I guess I should dedicate this one to Marzhel because when I said I wanted to skip Chile and stay in Colombia another week, he was stern like a parent: "you can't write Chile off, trust me you'll like it." I've only been in Santiago so far, and... I do love it. I love all these different places I'm visiting in different ways. I'm finding something unique in each place that I love for a different reason. I almost feel like each city/town is like a different character.

So- SANTIAGO. It's cold, as I expected. But now that I'm getting layering down ( and have my stylish boots that look identical to every other girl's...), I kinda like it. This city is so... Sophisticated. It's like a mix between Latin America and Europe. It's a big city, with a lot of business, a lot of people, a lot of cars, but it's still nice! I mean, you don't feel the stress in the air like New York. People don't ignore traffic lanes and lights and pedestrians like most of Latin America. There's space to walk. You dont hear constant honking and people aren't in your face hassling you to go in their sketchy shop. There's a great subway and bus system, Starbucks, but you can't ever forget you're un Chile due to the view of the amazing, fresh, sharp Andes.

Because of people flaking and not answering, I waited a good while at the airport when I arrived, exhausts, with my bags and tears in my eyes. I wad reedy to pay a taxi to take me to a touristy part where I could search for a hostel. Marzhel got in touch with his friend, Cristian who is from Valparaiso but was in Santiago visiting family. He rushed to the airport with his little sister. I was easy to find, only white gringa with a huge backpack alone in the cold crying. He took me to his best friend, Felipe's, who lives in the center of Santiago, near everything and who hosts travelers often. He gave me food, water and a bed. My relief of hitting that mattress ( which ISN'T made if solid wood) is inexplicable. I slept like a rock.

Then on Sunday, Felipe had off work (es a lawyer) and offered to take me around. I planned on walking but he told me about the infamous Cerro San Cristobal could take hours and the open market I wanted to visit was a lot faster on his bike... Motorbike. I'm not really a fan of motorcycles, especially how they drive in Latin America but it turns out I loved it! The streets are so civil here especially on Sunday. It was so cool riding around Santiago and seeing the parks, buildings, universities, market and then riding up Cerro San Cristobal which is a nice mountain with a road and lanes to climb, where many people are walking, jogging and cycling up. Some take cars just to see the view... Its very natural up there with lots of trees and fresh air. Then at the top there is a church, big virgin statue and souvenirs and snacks. The view is amazing, Andes mountains with snow tipped points and the city of Santiago below. Then we returned and I spent the afternoon walking all around the city, taking pictures of the buildings and whatnot.

I don't know if it's this nice apartment, the layers of jackets and leggings and scarf... But I feel cozy in Santiago. And tomorrow, off to Valparaiso which everyone swears I'll like more!