Larisa Crockett

I have always wanted to visit South American Continent, and this year my husband made my dream come true, he is excellent at that! 

Here we are on board the plane to Houston, TX (4 hour flight from DC), then 3 hour layover and another 9-hour flight to Santiago De Chile. So total trip by planes  was 16 hours, but it's only 2- hour difference by time zone.

So first time below the equator!   It's unusual to hear, "It's cold in the South and hot in the North". 

Before the landing I was carried away by the Andes areal views.

Having completed all the immigration formalities and collected our luggage we were met by our guide Maria from www.ChileOntheGo.com. We felt very welcomed.

Chile's nickname is a "Shoe string" Country for being stretched along the Pacific ocean, its coastline is about 6,000 Km long. It's the world's largest copper producer with other industries as Lithium, Minerals, Iron, Steel, Wood, Textiles. Wine, Veggies, Fruits and Seafood.

Santiago, the capital , sits in a valley, surrounded by the Andes and the Chilean Coast Range Mountains. It is the largest city of Chile, with the population of over 7 million (40% of the country's population of 17,5 million people).

Click here to see

Capital of Chile

Places to see in Santiago :

the Hill of Santa Lucia (Caupolican Terrace,

the Hidalgo Castle (former Spanish Fortress),

Constitution Square (La Moneda Palace, the current seat of Government)

the main square Plaza de Armas,

San Cristobal Hill

Valparaiso is a Gallery in the Open featuring local artists' murals all over the city! 

Valparaiso