MY NEIGHBOURHOOD IN BLACK AND WHITEA Sunday midday I felt like capturing the moment ... PARQUE ERRRUZIZ IN COLOUR
0 Comments
Enjoying the warm colour of the season! A vegan market at Concha y torre Nice square and chill atmosphere!
Ideal for a Saturday afternoon... Delicious Indian Food! What can you see? a lezard. While waiting for a friend... getting inspired! Distortion From Paris to....
On the way to the Cerro San Cristobal The Cerro San Cristobal It is one of the biggest park in South America with 375 hectares. It is a mountainous chain made up of 6 hills. It stretches from the Andes to the heart of Santiago. 400 people work there! 4,5 millions people come to the Cerrro per year: walking, jogging or even riding a bike! For those who are not that keen on doing exercises, you can take the cable car. The first one was opened in 1925. The hill was known as Tupahue by the indegenous inhabitants, but after the arrival of the Spaniards it became San Cristobal. Great nature! The view from the top of the hill... The Virgin In 1908 the sanctuary dedicated to the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception was inaugurated. In 1987, John Paul II took the cable way to the summit to visit the sanctuary of the virgin. The Virgin was made in Pari, cost USD 22 248 and about 36000 kg. Height: 14 meters! Memories from Albania...4 years ago! Falamenderit Flying away!
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 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 !
LET´S GO TO THE PARC BICENTENARIO... 27 hectares, in Vitacura. People come there to picnic, to jog, just for a walk, or to feed flamencos! Enjoy the pictures! Flamencos & Flora! Flamencos in B/W Flora - Flamencos in R/W (rosa/white) Exploring out there! During the first three weeks , I just went out to the neighbourhood... It was time to explore the city! First - Bellas Artes! CULTURE! MUSEUM -ART! It is so good to get inspired (again)! Exhibition on metal, photography! Reproduction of famous sculptures! Since I watched the film: "Rodin"... I have another look on sculptures! Photography - Mapuche Luis Sergio photographied the Mapuche people... Mapuche are indigenous inhabitants iwere there before the Spaniards...They have ancient traditions, religions, language. They live in the South part of Chili. Mapuche in Chili that are facing great difficulties because of the Chilean politicians. The Chilean government took away their lands, for one reason: deforestation. Amazing work! Another style to make a piece of art: napkins To realize this, Monica Bengoa needed 2610 napkins, 8 assistants - How many pencils? The story doesn´t tell! http://monicabengoa.cl/ Santa Lucia ParcSantiago is quite a green city! Hills in the middle of the city! On the top, we can enjoy a nice view... Lunch at la Lastarria! Menu for 6€ - Tomato soup and spinach quiche!
WOW! WORKComing from Asia and especially China was a big step...after a short stay in France, I started a new job in Santiago! What is it about? To be an English teacher for Brazilians in Chile ...but online. It is a very famous concept in Brazil but in Europe ... unknown! Knowing that South America is our road trip! It was not an easy decision but we took it and I took up the challenge! What a change!... culture, job, language and lifestyle. The first day consisted in observing three classes before having my trial classes the very next day. I had an online training and the observations but it is quite a lot of things to manage on the same time. it is another teaching style: managing the chat, the notes pad, the slides, and of course teaching students you don´t even see and that speak Portuguese English! What a deal! I was really stressed out the 15 first minutes but once I cooled down ... I mastered the class! Good feedback and observations! It was just the beginning ... FLowers ...on the way to work! In the office, I was welcomed and colleagues offered support for anything.
It was magic! Students love my classes too although some of them don´t like my teaching style. But my reviews are very good. There always will be unsatisfied ones ... A computer, a webcam, a mic, and a notepad! enter the queue (the classroom) and students will show up! The first steps in Santiago... First accommodation: Aji Hostel. Metro Salvador. I could have been one of the travelers who stay for couple of days in Santiago but no. My objective is to settle down for a while and my journey ends here for now. Unlike all the guests, I did not have time to visit to Santiago, my priorities were to find a flat asap, get a sim card, and start a new life. I start working on 20th... It was not difficult to go around and find out things. Speaking and reading the language helps a lot. I was not blind anymore, I recovered. My first meal in Santiago ... Hot dog with avocado and tomatoes.
Barrio Italio - hip but nice The fourth visit was the one. A house shared with some Mexicans, French, Cubans and one American and Chileans. What a mix! The garden looked great and the room too. I had to wait one more day before moving in, no reason given but when I moved in, I was happily surprised as the room was refurbished - floor, mattress, tables, sofa, curtains, and even the bathroom. PERFECT! In only few days, I managed so many things and also I felt like fish in water! What a relief! I live in Providencia, 10 minutes away from work, a safe neighbourhood where embassies such as the Chinese, Austrian and Croatian are located. My new house... To celebrate my new home: Chicken quiche and quinoa salad. Now it was time to go to work !!!!
A new adventure .... where to ???? Santiago de Chile
27 hours on the road ... no really! It was a 35 hours trip - door to door.
Leaving Dijon at 4.30pm to get to the tren station, where now only passengers are allowed, companions will be fined if they come with the passenger! Well... what can you say?! From Paris to Santiago, I had one transit and I also needed to check in twice: once in Barcelona and in Buenos Aires. Three flights altogether. The flight from BCN to Buenos Aires was supposed to be operated by Iberia but it was a low cost airline. What does it mean a long flight - low cost? No food and no drinks during 14 hours. You have to pay even for a glass of water!!!! SHAME ON YOU IBERIA AND LEVEL! Before boarding, I boughtwater and chocolate ... It saved my trip.. Once in Buenos Aires, I had a good meal: chicken and salad with 1/2L water. I had no clue about it. Being honest with you, a glass of water cost 1,50!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A tiny airport ... but convenient!
Welcome to SOUTH AMERICA!
The Andes - when flying over, you have to be seated, belt fastened and there no service.
Impressive! On the way I met Lisa who flew from Paris too. Unlike me her final destination was Antofagosta...7 hours to go!!! |
Archives
November 2018
What´s next?
visiting Chile |