Day Trip to Santiago....Christmas shopping excursion

On our way to our Santiago Shopping Experience
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Left the apartment at 9am...had planned to leave at 8 but we did well to go by 9. The plan was to drive from Vina to Pajarito (meaning small bird), and get the subway train to the centre of Santiago. This was we would avoid the traffic in Santiago.

When we got to Pajarito it was just too funny. We went round and round and could not find how to get into the parking area by the station. Everyone you ask says "no problem"and sends you off in another direction. In the end we saw the station and Dee said just drive in there..which happened to be the out exit for the busses into the motorwsy. So in we went. the Kids and Dee were busting for te loo so things were getting pretty desperate. Next thing the bus stop guards are bearing down on us and give Roberto a royal telling off. They told us that the entrance to the carpark was just the next exit along...bearing in mind that and "exit" is also a dirt road off the motorway.

lots of fun

Yep...we shopped
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So just as we have done the toilet thing we are about to leave the policia arrive. No trouble to the silver tongued Roberto who said " no habla espanol". The policia said "so you're not from here - well if you don't know how can you know" and proceeded to give us directions to our next stop and sent us on our way. We drove out of the bus stop with the bus guard still giving us dirty looks - obviously pissed off that we go away with it. Lucky though because over here when you get a ticket they take your drivers licence away and you have to go somewhere to pay and get it back. Now that would have been most inconvenient!

angels singing in the mall
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Next stop the bloody carpark at last and then take the walkway to the station where Nano was waiting to meet us. Nano had us all organised in a flash and we were on the train into santiago.

Destination Esquela de Militar subway and w short but tri to the Parque Arauco shopping centre. really big and we had lunch and split up to do our christmas shopping for each other. After two hours here Nano suggested another mall which he said had nicer shops so we headed off there. He was right, as this mall was a bit more upmarket but also had a lot variety. We spent an hour here and then headed back to Nano's. By this time it was 8pm sp we had something to eat, a bit of a visit and then at about 9.30 started the journey homw on the subway...with bags and bags of shopping. the subway was loaded - packed to the gills and on the first changeover robby was a bit tardy getting on and the doors closed on him. Dee and Roberto just dragged him and his shopping through the door and train took off with a rather startled Robby and the rest of us very relieved.

The team on the final subway leg home
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Off again at Pajarito, into the card and the journey home. At Vina at midnight Dee wanted to go into the 24hr supermarket. dee and Roberto went in leaving us three kids in the car (cyps would have had a field day!!). Danica did her sudoku, I did my usual sleep and Robbie after about 15 minutes or so, got bored and decided to get out of the car setting off the car alarm and instigationg mild panic. He raced into the supermarket to get the key from Roberto and when he got back the alarm had stopped. Finally home at 1am and all to bed and a massive sleepin the next day.

Nano and his faithful pal Lobita (Little Wolf). This dog waits at traffic lights!!
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A really cool day out and we had lots of fun