I am convinced that the best way to learn about a place is to walk around it. We have had the opportunity to do that several times sinice we’ve been in Chile.
The Saturday we arrived we took a walk in Santiago while we were waiting for our bus to Angol. Santiago is the capitol of Chile. It is a huge city with a population of 7 million. The total population of Chile is 14 million so fully one-half of the population lives in Santiago. Our walk took place downtown along a pedestrian walkway. It was a warm Saturday afternoon so there were many people walking around. We were the only North Americans to be seen. That’s one thing you quickly realize here. There aren’t too many North Americans around.
Another thing you realize quickly is how friendly and helpful the people are. One of our group members was having trouble getting his phone to work. As we walked we came upon a kiosk selling cell phones so he stopped to see if they could help. The young man in the kiosk was very welcoming. He immediately went to work trying to discover the problem and fix it. He tried his best but couldn’t get it to work. But what was so impressive was his welcoming spirit and his desire to do his best to help. Everyone we’ve met has had the same attitude. Chileans are very welcoming and friendly people.
As we walked along we saw many kiosks with merchants selling items ranging from phones to household goods to jewelry to different types of food. We came upon a man with a street cart selling Mote con Huesillo drinks. The Mote con Huesillo (which is loosely translated “barley with apricot”) is a Chilean drink. It is quite unique. It’s served cold with the Mote (a barley type grain) on the bottom of the glass. It’s about one-third of the glass. The juice is cold apricot juice which is sweet and very tasty. Floating in the juice is one-half of an apricot which has been soaking in the juice. You eat the barley, drink the juice and finish by eating the apricot. It is very refreshing.
We have also taken walks in Angol, Capitain Pestene and the countryside around El Vergel. Each walk taught us a little bit more about the customs, people, history and geography of Chile. Taking these walks has been a great benefit of being here.
Tom
Tom, I saw the news about the earthquake there in Chile. Looks like it might have been pretty far north of where you are, but wondered if all was well. God bless.