I've put some roots down..temporarily mind you, in Santiago the bustling capital of Chile. I arrived over a week ago and signed myself up for a 2 week Spanish course in ICHIL. I'm lodging with a fantastic family in the Republica quarter of the city, just off Ave Bernardo O'Higgins (Jeez..The Irish AGAIN!;-)) What I know about the man: Señor O'Higgins was an illegitimate son of Ambrosio O'Higgins (Once a Viceroy of Peru) who brought Chile to Independence by defeating the Spanish at The Battle of Chacabuco on February 12th 1817. He held the power here for 6 years before being deposed of by a coup as his reforms were thought too liberal and radical..probably on the beer too much ;-)I'm lovin' Santiago though, it's always sunny and happening with some form of entertainment on the streets. The city is elevated to 510m and is surrounded by the Andes and the Chilean Coast Range. It appears to be modern with shopping centres, cafes and bars everywhere but it's the old Spanish architecture that gives the city it's charm. The student area of Republica where I reside is alive and vibrant with colourful most of the time, except for Sunday when the place looks like a ghost town. My course is great fun with 2 Brasilians, 1 Indonesian, 1 India and an American. My professor is a typical crazy Chilean who sometimes gives physical punishment if our homework is wrong, 5 push-ups per error...I'll have a 6-pack before I leave this country! The family I am staying with have made me feel right at home. It can get confusing sometimes as their English is non-existant, but as the days go by my Spanish slowly improves and I begin to get my point across in some form or another. Although I'll be honest by admitting that their dog Nelmar still understands more than me, no kidding!
I'm enjoying life here in Santiago so much that I have decided to extend my Spanish course 2 more weeks before heading to Cuzco in Peru to take on the Classic Inca Trail.
Pix @ Santiago Album
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