River across from our hotel.
The fountain on the way to Plaza de Armas.
Tables 
Thursday, Nov. 11. Remembrance Day in Canada.
Our first task of the day is to get Peter some new pants to replace the ones ruined in Mendoza - as he is not too fond of the replacement pair. Also, we need to buy tickets to Temuco - our first stop in the Lake District. The first is accomplished quickly but following the manager’s directions to the Metro station. Continuing to the downtown mall he suggests, Peter soon has a nice pair of pants. We then make our way to the Hop-on, hop-off bus to tour the city. Yes, there are some down-bits like the wiring that is much like in La Paz, but the new seems to overshadow the old in Santiago. I have made a lunch-to-go, so when we arrive at the huge, modern shopping centre, we hop-off and have our lunch feeling as secure as we would at the mall in North/West Vancouver.
As in some shops in Buenos Aires, many of the shops here are very upscale. Being from Castlegar, we look but don’t go in. On our way back to the bus, I notice a shop called Canadienne! Seemingly, the parents of the owner are French Canadienne. As I look around, I spy a neat pair of light beige “you-are-not-a-tourist” looking pants. They fit well, and, for some unknown reason, I get 1/3rd off. Good deal. Now we each have a new pair of pants.
We just miss one bus, and almost miss the second, which is early, but Peter brings out his youthful running skills and the driver sees him as he approaches. We finish the tour, in awe of the architecture of this amazingly surprising city. We look forward to revisiting some of the places tomorrow or on out return later this month.
After a pit stop at the hotel, we wander back towards Plaza de Armas. What a happening place! There is a demonstration about something, a Christian preaching, many tables of chess matches, and multitudes of people just enjoying the square. We hear what sounds like instruments warming-up. Well, Peter thinks it is bad jazz, but my first impression is correct. There, in the gazebo, is an orchestra that is about to give a concert. They begin promptly at 6 p.m. I will try to post a picture of a darling little girl of about three who is totally into the music, clapping and tapping her feet right in time. Also, there are street-people sitting on the steps to the gazebo. One fellow, a few bricks short of a full load, is dancing uninhibited at the front. It is all part of the life of a vibrant city.
We have dinner tonight at a highly recommended seafood restaurant at the Mercado Central - La Galion. Peter orders meat (at a seafood restaurant) and it is only okay, but I go for the conger eel - wow! Not at all fishy - just firm, white flesh. The place is quite quiet, and we have a conversation with a young couple from Sacramento, California, and then the two waiters, one from Puerto Rico and the other from Lima. It is full day.
Our first task of the day is to get Peter some new pants to replace the ones ruined in Mendoza - as he is not too fond of the replacement pair. Also, we need to buy tickets to Temuco - our first stop in the Lake District. The first is accomplished quickly but following the manager’s directions to the Metro station. Continuing to the downtown mall he suggests, Peter soon has a nice pair of pants. We then make our way to the Hop-on, hop-off bus to tour the city. Yes, there are some down-bits like the wiring that is much like in La Paz, but the new seems to overshadow the old in Santiago. I have made a lunch-to-go, so when we arrive at the huge, modern shopping centre, we hop-off and have our lunch feeling as secure as we would at the mall in North/West Vancouver.
As in some shops in Buenos Aires, many of the shops here are very upscale. Being from Castlegar, we look but don’t go in. On our way back to the bus, I notice a shop called Canadienne! Seemingly, the parents of the owner are French Canadienne. As I look around, I spy a neat pair of light beige “you-are-not-a-tourist” looking pants. They fit well, and, for some unknown reason, I get 1/3rd off. Good deal. Now we each have a new pair of pants.
We just miss one bus, and almost miss the second, which is early, but Peter brings out his youthful running skills and the driver sees him as he approaches. We finish the tour, in awe of the architecture of this amazingly surprising city. We look forward to revisiting some of the places tomorrow or on out return later this month.
After a pit stop at the hotel, we wander back towards Plaza de Armas. What a happening place! There is a demonstration about something, a Christian preaching, many tables of chess matches, and multitudes of people just enjoying the square. We hear what sounds like instruments warming-up. Well, Peter thinks it is bad jazz, but my first impression is correct. There, in the gazebo, is an orchestra that is about to give a concert. They begin promptly at 6 p.m. I will try to post a picture of a darling little girl of about three who is totally into the music, clapping and tapping her feet right in time. Also, there are street-people sitting on the steps to the gazebo. One fellow, a few bricks short of a full load, is dancing uninhibited at the front. It is all part of the life of a vibrant city.
We have dinner tonight at a highly recommended seafood restaurant at the Mercado Central - La Galion. Peter orders meat (at a seafood restaurant) and it is only okay, but I go for the conger eel - wow! Not at all fishy - just firm, white flesh. The place is quite quiet, and we have a conversation with a young couple from Sacramento, California, and then the two waiters, one from Puerto Rico and the other from Lima. It is full day.
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