Day 11: Santiago, Chile

We arrived in Santiago late at night and fell into bed at our AirBnB with the drapes closed. In the morning we opened the curtains to a STUNNING view. It took my breath away. We are on the 20th floor and have a view of the city and the mountains. It’s winter here and super cloudy all the time. Still pretty.

Today we rode a funicular and a cable car to a city summit with great views, cute cafes, and lots of family activities at the top. Even a zoo!

Jim and I are having a lot of fun. I feel so lucky that we get to do this. They call senior discounts “tercera edad” or “third age.” First age is childhood, then working and raising a family. Third age is “a time for leisure and reflection.” It’s a great time of life to be in.

Then we took the subway to a cool restaurant: Espacio Gárgola.

Then we went to the Museum of Memory and Human rights. I have no photos. In 1973 Pinochet led a military coup against Salvador Allende’s democratic government. 17 years of a severe dictatorship with horrible abuses of human rights followed. Although his rule ended 34 years ago, our guide said even now most people really don’t want to talk about those terrible years where everyone lived in fear. I’m ashamed of the part our government played in overthrowing Allende’s left-leaning government.