Of Santiago, my Lonely Planet guide writes, “Classic sidewalk cafes and fast-food outlets line the streets under glassy skyscrapers that dwarf colonial buildings. Its stately, dignified boulevards and neoclassical architecture, swanky suburbs, efficient metro systems, and, above all, general state of orderliness are reflections of a culture that is hard-working and business-minded.” They really summed it up, which is why, other than feeling lazy, I rummaged to page 405 and copied it here.
But, chances are, this description is a little too sterile for your liking. For a more personal perspective of the city, here is a footnote, courtesy of yours truly.
“Converting Chilean Pesos to US Dollars sans una calculadora may translate to grave culture shock. Try stepping onto a bus and discovering that one ride is $1,300. That may be less than 3 US bucks, but dividing by 500 – 644 off the top of your head to comprehend that is, well, costly. Monetary transactions in higher numbers soften prices for the poor - but if you want to know how, go read an economics guide. If numbers are not your specialty, linguistics might be. Remembering a few key words will ingratiate you into at least 50% of Chilean conversation. ‘Hueon’ is a take on the word egg, and any person, place, or thing can be –and will, indeed be- a ‘hueon/a.’ Lastly, one has to appreciate the Andean Mountain chain that lines one side of the city from afar. The peaks dazzle, and are a superb compass when you can differentiate them from the clouds (no comment).”
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