Went to Santiago this past weekend! Just got back late last night around 1am, it was about a 7 hour bus ride back, compared to about 5 1/2 on the way there due to fewer stops. The original plan was to go there, tour around a day or so, and Sun. go to the International soccer world-cup qualifier Chile vs. Brazil. However, due to an overwhelming number of fans, the tickets were actually sold out. We decided last minute to go ahead and go anyway and I am soooo happy we did!

Santiago is absolutely BEAUTIFUL! The weather was GORGEOUS when we arrived Fri. afternoon and all day Saturday. Sunday wasn´t horrible, but it was a littly foggy and windy. We stayed in a hostel, (the red building in this picture) which was called, "Hostel Chili-Santiago.) It was my first time staying in a hostel and I was surprised that I didn´t mind it so much. It´s composed of about 8 different large rooms, with about 8-10 beds in each room. There´s community-style bathrooms (men´s and women´s.) There´s also a sort of "social room" with a TV and some couches, and a kitchen. Breakfast was provided every morning from 7-11am. The price for two nights was only 10.000 pesos per person which is only $20 US dollars.

When we arrived Fri. by bus, we checked in and just walked around a little bit to get familiar with our surroundings. We went to a discoteque at night, which is just a bar/nightclub. We were able to get a good deal because we´re "gringas" (aka American girls) haha. Saturday we woke up early and the entire group of us walked/toured alllllllllll day the city of Santiago. It´s UNBELIEVEABLE how popular public transportation is, here in Chile. I noticed it more and more in Santiago with their underground metro (subway) system. There´s a total of about 15 different stops. What you do is go down the stairs to the subway, go to the booth and purchase "un boleto" which is only 350 pesos (or about 70 US cents) and hop on the subway. It was my first time EVER riding a subway and I absolutely LOVED IT! You ride it as long as you need to and get off at your destination. We used this route for all of our transportation, except for walking of course.)

Saturday was gorgeous out so the group (a total of 10 of us) went to what´s called "Cerro Santa Lucìa" which means, "The hill of Saint Lucìa." It was here, on what was then a rocky outcrop known by the indigenous people that Pedro de Valdivìa (the founder of the city) and his 150 men first encamped. Pedro then decided to found the city and renamed the cerro (hill) after the saint of the date on which he reached it, December 13, 1540. In August 1834, Charles Darwin stayed for a week in Santiago and climbed the hill noticing the striking view. In 1872, the great historian and intendant of Santiago, Benjamìn Vicuña Mackenna, began to transform the hill into the baroque maze of pathways, gardens, fountains, and squares which it is now. I have a photo album titled "el fin de semana en Santiago" in which I have pictures of the hill. It´s absolutely gorgeous and definitely quite the hike! It took about an hour to reach the top (of course we stopped numerous times to take pictures, buy beverages, and admire the gorgeous view.) The Cerro is one of the city´s best-loved venues.

Later that night, (Saturday) a group of us girls went out salsa dancing! It was very fun to people watch, as some couples are TRULY amazing salsa dancers!

Sunday morning we woke up early (as we had to check out of our hostel by 11am) and a group of three of us, (Amber, Christina and I) wanted to venture out and tour "Cerro San Cristòbal" which is the hill on which the "Santuario de la Inmaculada Concepciòn" (Shrine of the Virgin Mary) sits atop. It´s named after St. Christopher, the patron saint of travelevers, by the Spanish because of the landmark (Virgin Mary) it offered to travelers. The Cerro even has a ZOO halfway up the top, and various other attractions on it, such as gardens, a public swimming pool, a restaurant, and a wine-sampling ceter. It´s only 1400 pesos, which is only $2.80 US to tour the Cerro by funicular, which is like an open trolly car that goes straight up to the top. (There´s a picture of it in the photo album as well.)

After we toured the Virgin, we went to Plaza de Armas which is the city´s historic center. We couldn´t stay long due to time, but it´s a huge block just full of activity. There´s lots of street vendors, artists of all different sorts, street performers, live bands, and of course it´s a WONDERFUL place to sit and people watch :)

Santiago is absolutely gorgeous! The entire group I came to Chile with from St.Cloud is going again the first week of October for a night and then continuing further north in the country.

I found out this morning from my program director here that I don´t have ANY classes the rest of this week and ALL of next week. This week is due to Sept.11 as we are told not to leave our homes as it is very dangerous for us and next week we don´t have classes due to "el 18 de septiembre" which is Chile´s Independence Day. Many people have work off Wed, Thurs, and Fri. as well due to this day. It´s about a 4-5 day/night long celebration. There´s traditional dancing, food/drink, even clothing. I plan on taking lots of pictures so check the blog whenever you can later.

besos,

Jessa