Civilization with clean clothes

After a night in Sao Paulo Airprot and a month living out of a bag it was with grubby faces and none too fresh smelling rucksacs that we arrive in the airport in santiago. Tjhius however did nothing to deter the hugs and kisses of Isabel De La Fuente who was going to be our hostess for the next week.

The De La Fuentes live in a large leafy, weathty suburb of santiago which we found to be a welcoming but dissapointingly forgettable city. Isabel herself said on the first day as we drove to visit Pablo Neruda´s ( very famous Chilian Poet) house that it was not a very beautful city and athough the backdrop of the snow capped andes mountain range is breathtaking it does not destract fro the unimpressive buildings and the thick layer of smog that lise startlingly visable over the city from about noon.

The most exciting theing in santiago was most definately the student riots which i got involved in ( probably slightly over zelously).

We however noticed none of this as apon arrival we thought of nothing but the hot baths that were drawn for us and the piles of clean ironed cloths that appeared on our beds the next day! Life in chile for the wealthy is very different to anything we had experienced in our gapyears or in our whole lives. We felt like characters from the OC as friends of the De La Fuente Chlildren whisked us off to visit vineyard and the newest bars and clubs on the satiago scene in tinted widow 4x4¨s. Life in the hous ewas also very different, everything was very formal and the Peruvan maid Pilar worred about the house doing everything for us - a normality for the family - she even served and cleared supper at the call of a little silver bell!!

This very lazy family lifestyle was delightful for a day but we did find it very hard to settle into as we felt obliged to be out of our room etc so our beds could be made which after a month of complete independance was very odd. Ther family however could not have been more welcoming and we were shown alot pof santiago and had some incredable nights out.

The most exciting theing in santiago was most definately the student riots which i got involved in ( probably slightly over zelously). There were huge strikes and demonstrations organised by the studets demanding better funding and equality for the inner city schools a subject which seemed to inspiure the whole City and sympathy for thier cause was clearly felt accross the whole of Chile. FOr us it was simply exciting to be on the street as riot police armed with water cannons and tear gas faught back thousands of angry students.

After just over a week in Santiago however the road was calling once more and we travelle dback to the aiport with Isadora the De La Fuentes daughter in tow to head up to the north and discover the Atacama desart.