Another unexpected treat was our visit to Santiago, Chile. Its 90s and hot but after weeks of 'glamping' we finally found a chlorinated pool! The city has some high rises and a business district, a welcome site. And Christmas decorations are in full swing. The street art is amazing, albeit on some buildings where it doesnt belong.
A gondola brings you to the very religious site of Cerro San Cristobal. You can see the snow capped mountains in the distance and a sprawling 5M+ city below.
We also enjoyed the human rights museum, although enjoyed is a strange feeling for such a tribute to injustice. The more places we visit, the more museums dedicated to the plight of the local people. In short, while democracy is far from perfect, visiting these countries who have experienced dictatorships and military rule are reminders of how important a democratic system is.
Santiago is a vibrant city with modern sky scrapers and still an old town feel. There are parts that resemble back bay Boston and Europe. We did not get to Valparaiso, but will if we return. We loved the art work and the architecture. We did find the rushing brown water, which we nicknamed Willy Wonka's River, to be strange for such a developed city.
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