Santiago with Friends

From Valparaíso it's just a stone's throw to the 6 million capital of the longest country in the world. The almost 2-hour drive goes through lots of greenery, forests and mountains. And it is precisely in this environment that Santiago is located. Surrounded by the Andes and surprisingly many green areas considering that it rains only about 30 days a year on average. Thanks to a good subway network, we easily find our hostel where we will stay for 2 nights. And we are very lucky because we get exclusive city tours here from friends! On the first afternoon, we meet with Gonzalo and Angela, who show us the most beautiful spots in the city and tell us a lot about the city and the country. They also show us the best ice cream parlor in the city! :) We met Gonzalo when we were in Iceland in May and we both enjoyed the view at the same time in a small bay. We started talking and found out that he is from Chile and we will be there a few months later. We exchanged numbers and contacted him a few days before our arrival in Santiago. To our great fortune, he made time for us and even brought a friend along. We had a very nice day in the city, got to know both of them better and got along great. The farewell in the evening was difficult for us because who knows if we will ever see each other again.

The next day, we followed the recommendation to climb the Cerro (= hill) San Cristóbal and enjoy the view. With pumpernickel and vegetables in our backpack, we set off and hike up, occasionally a mountain biker jumps over a ramp past us! When we reached the top, we look out over the whole city, and the Virgen Maria watches over it. We take the funicular railway down and continue walking through the city to the Plaza de Armas. In the evening, we meet Pablo - Lisa's language exchange partner, whom we met when he was studying in Heidelberg for 6 months and was looking for a language partner. He learned German, we learned Spanish, so we met a few times in Heidelberg and agreed when he returned in February that we would see each other soon in Santiago. And that's exactly what happened! With him, we walk through more beautiful parks and to the tallest building in South America, the Gran Torre, with a height of 300 meters. Even here, the farewell in the evening is no less difficult, but who knows, maybe there will be a reunion one day.

Although we only spend 2 days in the capital, we are convinced that you can easily stay here longer! There are many parks, green hills, beautiful restaurants & cafes, so the big city doesn't feel as big as it actually is. Compared to the other big cities we have seen so far, we like Santiago the best!