Day 4

So last night we had the air conditioning on and as the temperature dropped overnight for me it started to feel like winter in the uk - under the covers I was boiling but from the neck up I could suffer from frostbite

I lasted until 5am before I finally turned it off - needless to say, Joss slept through it all

The alarm went off at 7am and we took our time going down for breakfast

It was a continental style breakfast with pastries, cereal, meats and cheese which went down a treat as I still hadn’t quite recovered from the steak the night before 

We were due a Santiago tour today with a pick up of between 10 and 10:30

They turned up 10 minutes late but that was nothing compared to the other English couple who, according to their paperwork we were almost an hour late

I thought this might spoil the day but they were both lovely and so interesting

They were a good 10-15 years older than us but had been EVERYWHERE - the guy told us loads of stories of their travels and he wasn’t boasting - just a genuinely funny and fascinating guy

First stop was San Cristabal hill overlooking the whole of Santiago

We took the funicular to get most of the way up there

Then there were many steps to get up to the statue and shrine at the top

The views were amazing

We then got a cable car to come back down

After that we went to Santa Lucia hill for more panoramic views

After that, we went to a place that we’ve been to on every trip that we’ve ever been on - the local craft shop that the guide can get us a discount in

This one was full of this blue stone they mine here turned into jewellery and statues

Even the alcohol they gave us didn’t open my wallet

Afterwards in the car the guide pointed out a blacked out shop and said that was coffee on legs - we asked what meant and it was actually a Hooters for coffee drinkers where the hostesses would “provide” a lot more than coffee

I asked if she got a discount there too but unfortunately she didn’t….

Then we were taken to the Plaza de Armas which surrounded the Metropolitan Cathedral 

Inside the cathedral was beautiful and there was an orchestra playing

Finally we went to the government palace but we didn’t stay there long as there was a protest going on about the local bus company - something to do with zero hours’ contracts….

We then got dropped off at the hotel about 3:30 in the afternoon and after a quick drop off of souvenirs we went hunting for food

We decided on this place as the Google recommendations were good for it as a Chilean restaurant 

We started with empanadas - one like a Cornish pasty and the other had cheese and something like black pudding in it

All washed down with the local beer

This place sold hot sandwiches and once we saw the name of this one how could we not have it

By the end of that we had a decision to make - stay out now for a few more beers and get some snacks for the room or go home now, have a siesta and go back out later for yet another meal

After this meal we didn’t think we could eat another today so opted for a few more delicious beers

At this point something weird happened. We were approached by an odd looking chap who held out a woollen rose for me to buy Joss

I politely refused, but he countered this refusal by asking if I wanted to buy her a feather duster!!!

I have the proof 

Who knew there was a Chilean Ken Dodd

We also did a little more souvenir shopping before getting some crisps and these biscuits that reminded me of my childhood favourites

I have to say they were nice, but not quite the same

On the way back, we saw a car that had all its sexual requirements catered for

It’s an early start tomorrow which backed up our decision to stop drinking - sensible choices as usual