Fri-Sun, Jul 5-7 - Hil y Cait in Santiago

Friday, July 5

We got a Turismo taxi to our hotel – the W Santiago.  Being after 4:30 on a Friday evening, traffic was very heavy so it was nice to have someone else doing the driving!  We arrived at the W and were greeted by Lars, the concierge, who whisked us up to the 4^th floor reception where we checked in and later enjoyed our welcome glass of champagne.

Our room on the Eleventh Floor

 Cait and I wandered about a bit to stretch our legs and see where we might find a couple of bottles of water.  The streets around the hotel are mostly residential – apartments and/or condos but with many cafes.  We opted to eat at one of the hotel restaurants – there are three.  We chose the “Peruvian/Japanese Fusion with Chilean ingredients”– Karai.  It was fabulous.  We shared a variety of sushi and then split a dessert which was mini churros with a tiny scoop of cinnamon ice cream…. 

Saturday, July 6

We had chosen breakfast as my Titanium benefit and were not sorry.  This was a most elaborate and comprehensive buffet.  There was an omelette bar where you ordered eggs, pancakes, French toast. Then large tables of breads, pastries, wonderful fruits, juices, coffee and a hot chocolate station, a Bubble Bar with champagne for your fruit juice or makings for a Bloody Mary.  There also was cereal, smoked salmon, various meats and cheeses, plus two espresso machines.  

We rolled out of there and headed for the Metro, loaded up the Metro card that Karen A. had given us and headed for the Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art.

 We spent two plus hours exploring all of the pieces including the Textile Room.  This room includes a long, dimly lit table of displays with additional drawers that can be viewed by pushing a button on the side of the table at 3 or 4 points on the sides of the table.  Each drawer lights up as it opens!   We spent a bit of time in the lovely gift shop and then headed back to the Metro pausing to admire the other old buildings in the area and a great mural on one wall.

The streets were busy at this point on Saturday afternoon.  We took the Metro back towards the hotel but got off a stop before so that we could explore the local mall – Costanera Center. This mall opened in 2012 and apparently has 7 floors of shops, restaurants and a huge movie theater.  We searched for a snack and found the largest food court I think I’ve ever seen. We got hot dogs but maybe a different selection would have been better…. We shopped a bit at Falabella where Cait was happy to find that they carry her favorite Esprit pants that she can no longer get in the US.

We walked back to the hotel – about ½ mile and later went to another of the hotel’s restaurants – Terraza – for some dinner.

Sunset on our hotel and the Andes

Sunday, July 7

We again visited the amazing buffet and then headed back to the Metro to get to La Chascona at 10am when it opens.  La Chascona is one of three houses that Pablo Neruda lived in.  The others are in Valparaiso and Isla Negra.

 Our timing was perfect and we got our listening devices in English and explored each of the rooms. Many rooms have a nautical theme – port holes, cubby holes, etc.  My favorite is the Summer Bar.  This is in a separate building up the hill from the rest and attached to a study. I had been here before in 2004 and it was great to be able to see it again.  I think that there are many more buildings built right up to the edge of the property now but they did not detract from the environment he created.  Cait and I walked around the neighborhood since it is an arty area with lots of restaurants.  There was a whole new Patio Bellavista that took up at least a quarter of the block and was full of small shops and cafes.  We opted for pizza for lunch after shopping in a tiny jewelry store.

 The woman in the jewelry shop is Venezuelan and has been in Chile for only 4 months.  She had been studying medicine in school but things were getting more intolerable at home so she went to Argentina to work.  They are having some economic problems so she came to Chile.  She was very knowledgeable and nice and it turns out is only 18!  

We once again headed back to the Metro as we now have to re-pack and head for the airport.  We managed to get everything into our bags and the hotel concierge got us a taxi and off we went.  No traffic on Sunday afternoon so it did not take long.  I was able to check in after about 15 minutes but Cait had to wait a couple of hours before she could check her bag.  Security lines were long but we had plenty of time.  I headed off to my flight while Cait went to eat – a steak that was reportedly delicious.  The one annoying thing is that in Santiago, they do not let you board with any liquids over 3.5 oz.  You go through security but then at the gate, your carry on bags are checked again on the ramp…… I had bought a bottle of water and had drunk a small amount but had to give it up.  Oh well.  

I arrived back in Atlanta early at just after 5 AM on Monday, July 8.  I was through customs and had my bag in less than 15 minutes!  

This was a wonderful trip !