Santiago de Chile
With a 10PM departure, we had half a day to kill in Santiago. I booked a room at the San Cristobal Hotel where we could rest prior to heading out to the airport. But in the meantime, I had arranged with Roberto, the San Cristobal concierge, to be met by a driver and a guide for a three hour tour of Santiago prior to check-in. Santiago is an attractive city that seems a lot cleaner and more prosperous than BA.
Our first stop was the historic Mercado Central.
At Plaza des Armas, the city center, is historic Catedral Metropolitana de Santiago with construction dating back to the 18th century.
One of Santiago's most beautiful cathedrals still featuring damage from the recent earthquake.
Palacio de La Moneda, the seat of the President of the Republic of Chile.
And the square facing it.
The National Library.
And then east to the more modern, glitzy and tony parts of the city.
By now at almost 1PM, we were tired, so passed on the funicular and headed for the hotel.