Chile - Santiago 🇨🇱

After 2 wonderful months in Malaga, I continued on to Chile. If I were to say that I was completely ready and was heading to Ljubljana airport with great anticipation, it would be a flat-out lie. Ready for this experience? Not at all. I knew my Spanish wasn't bad for just 2 months, but it was far from good communication. And well, if there’s one thing you know about South America, it's that you can really only get by with Spanish here. However, there was still a bit of excitement - the dream is big, so off I went into the deep end. At the airport, I had a 'See you soon!' with everyone before I boarded the first flight. First to Istanbul and then overnight to Santiago. Arrival at 8:30 in the morning after 20 hours on that plane. Yes, even I was glad to get out. I was greeted by quite foggy weather, but still warmer than expected. I then took a taxi to the hostel. I spent the first few hours at the hostel until I could finally check in. After a thorough shower, I ventured into the city. The feeling was quite uneasy because you hear many stories about what happens in the cities of South America, but as always, I trust the good and make my own picture. My mission for that afternoon was clear - to get a SIM card for my phone, maybe grab something to eat, and then return to the hostel. I actually didn’t want to be alone in the city center when it got dark. However, while walking, I did notice some nice spots and ended up doing a bit of sightseeing. I visited Cerro Santa Lucia, Plaza de Armas, and also the Mercado Central. I was cautious but didn’t feel insecure. Of course, you see a lot of police and guards everywhere, but well, I think that’s a good thing. Still, it was back to the hostel pretty quickly after sunset. In the evening, it was pizza night at the hostel, which I enjoyed before tiredly heading to bed. I have to honestly say I was positively surprised by the city. The next morning, I booked a city tour through Santiago and wanted to grab an empanada for breakfast on the way. But Santiago wanted to greet me the South American way, and my phone was stolen right out of my hand on the street. Yes, I knew one should be careful, but to me, it was only for a moment. But that moment was enough for a guy on a motorcycle to snatch my phone - I later learned they are called Motochorros. To be honest, besides looking shocked and dumbfounded, I didn’t have much else to do. I didn’t get much more than a few 'your own fault' in Spanish from the locals around me at that moment. I quickly made my way back to the hostel to activate my old backup phone for such emergencies. It wasn’t really planned for the second day in South America. Well, my enthusiasm for the city faded for the day, so I curled up in bed with some Mannerschnitten and my Axellodl 🫣 The next day could only get better, as I was leaving Santiago and heading back to the airport to fly further north. I was off to La Serena, where I would be staying for the next few months. I was warmly welcomed by my host family, and I already like it here better than in Santiago. After all, I can always see the sea here, even though it’s too cold for swimming. I flew from summer into winter, though. I haven’t seen the sun very often since I’ve been in La Serena. Despite everything, I’m really excited about the upcoming months here in South America and all the experiences I will have. 🌞