Home / Latin America / Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile 2025
Santiago en 2025
Now the comparisons to my 1990 experience: Still smoggy. Still friendly people. Climate and natural disasters (earthquake, drought) still very much like California. Chile’s geography is quite like California, except much longer (more like the Mojave desert to Alaska) and a fraction of the width between mountains and the coast.
I could definitely see myself living here, but I might have to take it slow (avoid a long-term commitment) and explore the exact city and location a bit more. The smog and the feeling of safety (or lack thereof) could get to me over time. Re: safety, I’ve been told that phones get swiped right out of your hands and pickpockets target you on the metro. But isn’t that true about big cities anywhere? But it does seem daunting to have to be vigilant about it everyday.
My days so far / days to come
So far (photos below): My first day I got my metro card, went to the Cerro San Cristóbal (a tall hillside with a Virgin on top), and rode the funicular and teleférico for an amazing view of the city. Next day I walked around the more affluent neighborhoods to explore possibilities for where to live (I’d like something more suburban than where I’m staying now) and ate ceviche. Third day I went on a wine tasting tour in the Maipo Valley.
To come: Today I am doing a short walking tour with an organization called Tours4Tips. I hear good things about getting a local flavor of the area. Then tomorrow, my last full day, I decided to book a tour of Valpo and Viña, the two major cities on the coast, so that I could maximize my one day.
Side notes:
Meeting Chileans: I had the awesome opportunity to meet with Chileans at their “language group” — they meet weekly at a bar to practice their English and keep up their skills. An acquaintance invited me to go as the sole native English speaker: She couldn’t go, but she encouraged me to just show up; she would let them know I was coming. So I did!! It was such a great opportunity to speak with Chileans about life here! I’m so grateful I got to do that.
Chilean Spanish: I’ve survived ok here because people generally understand me. But I rarely understand them. They drop a lot of letters when they speak and use synonyms derived from the indigenous people, the Mapuche, or — as I learned from a guide — sometimes from the Arab-influenced Spanish that comes from the south of Spain.
There is no more “shhh” though, as in Buenos Aires. In fact, there is almost no “s” to be heard at all! Mucha gracia. Bueno día.
Now photos:
View from my balcony on the 21st floor
Views on Cerro San Cristóbal.
Wineries. It was overcast much of the day and honestly not that picturesque outside for photos. But it was nice to get out of the city. And I bought a quite nice Chardonnay. For the equivalent of $5!!!