Saying Goodbye to Warren and Alice Finally Becomes a Crime Victim

After lounging on Monday morning, we got Warren packed up and headed to Santiago.  With our new Chilean GPS (still named Clive) we drove to the Bellavista neighborhood.  This is an artsy, historic place with many bars, restaurants and tourists.  We were able to park surprisingly easily though we felt compelled to let the old guy on the street washing cars to do ours (for 5,000 CP, not such a bargain).  We walked around for a while and Warren looked into ski excursions for when he might return next winter (June).  We decided to eat a an Irish Pub, the Dublin Irish Pub at the Bellevista Patio.  The men drank green Chilean beer while I enjoyed a pisco sour (of course).  The guys had the very well priced set lunch while I opted for a salmon salad.  The service was a little hit or miss but the food was pretty good and it was nice to sit outside on the sidewalk area.  The place was gearing for the next day - Saint Patrick's Day. 

On the streets of Bellavista in Santiago

Waiting for a pisco sour and lunch at the Dublin Pub in Bellavista

Warren toasts Chile with green beer on this March 16 (one day early for Saint Patrick's Day)

We walked to the main park area of Santiago - Santiago Metropolitan Park where  - where we would get the funicular to the top of San Cristobal hill for the panoramic view.  Near the funicular entrance I met an old lady selling small stuffed monkeys and bought one for Henley (grandson) and admired the lady's two fat, sleeping cats.  However, at the ticket booth inside the funicular I carelessly set my camera down to deal with the tickets and payment.  I did not realize I hadn't picked it up until we were in line to go up about 10 minutes later.  Of course, there was no camera still here, or turned in to the ticket seller.  Poof!  My camera was gone forever.  Fortunately I only lost the photographs I had taken that morning but it was still a regretful situation.  We went to the top and Warren was very impressed with the views and we all took a lot of photographs (I still had my trusty pink iPhone 5C to use as a camera).  

A double selfie on San Cristobal hill

View of the sprawl that is Santiago

The Virgin Mary tops the hill

The tallest building in South America, the Gran Torre, at 984 feet

Descending, retrieved the car and got Warren safely and on time to the Delta counter.  He really enjoyed his time in Chile and may come back next year when we plan to live here again in June.  We drove back to our haven in Vina, glad to be gone from the smog and congestion of Santiago, did some extensive shopping at the Lider (a big supermarket nearby) and ate leftovers in front of the TV.  Pure vegging out!

Warren is sad to leave Chile and to wait in the lengthy line at Delta to check in

Warren was particularly interested in the Gran Torre and obviously liked Chile as a whole.  Maybe next time he can ski and also find a nice Chilean lady to date - two of his desires for a future visit to this country.