Los dominicos At the foothill of the Andes, the Dominicos park is quiet and full of parrots! Few meters away, the residence of Ines de Suares and Pedro de Valdivia in 1544 was turned into a hand crafted market. You can find everything Chile can offer: wool, copper, leathers, a painting and even a bonsai exhibition! The house send us back into the 16th century! picturesque! Los Dominicos B/W Impressions! Los Dominicos - Coloridos
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The first month in Santiago Easy adaptation and immersion in the society... I directly felt like a fish in water. I am not traveling blind... reading, speaking and understanding make it easier. Getting used to count in thousand and millions sometimes... it is not simple! Life in Santiago is one of the most expensive one in South America: rent, eating out etc Dangerous? like anywhere one´s should take care of its belongings and where it goes. Santiago has 5 million inhabitants and 16 millions in Chili. It is a long and narrow country, extended on 4,270 km coast HISTORY IN A NUTSHELL 1520: Magellan - therefore the strait is named after him. 1518-1521: Conquest by the Aztec empire and Herman Cortes. 1532: Francisco Pizarro: a new wave of territorial expansion of the Inca empire 1535: Conquest of Chile started 1536: Diego de Almagro went from Peru to Chile - The Battle of Reinohuelen ended the Spanish expedition. 1541-1553: Pedro de Valdivia followed de Almagro´s foot and conquered Santiago and others Chilean cities. 1561: The conquest was completed. Why named the country Chile? I heard that it comes from the imitation of the Mapuche bird call: cheele-cheele. market or supermarket? My first days were a bit chaotic: finding a place, going to work, I hate either at the hostel (dinner included!) and or outside. When I moved into the house, I went to the supermarket. I paid even more than in Europe!!!! 45€ for nothing, just the basics: meat, pasta, fruits, vegs, bread, butter and of course manjar (dolce de leche). I could find most of foods I am used to. It was heaven. I asked around I´ve got two addresses to go local markets. One is about 35 minutes door to door by tube, it is good! The line is just up the road and it goes straight to Bio Bio market. I go there on weekly basis, I find everything at a cheaper cost: meat, pasta, fruits, vegs, olives, cheese, ham, home made empanadas, species, oats etc At the first sight, I was a lost as it is a huge market but week after week I got used to it: to the products, the life there. Some vendors even play music. This is an experience! There is a procedure to know: You order, then you go the cashier to pay and finally you can get your food! The funniest are... the dogs and the cats! always sleeping :))) Swimming? a challenge! How to find a swimming pool? to swim? I still had the former habits used in Asia. well anchored! Looking up to find a place and going there to check! I started a tour in different neighbourhood in Santiago. The first place was a company that sells swimming pools! First well asking and then checking the website...well! Something that I have done in ages! From now on it will one of my habits. I asked the doorman who with lot of common sense told me: we can check the website first! I went to several places either sport clubs or swimming pools. Prices are surprisingly high! 12USD to 9 USD, for one hour. That day I walked 8 km, and I had a good intention: swimming but I can forget it!!!! I found sport activities that are even for free on Saturdays, 20 minutes away from here! Chile - an earthquake region! Cheers - One month !
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