching over the city. I walked right to the top, it's so big that you rise above the smog as you can see from the pictures i took.

I took the funicular down so i would be able to get the big seafood market for lunch - my scallops were amazing, also had some kind of fish steaks covered with a creamy sauce and prawns, so tasty!

I then decided to be a little cultured and wandered to the museum of Pre-colombian art, it was pretty small but really interesting, lots of Mayan statues and carvings.

Then stopped off in a lovely little bookshop cafe type place and rested my legs. Then onwards to the Museo de Belles Artes, some really interesting paitings and sculptures. The building that it was in was really pretty with a big wrought iron vaulted glass ceiling.

I'm now back at the hostel recovering and getting warm. Maybe head out tonight, but heading off up the coast to Valparasio tomo around lunch time and spending two nights up there. Some of the group are heading south to go skiing, but as there is little to do in Santiago some of us are going up to Valparasio which is a world hertitage site, suppose to be beautiful and great seafood so we'll see!

Right off for a cup of tewa to warm up!

Love Gem xxx