Day 2 Santiago - up, and down, Lunch and presidential palace,

Hi there in Blogland,

Today was an earlier start and a little more active. Today we caught The RED Tourist bus, which was good as we saw a lot more of Santiago, a city of around 5 million and established in 1541, which makes it one of the older cities in the world.

It is a quiet modern city, not too much hustle and bustle and plenty of lawns, parks, gardens and shady places to sit.

We also went up the funicular railway to overlook the city. Then back down to earth and off to lunch at the old central market with a few beers. After that it was off the the central railway station to buy some tickets to Chillan where we will go on Tuesday morning. We changed our mind from bus as the train trip looked like fun. It will probably be buses after that.

After getting the tickets I got an Ice cream (mint) and then we went to the Presidential Palace, where Chilean  President Salvadore Allende was bombed in his Palace by CIA planes. A big thanks to the USA for that. Getting to the palace, we went through La Moneda railway station which was decked out like an art gallery inside with big paintings on the walls and spot lighting. Very Cool.

Here is Pics

Hills around Santiago

Bill at Funicular Railway                                              

me at same space

very steep

good views

Dos amigos

Pan Shot, Santiago

Where they park the bicycles when reach the top (hard work)

Tuna at the Market

Lunch venue

Cold Beers

My ice-cream

merry go round at the central station

La Moneda Subway station

Presidential Palace

The big flag on display in front of the Presidential Palace and in Bernard O'higgins Avenue

Day 1 Santiago Walking on Sunshine

Yes Kids,

Uncle Dougie stayed up late and had very few sleeps this morning. After a  small but adequate breakfast Bill and I ventured out into Santiago's sun filled streets with our cameras in hand.

We traveled only 5 stops on the underground to go to the Old City as where we are  staying is like Docklands or St Kilda Rd area in Melbourne. Many tall office towers and modern skyline. The old centre it turns out is also not so old and has many modern new buildings dotted about.

We ended up walking to the Plaza de Armas (A shady city square for people to relax in) and having a hot dog and coke for lunch. It was also the location of the Post office where I was trying to buy some stamps and post a few things but because it was Saturday, the PO closed at 1.30 and I missed getting there before it closed. Maybe Monday. It was also at this point thatI headed back to Hotel and let Bill continue exploring as I broken a toe strap on my left thong and walking around was becoming difficult.

Here are some pics

First and last manhole cover pics, not that interesting in Sth America.

Near centre of town, not sure what it is but very sure not going to walk all those steps up to find out.

Artisan Market

Old and new buildings

Bill in Plaza de Armas

Plaza De Armas

Arrived Santiago Chile

Hi,

just a quick note to say arrived OK in Santiago in Chile, finally on the Sth American Continent. Got to Hotel about 1am and met Bill ok, we went for dinner and a few beers and is now nearly 4am.

Time to go to bed.

LB

Easter Island Sunset

A few more pics from Easter Island last night at Sunset or a bit after.

p.s no cheap chocolate eggs on easter island.

Last Day on Easter Island and Internet finally working (just)

Hi all,

Hopefully this morning I can successfully post some pics as the internet is finally working (sort of ) with my Laptop. Yesterday I did a full day tour of the "Heads" and the day before a half day tour explaining the bird man competition. Young men would climb down the cliffs and swim to an offshore island, collecting a local birds egg and then swim back and climb cliffs to deliver unbroken egg to the King. Whoever did this first would become King for the next year.

Sort of monarchy by trial. Novel idea.

Here  goes with Pics.

My first Pisco Sour

Civiche (raw fish in lemon juice) yummy

Restaurant cat

Good tight brickwork

Another cat, lots of cats and dogs here

Surfs up

another restaurant

Self explanatory

A "Malcolm Fraser" lying down

Near where heads were quarried

Malcom Fraser

These guys represent the 7 clans and 8 subclass (15) in total. These clans were each awarded part of the island and all clans worked together to make the  heads. That is until, resources became short and they started fighting with one another.

Middle one has a hat on

Beach

Island that competitors would swim to

Houses for competitor families

One of two main volcanic craters

A hat

fine masonry