| Page Views: 2,921 Last Visit to Santiago: November, 2006 | Between the mountains and the sea by TheWanderingCamel - last update: Sep 4, 2008 |
Flying into Santiago across the Andes from Argentina, you are struck by just how narrow the space is between the mountains and the sea. The snow-capped peaks are right below you and ahead you see the blue of the Pacific, there hardly seems room to bring the plane down between the two. It's wonderfully dramatic.
Coming to the city overland from Argentina is no less dramatic. The pass across the Andes takes you to 10,000 feet and through a long tunnel. Then it's a seemingly-endless switchback of terrifying hairpin bends, down , down, down from the barren, rocky heights, through the increasingly green and lush Arconcagua Valley, its rushing river tumbling through a steep gorge and between steep banks where water-side willows give way to cactii further up the steep hillside.
Once you are in the city, the mountains are behind you - forming a dramatic backdrop to the urban sprawl - a mixture of old and new, grand and rundown, affluent and poor. To get to the sea you actually have to cross another range of mountains -the coastal cordillera. But that is for later - right now you have Santiago to explore.
leyle |
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 Comments for TheWanderingCamel about Santiago | | | | |
calcaf38 Fri Nov 6, 2009 22:28 UTC
Thank you for your kind comment on my Lisbon page. I enjoyed this Santiago page a lot. I must see those ascensores in Valparaiso some day. | jumpingnorman Mon Jun 8, 2009 15:23 UTC
Santiago will be my next South American destination...Barrio Bellavista sounds awesome! Thanks for sharing...pre-Columbian treasures are always amazing... | globetrott Thu Jan 29, 2009 07:48 UTC
A lot of great updates again, Leyle,thanks for sharing ! This excellent page is bringing back great memories ! There is so much to see there and it was great to see the many houses in colonial style there ! | themajor Wed Jul 16, 2008 16:10 UTC
I must say, I do have a soft spot for old colonial buildings - particularly as I am on old colonial construction myself! Excellent tips on a beguiling destination. Ah, if only I didn't dissolve at the thought of any flight over 2.5 hours... |
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