Trip to Santiago and Goodbye to Fatih

We left on Friday with Fatih to go to Santiago for one night as he was to fly out Saturday night.  We stopped at our favorite Casablanca winery, Casas del Bosque, for lunch.  There were no more places on the terrace so we ate inside but it was  still a lovely experience with good food (pasta for me) and a glass of good wine.

A typical Fatih moment - cigarettes and either coffee or wine on the terrace

The winter vines at Casas del Bosque

Still beautiful, though

Although the weather was great, the traffic in Santiago was dreadful.  It took us more than two hours to cross from the west to the east and we spent a lot of time just stuck in the city traffic.  It was a very bad beginning to the trip to Santiago.  By the time we arrived at our hotel, we had decided not to take the car anywhere for dinner.

Our hotel, Acacias de Vitacura - was strange - I picked because it is not far from from Rosa lives in Las Condes (a large, upscale area of Santiago) and had free parking.  It is old and rather basic but still with some charm.  It looks out on a wooded area where I watched birds in the morning.  The lobby decor was oddly Asian.  We had a very large bed (super king) and were pretty comfortable.   The three of us drank some wine I had bought at Casas del Bosque and watched the soccer on TV waiting for Rosa to arrive.

The leafy entry to our hotel tucked away in the northeast of Santiago

The four of us walked about 1/2 mile or so to the Chilean equivalent of a sports bar.  The Chile soccer game was on (for the American Cup) so the crowd was lively, to say the least.  We ordered (cheese quesadilla for me) and watched the game with everyone else.  Chile won so the crowd was happy and we enjoyed our low key evening after the stress of the Santiago traffic earlier.  Rosa took Uber home from the restaurant while we walked back.  The air was frigid and we were all so cold by the time we arrived at the hotel.  It did not help that I was sick again which made me colder.

Our dinner spot randomly chosen but certainly satisfactory

Rosa orders from the waiter.  I asked him if they always wore the goofy hats but he said only for the Chilean soccer match which was going on.

We were outside but near this space heater which the guys made use of

After breakfast the next morning we drove to Rosa's place and visited with sweet cat, Pelusa.

There were many birds outside our hotel window in the morning including some giant humming birds

The scary looking hair drier at the hotel - I used it and it worked fine though I feared electrocution

Miss Pelusa was happy with our visit and rolled around on the living room rug

She is a very handsome cat

We then drove to the Bellavista area of Santiago with the intention to drive to the top of Cerro San Cristobal.  However, the road was not open for cars until 1:30 so we instead visited La Chascona, the Pablo Neruda house in Santiago.  This enabled Fatih to see all three of the Neruda houses on a single visit.  Rosa had not seen the house either so it was only a repeat for me and Randy.

In front of street graffiti near La Chascona

It made a nice photo backdrop

Neruda's Santiago house

Fatih poses with a lady at the entry

I took a few forbidden photos inside - this one of the "secret passage" tiny staircase we need to take to get upstairs

Another illegal photo - this of Neruda as a young man when he was a Counsel to Sri Lanka (I believe)

A final illicit photo of a painting from Colombia but it reminds me of the Haitian art I love so much

A mural nearby La Chascona for a restaurant

But, we all enjoyed it then drove to the entry to the hill.  We were the first car up the hill and the many cyclists and walkers were not too pleased with us but we went slowly.  It was a pretty drive and we could park easily at the top.  We walked around, bought some items and then headed back down.

Fatih and Rosa at the top of Cerro San Cristobal - the air had started clear that morning but was now smoggy

The view was still impressive despite the haze

Two lazy cats at a shop on the top of the hill

The crowing statue of the Virgin.  We did not climb there (but I had done that on a previous trip)

Fatih with the Virgin - the lighting did not allow for a good picture

The four of us enjoyed the excursion - Rosa hadn't been to Cerro San Cristobal either so this was a first for her

We parked near the Bellavista Patio area -  a large complex with restaurants and shops - for lunch.  I wanted a place in the sun as I was cold so we sat the first sunny one.  It turned out to be a very good choice.  The prices were reasonable and the food was very good - big burgers for Rosa and Randy and a great vegetable quesadilla for me.

I bought this necklace (and a few others from another artist) from this rugged looking jewelry maker

Our lunch spot at Bellavista Patio - really good and reasonable

Randy and Rosa enjoyed their super sized burgers

I spotted this sign on the walk back to the car - not sure what it is advertising but not such a good translation into English

This nice mural was also on the walk back to the car - Respect for all life!

Rosa took transport back to her place and we dropped Fatih off at the airport then headed back to Santiago for an evening in.  A nice quick trip to Santiago but it verified that we vastly prefer the Valparaiso/Vina area.