Santiago, Chile

The capital of Chile, the Greater Santiago Metropolitan area has a population of 6,402,552. After disembarking the Rotterdam, I took a day-tour of the city.

The Santiago Race horse tracks. We stopped here after the drive from Valparaíso for bathroom ... ... and refreshments. A drive through Santiago brought us to ... ... the Palacio de La Moneda -- the Chilean Presidential Palace. It is surrounded by government buildings and a plaza with monuments ... ... to the past leaders of Chile. Santiago's Metropolitan Cathedral These pulpits are always so high ... I'd get a nose bleed preaching from here! The High Altar There are many side altars in this cathedral, each dedicated to a saint. Or to Mary and Jesus Mary, atop the Cathedral, announces blessings to the city. A monument in the square outside the cathedral is the focal point for the area. The Funicular for riding up to the top of San Cristóbal Hill. A map of the complex atop. The trip up the Funicular. Looking down the Funicular path The view from atop San Cristóbal Hill. Mary stands atop San Cristóbal Hill, pronouncing her blessing on the city. The city spreads out across the plain around San Cristóbal . Atop the hill there is shopping and refreshments. We then road a cable car down the hill. Cable car station at the mid-point of our decent. The US Embassy in Santiago, Chile. San Cristóba Hill, with Mary visible atop. The view from my hotel room at the Santiago Crowne Plaza.