Santiago, Chile—April 12

We drove from Santa Cruz to Santiago arriving mid-morning in a very beautiful clean city of many high rise buildings for living and commerce.  Quite a contrast to Lima, Peru. 

This city and country have flourished since the citizens revolted against dictators and communism. A little history of this is a heads-up for the United States.

Salvador Allende’s leftist coalition of socialists, communists and extremists took over in 1970.  Allende introduced sweeping economic reforms, including the state takeover of many private enterprises and the wholesale redistribution of income.  Chile plunged into economic chaos.

General Salvador Pinochet seized power in a bloody coup on, ironically, September 11^th, 1973, using jets to bomb the presidential palace.  President Allende died during the raid, apparently by his own hand, and thousands of his supporters were murdered.  Dark days followed, with assassinations, purges and enforced exiles becoming commonplace.  It is estimated that as many as 80,000 people were tortured or murdered during this time.  At the head of a four-man junta, Pinochet dissolved Congress, banned leftist parties and suspended all opposition.

In 1989, Christian Democrat Patricio Aylwin beat Pinochet’s candidate,  and power was peacefully transferred.  Democracy returned to Chile.  Now the country is flourishing as a result of economic reforms based on Milton Freedman’s theories brought to Chile by some economists who went to Chicago to study under him.  They are known as “the Chicago Boys”.  Today, Chile is considered an emerging economy.

Santiago is located in the Central Valley, 62 miles east of the Pacific Ocean and 25 miles from the Andes.  With 6 million people, it is one of the largest cities in South America.  As with many South American cities and towns, the heart of Santiago is the Plaza de Armas, which is surrounded by the Cathedral, the City Hall, and the Post Office. We drove by these places with a stop at Faba, an exclusive shop that sells expensive jewelry. 

Featured is the semi-precious stone of Chile, blue lapis lazuli. Faba store's craftsmen create exclusive works that reflect pre-Columbian traditions and draw upon Chilean geography and culture.  Decorative pieces come in various sizes and shapes...and price ranges.

 

To get a flavor of some of the Chilean culture, we were taken to the Pueblito of Los Dominicos Market.

Here artisans sell their wares in little shops in covered arcades.

Admittedly, this is a tourist stop with vendors selling all kinds of trinkets and souvenirs, but you do see craftsmen at work like this shoemaker.

 

Or you can hear musicians like this harpist who hopes you will buy one of his CDs.

 

I had lunch at one of the restaurants, eating under one of the umbrellas.

I orded a Chilean dish called corn pie.  It a huge bowl of scalloped corn with pieces of chicken breast, olives, and some picadillo (ground beef) inside.  It was delicious.

 

We checked into the lovely Marriot Hotel. My room was on the 23^rd floor (the photo of the skyline above was taken from my window). I discovered there was the “Executive Club” on the same floor where evening drinks and snacks (like sandwiches, fruit, vegetables, desserts, really enough for a meal) are served in a room with breathtaking views of the city.  Admission is by room key-- if you are part of the club or if you pay a fee.  I tried my key, it worked, so I had my “dinner” there. I must admit, this beats RVing.  J