Santiago

Santiago City is huge, but the evidence of wealth is instantly obvious. The amount of consumer goods and variety of cars shows the amount of imports and lower import taxes. After a good nights rest (an early one after the last week) I headed out on the Sunday to firstly explore the park just behind the hotel, Cerro Santa Lucia, from which you get a good view of the city and an idea of the amount of pollution over the city that stops you getting a view of the mountains just behind Santiago.


Cerro Santa Lucia


There are mountains back there somewhere



I also met an American man, Rene Brauchtsch, who was here to see the Doctors at the local hospital (he must be in his late 70’s) he said that he was going to a shopping mall the other side of the city in the afternoon and invited me along, sure why not, he speaks excellent Spanish, having been marries to a Chilean woman for 50 years. It turned out that the mall was only a ten minute walk from the BMW agent that I was to visit for the tyres the next day, bit it was a chance to try out the subway system and see the affluent side of Santiago getting ready for Christmas.


I´m sure I haven´t been here before


Apparently one of the more Bohemian districts


The Cathedral Square

This was not Rene’s first visit here, so he knew so good restaurants around the Hotel so we had diner together that night, and a very large lunch on our last day. He’s from New York out on Long Island, so I have promised to call him when I get there next year.

Tuesday was a ride through the busy traffic to the dealer to get some new rubber on the Wombat. Initially they said I would have to leave the bike and come back the next day, but a sorry face and asking nicely got the tyres on and me safely back to the Hotel by three o'clock. $630 lighter in the wallet. So I should now be OK until I reach the USA.