Day 2 Santiago

So we arrived in Santiago yesterday. After an uncomfortable plane trip and scary incident of a man collapsing and me having to yell out for hosties, we got a taxi to the hostel. On the way through Santiago we just sat there in silence, taking it all in. As with most airports, we travelled through a really poor neighborhood to get into the city and it was amazing to see how these people live. It comes as no surprise that there is a perception that of crime in Latin America when tourists have so much money they they openly flaunt without even knowing it.

So we met the charming and vivacious Darcy from New York at the Hostel and instantly hit it off. She is an incredible 23 year old who has been travelling South America for 6 months alone. We were both overwhelmed by our new surroundings and the lack of language so Darcy was an amazing orientation to the city. We walked to dinner to a cool part of town called Barrio de Belle Vista and while getting lost, watched Darcy approach complete strangers in the most confident and friendly of fashion, even getting us an escort by two cute park cleaners on pushies who wanted to walk with us to make sure we were safe. We also met the Mayor of a small town in Argentina! We eventually made it and had a great night together, eating, drinking and talking. A friend for life already made...

Today we felt much more confident and walked back to Bella Vista for a look in the day, went to the Zoo which was full of families. The children and babies here are SO CUTE it is just unbelievable. Big brown eyes and brown hair and speaking spanish in little squeaky voices. Ohhhhhhh! We then headed further downtown, had lunch, looked around and rode the subway back. We know about 15 words of Spanish which is more than yesterday and are picking it up. We still have no idea what people are saying to us but can at least tell them that!

Now back at the hostel for siesta, chilling out, working out what we will do tonight. Tomorrow we are heading and hour and a half away to Valparaiso, a bohemian beach town that is meant to be very cool.

Your spanish lesson for the day:

Donde esta el baño por favor? Where is the bathroom please
Soltare = single as in, I am ...