Los Dominicos

There is the most amazing shopping area at the end of the Red Line on the subway. All of the shops are filled with only handmade Chilean things, and it is truly a wonder the things these craftsmen have created. I will post pictures another time, but if anyone comes, we will definitely be going to Los Dominicos. To get there a group of us boarded the subway, and sat down to have a nice ride. We were half way there and noticed that all of the people got off the entire subway about 2 stops from Los Dominicos. Well, we thought, we'll have the subway all to ourselves! How strange. The doors don't close. A subway employee comes to us and rattles off a BUNCH of Spanish, and we just smile and say, "Los Dominicos". He rattles off more Spanish and we just look at each other as if to say "What?" He finally makes a grand sweeping motion with his arms and say, in his BEST English, "Off!". We then figure out that this subway was being taken offline, and he was desperate to get us to disembark. I'm sure he was thinking "Stupid Americans!"

Mia and Esme, my cats I feed

The Church

Not too far from us is a very nice Catholic Church. I can see the cross in the daytime from my porch, and at night I can see the cross from my porch. The cross on the top of the church is lit up with Christmas lights. And, lest you forget when noon rolls around or when church starts, they have the most hideous bell you've ever heard. It sounds sort of like the clang clang of come-and-get-it triangle on the back of a chuckwagon. I am sure they love their bell. BUT- I think they would be secretly pleased if we all took up a collection and bought them a new and improved bell. Something will a nice lilt to it. A nice bong instead of a clang. I do like the lights on the cross, however, and, although not as nice as the neon "Jesus Saves" sign in downtown Houston atop a Baptist Church, it is a beacon of good that shines when the darkness falls.

Interesting things

There are so many interesting things I've encountered that I'm just going to have to list a few to catch up. The eggs and milk are not refrigerated here. It doesn't seem to affect the taste, but it is very different. Milk comes in a little box, and there are just millions of little boxes on the shelves at the grocery. The Chileans are very fond of bread and avocados. The Texas Burger here, at a sports bar, has a fried egg on it. They have a fruit here called a pepito, which is quite good. A cross between a pear and a melon. There are small green parrots with grey chests everywhere, and they make a lot of racket. Everyone kisses you on the cheek when they greet you, and they will touch you on the shoulder or arm. Very close contact. They also have no qualms about asking you questions, even if they don't know you. Lots of affection shown in public.

This photo is my favorite so far. This was a beautiful door in the Concha y Toro Barrio, and I just had to take a picture.

Snow pictures

Here is the latest snow picture.

Snow in the mountains and other stuff

There has been some rain here, and still more coming later this week, so our rain is the mountain's snow. It is so beautiful, and I can tell you that these pictures do it no justice.

We took a trip to the mall, which is quite large and has very high end stores, and I've got to tell you all about the parking! The parking garages here have lights on each space, red for full, green for empty, and at the end of the rows a count of how many empty spaces there are in the row. It's completely brilliant! I am so impressed. Here's a pic.

Zully

I had lunch today at Zully, a very nice restaurant in the Concha Y Toro barrio of Santiago. This restaurant is housed in an old home once belonging to famous poet Vincente Huidobro, and is one of the remaining old massive homes that once graced Santiago. The area, Concha y Toro, is in the middle of restoration and decay at the same time. Very unique neighborhood. I am publishing pictures for your enjoyment.