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Santiago Chile

INTRODUCTION

The 5th largest city in South America, Santiago de Chile lies between the Pacific Ocean and the snow-capped Andes, right in the center of the 2,485 mile-long Country. The old quarter of the city shows its colonial Spanish and British past and is the cultural center of the country. Santiago is a good starting point for visiting Chile's beaches, ski resorts, and its wilder, arid southern regions, as well as Tierra del Fuego.

PERSONAL STORIES

In November 2003 we were privileged to travel to the beautiful city of Santiago, Chile. The weather was perfect. We had no idea what to expect and were pleasantly surprised at the definite European influences we saw, like the cobblestone streets. We stayed at the Torremayor Hotel in the Providencia? area. The breakfast was superb. The fresh fruits of all kinds (remember all the "fresh Chilean fruit" commercials? They're not kidding, it's the best!)--watermelons, honeydews, apples, oranges, mangoes, and papayas--with freshly baked, dense whole grain breads, a light cheese, and lean meats were literally "to die for." They also served some sort of Almond Liquor that was so delicious. The food was fantastic, but incredibly inexpensive ($7 for a tasty seafood dinner). We tried cheese empandas for the first time while we were there and were hooked. We also enjoyed the friendliness of the local people. Everyone was very friendly and helpful, even though my Spanish was limited. Thank goodness someone taught me the phrase "Lo siento, hablo Espanol poquito." We hope to return again and stay for a week to ten days. I definitely recommend a trip to this beautiful country.