None of us had ever been to South America before.  Now I can finally say - It exists!  We tried to squeeze in as many major destinations in this trip as we could, hitting Buenos Aires, Montevideo, and Santiago.  I didn't see a single gaucho.  However, there is a crazy statue in the center of the pedestrian area of Santiago.

South America's history is rich and often brutal.  I am neither.

We flew from Montevideo on LanChile, across the continent, over the Andes and landed in Santiago.  My name is Jake.  Flights are much more of a hassle now.  I was in no mood for a beer.  I drank water and slept.

Airports.  We landed without any cash - local or US or nothing.  We had to pay $62 US in cash each to get thru immigration.  Of course there were no ATM's or anything prior to reaching Immigration.  It was a huge problem that ultimately cost us about an hour of marvelous sightseeing and/or drinking.

Winging It over the Andes

The mountains stand tall against the skyline.  City buildings are a mix of old and new, religious and secular, expensive and cheap, cosmopolitan and tacky.  The central square was swarming with businessmen, beggars, and tourists.  Of course we found a little place to get a bite and a beer.

Churches and statues.  Statues and churches.  Where's my book?  Somebody did not follow the directions.  I ate space glue.  Our visit was punctuated by bursts of CNN watching, as the war was "ON"!  My pants weren't.

Do you like ice cream?  Well, I'm just crazy about the stuff.  Several posters around the city advertised candidates for the upcoming elections.  Often times the politicians offer the best scoops.

There are some fantastic Chilean wines.  But for God's sake, don't buy any in the airport.  Oh, sure, they got parks and historical sights right in the center of the city.  We walked around one of them.  Some of our exploits are captured pictorially below.  Naturally, I took all the good pictures, and the junk Christopher took are 'fillers' and will be quite quickly replaced.

...where was I?  Oh, running around like a freakin' maniac half the time.  Those Chilean taxi drivers love to take the long way from point A to point B.  Even when the fare is pre-negotiated.  Go figure.  That's probably one reason why the air around there is thick with smog.  Sheesh.  It's really a race between the liver and the lungs down there I can tell you.  Anyway, the airwaves were rife with news about assassinations in Colombia.  Who wants to go there?

Most of the time, It was all I could do to keep Christopher from losing it when somebody recommended we go see another church (like the one pictured to the far left).

I admit that the chairs are much more comfy in the saloons, and the service is usually superior as well.  Oooh Baby, can you hear the white noise now?

"Is what a boat?"

"Are you high? - That!  Is that a boat?"

"I'm gonna kick your ass.  You and your so-called observational skills.  Always lording them over everybody else.  I see this.  I see that.  Why don't you become a professional identifier, there hawkeye?  I'm going to bed."

There is actually a hell of a lot more to see in some of the beach towns west of Santiago.  In Valparaiso, for instance, we happened upon a delightful cannon (right).  Just north of Valparaiso, the not-so-sleepy, sleepy little town of Vina del Mar awaits.  And for your viewing astonishment, we've captured it all on film! Yay!  (See below.)