Making Time

On departure we were heading down the valley at 7:30 a.m.  It was a glorious day, again, and traffic was light.  With only two gas stops and keeping to the (generous) 120km/h speed, we hit Santiago at two.  But then we hit the poor signage ritual, as in all dense areas, the detours, traffic, etc., and it was a slog to find the airport and leave the rental.  After all was said and done we were at our hotel by four.  Stephen cashed in a huge amount of points for four nights at the W Santiago, probably the best thing going here.  At the Sheraton in Iguasu they put us on the second floor.  At the Sheraton in Vina they put us on the second floor.  Here, the W starts on the fourth.  They put us on the fifth.  I said “do you have anything higher?” and next thing you know we’re on the 11^th floor with a stupendous outlook NW towards a pleasant urban neighbourhood and the Andes rising behind.  Best bed, sheets and shower of the trip.  Although everything else is standard hotel fare; SS accidentally drank a bottle of water: $6.

W Lobby

Our bathroom shower

Our room

Lobby. In the daytime.

From the foyer terrace; that bulbous building on the left is the Ritz Carlton

Terrace restaurant

Dusk view looking east from our room

After a 570km drive we were both pretty tired but wanted to get some walking in.  We are staying in an upscale area called Las Condes.  The Intercon is on one side, the Ritz C a block the other.  SS calls it Toronto: Clean, green, safe.  Also, you don’t have to watch where you walk (unlike Buenos Aires, and you know what I'm talking about!).  With the mix of financial buildings, homes and condos, and the number of restaurants and pleasant gardens, it does indeed feel a bit like Yonge and St. Clair.  The mountains make it seem a little more California maybe.  We did a long neighbourhood tour then decided on an early dinner but it was impossible to find a restaurant that was open before eight (that’s second sitting in YVR!), so we took a 7:30 dinner on the terrace at the W, which was surprisingly good and then I crashed.  Nine hours of uninterrupted sleep.

Pics: Around the hood.  Toronto?  Or not?