CHILE TRIP REPORT Days 8, 9: Santiago Sky Costanera, Santa Lucia

 DAY 8: DEC 18 SATURDAY 

SANTIAGO DEPARTMENTOS, SKY COSTANEERA

As said in the previous post, we landed after a delayed flight and slept only at 4 am. The apartment were pestering for payment sending whatsapp messages . Son had to get up at 10.30 am, and settle the payment  bleary eyed.

Then he slept on till noon.

We went to the nearby UNIMARC, 400m walk away and bought provisions and made and ate food

WHY WE HAD SCHEDULED SANTIAGO IN THE WEEKEND INSTEAD OF GOING TO OUR NEXT DESTINATION

1. These 2 days in Santiago were a waste of vacation time. The delayed flight ate into Saturday.

The Sunday was the 2nd stage of Chile President election and everything was closed

2. Knowing the above also, we scheduled it because car rental pickup/return is tough/pricey during weekend. So both for TDP and Atacama , our schedukle of Monday-Friday was better for car rental pickup./drop off

3. Flights were also priced double during weekends

We tried to go up San Cristobal but we could not get any info on how to take the cablecar.

There was nothing else to do, we took a bus to Sky Costanera

SKY COSTANERA:

Santiago highest viewing platform at the top of the tallest building in Latin America. SkyCostanera offers  a panoramic view of the city in 360° at 300 meters high It is located in the city center and can be viewed from almost anywhere around the city. 

The mall had Christmas decorations and was milling with crowd

Hardly anyone at Sky costanera though. It's pricey at 12usd pp.

Views were fine and we sat around for a little while. They were closing at 8 pm, so no chance to catch the sunset or city lights.

A guy had come with his girl friend and 2 kids. He asked son to film him proposing!

We walked round the mall. There was almost a stampede at the escalators. 

SCARY CHAOS

We got out, walked to the metro station. Youngsters were jumping over the stiles and entering without tickets. Another couple were  opening the exit gate by dropping their bag in and then entered through . 

It was surprising and a bit scary to see the level of chaos and lawlessness in the absence of guards.

End of a boring day!

 DAY 9: DEC 19 SUNDAY 

It was the 2nd phase of Chile Presidential election and everything was closed.

I decided to stay back at the hotel...first time I had ever done so on a vacation, and hopefully the last.

Son went out on his own to Santa Lucia, took some pics with his phone and returned.

Repport continues here

https://adventuretrav.blogspot.com/2022/02/chile-trip-report-days-10-11-flight-to.html