2012-03-30
Santiago seems like it could be a decent city to live in, but it doesn't offer much to tourists. We spent our time wandering around the city as well as hanging out at a rooftop pool owned by the sister hotel to our hostel. Santiago has and excellent underground system with trains seemingly ever minute. However, demand is so high during rush hour that trains often arrive at certain stations packed full, at which point the people who want to get on the train simply walk backwards onto it, pushing with their shoulders to squeeze in as the doors close millimeters from their faces.
Santiago is nestled against the Andes and on a clear day, the view from atop one of the skyscrapers can be quite beautiful. Unfortunately, a clear day here is hard to come by. The mountains trap pollution and therefore the city is plagued by chronic smog. I could see the mountains, but it looked like they were swimming in a thick soup.