I can't think of an interesting title for this place
From South America and elsewhere in Santiago, Chile on Feb 09 '07
I had to go to Santiago because my flight to NZ left from there. I had heard nothing particularly interesting about the place, but as i was there i was determined to investigate the city to find it's hidden treasures. My travelling buddies Elaine and Paul did not have a flight to catch from there, so there reasons for visiting were a little more clouded.
I did not find any treasures, hidden or not and i was happy to leave the place. We walked the streets for a couple of days. The main shopping street, which should never really be used as a marker of a city, reminded Paul of Manchester. The plaza had nothing in it, maybe some banks or bureaucrats were stationed there. The big indoor market that the guide book described as a must was half full of mouldy looking food and over priced restaurants, and had no atmosphere or local culture. The area for nightlife (recommended in the guidebook) consisted of tens (maybe even a hundred) pokey neon lighted bars with tables crowding the narrow pavements of a couple of dingy, seedy streets. We found smaller plazas where the hobbos would loiter swearing at us in Spanglish.
...if i never have to go to Santiago again it's ok with me.
The hostel staff were very rude and held a party for their friends (guests were invited but all ignored) which went on all night, with the stench of the bbq flooding our dorm.
I know this is all very negative, and i'm sure i missed some good stuff, but if i never have to go to Santiago again it's ok with me.
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