Bye bye Santiago's Teleferico.

It was one of Santiago's favourites! Too bad for those who never had the opportunity to ride it to the top of Cerro San Cristobal. It's been shut down for unlimited time, in order to be repaired, checked...But who are they kidding? Authorities are talking 8 months minimum...which means it will never be seen in Santiago's sky again. Que lastima...

On a cold and very colourful Saturday.

I said I would go, and I went. And even though it was a small parade, it was full of happiness, music, craziness, tolerance, girls looking like boys, boys looking like women, boys holding hands, girls kissing...and everybody dancing, and hoping for a better understanding from their own people. Chile may look very modern from the outside, it remains very middle-age on the inside when it comes to any topic related to their society. The path is long, narrow and sinous...

Santiago's Rainbow Flag up.

I haven't heard anyone or read any newspapers say a word about this event. That says it all about Chilean's way of dealing with things that are not considered here as "normal", whatever that means.

I'll be there anyway.

Fiestas Patrias.

Chilean traditional costumes. It is mandatory for high school students to dance, and at least once, the national "Cueca". And in costumes, of course!

Let there be music.

On a sunny day, getting ready to celebrate "el dieciocho" (18), Chilean's Independance Day. Santiago's Orphans Band took it away on Plaza de Armas. Classical and classic tunes, and a cheering audience to welcome Spring and its warmer days.

Dancing in the street.

Salsotheca "Maestra Vida" had the very good idea to give a salsa class out on the street, in Barrio Bellavista, Santiago's bohemian area. Rapidly, the street was packed with dancing people, salsa aficionados, and a great salsa band filled the air with really good and catchy music. A great initiative!

Love is rescue.

Today, September 12th 2009, was the worldwide celebration of the 100 years of the Pentecostal Church (a renewalist movement within Christianity). I accidentally got caught in the middle of their parade formed by thousands of people, old and young and in between, but all happy, singing, glowing and believing...

Years of socialism made in Chile.

Values of work, children, healthy food for all and those pictures promoting those values, from the 40's and the 50's... Fun, and colourful, like good memories of a time long-gone... Tomorrow, 9/11, means here the 36th birthday of the Coup d'Etat by Augusto Pinchet...

Lesson 34a.

At Santiago's Museum of National History, I was given a reading lesson of Castellano... I still don't get why there is the picture of a cow, "vaca" en Spanish. It was just to give a bucolic meaning to this lesson?

Salvador Allende's half pair of famouse glasses.

A rainy Sunday was perfect to spend some time at Santiago's Museo de Historia Nacional. Among portraits, weapons and some furniture, this half pair of glasses, found after Salvador Allende was murdered (a.k.a "comitted suicide"). Just looking at it, one can imagine how violent the impact must have been. To me, it says so much more than photos.

Sept'.18th is coming up.

Chile's National Day is coming up, September 18th. It's the Independance day celebrated with joy, happiness, BBQ's, and national dance: la CUECA. Little girls will make sure to be wearing those colourful dresses we can buy at every market around the country...They will be carrying a small white handkerchief to dance Cueca at the school's fair, as well.

Up, in the air.

Long before the latest Disney / Pixar movie, "UP", was created in Santiago "La Casa en el Aire", the House in the Air... It's a resto/bar located in Barrio Bellavista, with a great atmosphere, mostly due to the great artists they host every night. Alvaro González is one of them, covering traditional & revolutionary Chilean songs, with a beautiful voice and a nostalgic guitar.

http://www.lacasaenelaire.cl

A freakin' good question.

If all rivers are sweet, where does the sea get its salt?

Pablo Neruda, from "El Libro de las Preguntas".

Empty platform.

For once, nobody's waiting. Where are the people? It is 8.00 in the morning, noone is going to work...or so it seems...