A whole new world!

We arrived in Santiago a few days ago, literally agog.  Seeing Chile through the eyes of Ecuadorians, we saw a paradise of cleanliness, efficiency, potable water, pothole-free roads, and prosperity.  The Santiago metro is identical to the Paris metro.  Oscar commented that it's nicer than the NYC subway. Chile feels just like Canada!

Neil feeling exuberant in the Santiago metro

More specifically, Santiago looks like Nice or a less grand version of Paris.  Chileans really emulated the French in the 19th Century.  Today, Chileans act like Germans (the government encouraged Germans to settle here in the 1800s and the German influence remains strong in the areas of food and a predilection for rules).  Valparaíso looks like San Francisco.  The rest of central Chile looks and feels like California 30 years ago.  The physical landscape is similar -- deserts, vineyards, and windswept Pacific coasts.

Starbucks!

As for the people, after months of dealing with friendly and courteous Ecuadorians, I was a bit put off by the brusque people in Santiago.  Neil says they're just like New Yorkers, i.e. in a hurry, but I found them more dour and rude than my compatriots.  "Buenos dias" and "muy buenos dias" are replaced by a curt "hola."  And no one in Santiago says "que vaya bien" upon parting ways.  

yarn bombed tree in Santiago

Just one example of Santiago's ubiquitous graffiti

It was wonderful to meet up with Neil's parents, who are joining us for about two weeks.  We spent the last two days touring and eating our way through Santiago.  Highlights:  pisco sours at Confituria Torres, the oldest restaurant in Santiago (it looks like a Paris bistro), the Museo de la Memoria y Los Derechos Humanos, the walking tour of Yungay, our fancy Peruvian dinner at Astrid y Gaston, La Chascona (Pablo Neruda's house), exploring the China Mall (all the cheapest crap at the lowest prices possible), and meeting Howie Katz, an old college friend, for drinks (who just happened to be in town with his Chilean girlfriend).  

Is this really what China looks like?!

Post-museum rest

This morning, we loaded up in a 12 person Hyundai van and hit the road.  Chilean highways are a dream -- 120 km speed limit and we even have the Chilean version of EZ pass.  Navigating the steep, windy streets of Valparaiso was tricky (I only had to back down one street, and Neil's GPS wanted me to turn up a street of stairs), but we made it to our hotel in one piece.  Tomorrow, we check out Valparaiso and then head to wine country.