Flying into Santiago, the first thing I noticed was the beauty of the ocean and the foothills of the Andes. Walking out of the airport, the warmth was a nice break from Ohio weather. Cerro San Cristóbal was definitely the highlight of my first day here, especially riding the cable car and seeing the entire city against the Andes. Viewing the city from the funicular was also incredible, especially sitting in the front car.
One of the biggest struggles has been the language barrier. I was expecting more people to also speak English, and I’ve had several slightly embarrassing encounters attempting to order food. The food I’ve had so far has been similar to food I would eat back at home, so I’m hoping to eat more authentic Chilean food later in the week.
My favorite thing about Santiago so far is the vegetation throughout the city. I’m not used to seeing so many different plants in an urban setting, and the use of plants and trees adds to the appeal and beauty of the city. I was also impressed with the green spaces including the set up of the parks, which are different from the parks in the United States.
