I got some breakfast and Ali arrived, and we got a taxi to our
hotel.
Home, sweet home. IMG_3090.JPG
This will be my home for the next 5 weeks and it's a pretty good home
indeed. Breakfast is included downstairs and the Metro is a couple
minutes' walk away. Ali and I explored the neighborhood, found some
lunch, and got our Chilean phones set. In addition to our five, we
have nine students from Universidad de los Andes, which is a great
number for this type of program.
We all found our way to the campus for a day of orientation and
tours of the campus facilities. First observation: It gets light very
late here. Chile has just decided to use GMT-3 year-round and the sun
rises about 8AM this time of year.
Here is the group photo on the steps of the
library. IMG_northeastern1.JPG
Starting our campus tour.
IMG_3092.JPG
The mountain is Manquehue.
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The view from the bus stop as we left campus; note the fall colors on
the trees in the foreground.
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Professor's point of view.
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Break time. 
Everett and UANDES students at break.
IMG_3100.JPG
Courtyard at the Humanities building.
IMG_3104.JPG
A nice place for writing lecture notes (and getting help with my
Spanish)
IMG_3106.JPG I
don't usually take pictures of my food, but this lunch was worth
it.
Don Valentin on Noruega. IMG_3108.JPG
After lunch: Ali's "office hours" in the Ibis lobby.
Office Hours at Northeastern's "South Campus."
IMG_3109.JPG
We had Saturday night dinner at DaDino on Apoquindo between
Escuela Militar and Alcantara Metro Stations.
Dinner.
IMG_3110.JPG
The German Fountain.
IMG_3111.JPG
IMG_3113.JPG
Casas de perros.
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Arriving at the Museo de Bellas Artes. IMG_3119.JPG
A
horse is a horse of course.
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But here are some real ones.
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Red church.
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Fire department display for Dia del Patrimonio.
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Kids trying out the firehose.
IMG_3136.JPG Wandering around we discovered Castillo Hidalgo and climbed to the
top for some views of the city.
The smog this time of year restricts the visability. You might be
able to see the tallest building in South America in the next
picture. It's exactly half way between the tree
and the black building with the red or orange top. The city is ringed
by mountains which are more visible some days than others. This
morning we saw some snow on some of them.
Tallest building in South America.
IMG_3137.JPG
Riley and Everett at Castillo Hidalgo.
IMG_3138.JPG
Gabe at Castillo Hidalgo.
IMG_3141.JPG
Looking up to the top.
IMG_3142.JPG
Today was an exceptionally clear day and we got some good photos
from the steps of the library. In the telephoto picture you can see
the tallest building in South America.
From the library steps.
IMG_3151.JPG
Telephoto shot from the same place.
IMG_3156.JPG
There's a bit of snow on some of the mountains now.
IMG_3159.JPG
First a tour through the Paris Londres neighborhood.
The Entel Tower. IMG_3163.JPG
Paris Londres. IMG_3164.JPG
The Library: First Printing Press in Chile.
IMG_3168.JPG
Map exhibit.
IMG_3170.JPG
Cerro Santa Lucia provides great views of Santiago and beyond.
The other location is Cerro San Cristobol, which we will visit
tomorrow along with the home of Pablo Neruda.
Gabe on Cerro Santa Lucia.
IMG_3172.JPG
Our own private tour of La Moneda. I think the equivalent English
word would be "the Mint." It was originally where coins were made,
and for a long time has served as the presidential palace. Previous
presidents lived here, but now Chile does
not have a presidential home. She lives in her own home, but her
offices are located here.
La Moneda.
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From the front of La Moneda.
IMG_3176.JPG
Changing of the Guard.
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Waiting for our guide. Good time to introduce the NU Students: Justin,
John, Gabe, Riley, and Everett.
IMG_3181.JPG
Orange trees in the courtyard.
IMG_3182.JPG
Bernardo O'Higgens, the George Washington of Chile,sort-of.
IMG_3185.JPG
Santiago'sStock Exchange.
IMG_3189.JPG
Kilometer Zero, fromwhich all Chilean distances are measured.
IMG_3190.JPG
The ex-congress building is not open to the public. Luis Felipe
spoke to the receptionist, a phone call was made, we were given badges
and in a couple minutes an official appeared to give us a guided
tour. Congress now meets in Valparaiso.
Ex-Senate Session Chamber.
IMG_3192.JPG
Pablo Neruda's house (one of four) and Cerro San Cristobel.
Photography was not permitted inside, so there are few pictures.
The eyes have it. Listening to the audio tour.
IMG_3195.JPG
View of the city, old and new.
IMG_3196.JPG
Walking through the neighborhood.
IMG_3197.JPG
On the funicular up Cerro San Cristobel.
IMG_3202.JPG
Mate is a popular Chilean drink with wheat and a peach.
Mate for all.
IMG_3204.JPG
The city from Cerro San Cristobol. Cerro Santa Lucia from yesterday's
trip is in the center.
IMG_3205.JPG
Climbing the steps to the top.
IMG_3208.JPG
Statue of the Virgin at the top.
IMG_3209.JPG
A
friend for lunch.
IMG_3210.JPG
The mighty Mapucho.
IMG_3211.JPG
We were invited to an Asado and to watch the Champions' League
Final at Jaime's home. An Asado is a cookout, but it's done on a grand
scale with all kinds of meat, wine, and Pisco. Santiago is
reminiscent in many ways of California. The house has a lot of outdoor
space which they tell me they enjoy during about 9 months of the year.
Jaime's dad at the grill, with a small fraction of what he cooked this
afternoon. IMG_3212.JPG
Barcelona 3, Juventus 1.
IMG_3213.JPG
The gang.
IMG_3219.JPG
My first GPS track on the far side of the equator was a run around Parque Arauco, just up Av. Manquehue from the hotel. Total distance was just 5km. It would have been a good place to take a camera; there is a nice view from the bridge, and some interesting gardens and sculpture, including one of Pope John Paul II to the east of Av. Manquehue. Parque Arauco Map.
IMG_3227.JPG
IMG_3228.JPG
IMG_3245.JPGLecture 10 in the HSI course marks the half-way point. After class we
gathered in Sala Cero for traditional Chilean lunch, dancing, and
conversation with faculty, students, and friends.
*
IMG_3247.JPG
At least one Chileno was totally unperturbed.
IMG_3249.JPG
First sight in Valparaiso; Very big sea lions.
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IMG_3251.JPG
Valparaiso hillside.
IMG_3256.JPG
Camila, who arranged this trip and just about everything else we've
done.
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On the left, our driver and tour guide, Mario.
IMG_3265.JPG
Another of Pablo Neruda's four homes. La Sebastiana.
IMG_3266.JPG
Riley shaking hands with Pablo.
IMG_3274.JPG There have been earthquakes in Valparaiso including one last year.
Notice that the pink house has moved to the left and the white tower
is tilting a bit to the left.
Tilt!
IMG_3275.JPG
The hillside homes seem to mix rich and poor.
IMG_3276.JPG
Looking across the harbor, we could see the Andes mountains on the
horizon. It's not a perfect day, but the actual view was a bit
clearer than this picture suggests.
Valparaiso harbor.
IMG_3279.JPG
Valparaiso is home to artists, and Templeman Street is a good
example.
Beginning our walk down Templeman Street.
IMG_3283.JPG
Sidewalk art.
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Vehicular art.
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Art in English.
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Art on the walls.
IMG_3293.JPG
IMG_3297.JPG
Navy headquarters.
IMG_3301.JPG
Funicular railway.
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Arriba.
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Lunch.
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Valparaiso's working port.
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Que hora es?
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Scaring away the pirates.
IMG_3319.JPG
Now there is new excitement in Chile. People are here from all
over South America for the Copa America, which will last from now
until beyond our departure. Every street corner has vendors selling
hats, horns, and anything with team colors, and the hotel lounge is
packed every night with futbol fans.
Mexico.
IMG_3322.JPG
Se vende.
IMG_3323.JPG
Earthquake-damaged building in the background.
IMG_3326.JPG
At the end, a stop on the beach at sunset, before we return to the bus
station.
Ali.
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Lots left to do and we don't have much time.
Air Force Imaging Center Friday and Saturday we do the Copper Road and
Sewall Mining Town.
International Programs Meeting.
IMG_3364.JPG
Dialogues students working the NU table.
IMG_3365.JPG
Poster for International Programs.
IMG_3363.JPG
Happy Birthday to John.
IMG_3368.JPGThe role of copper in Chilean history, culture, economy, engineering, and politics has been mentioned by most of the faculty in our culture course. This consistent mention of mining inspired today's trip.
From Rancagua a bit over an hour out of Santiago, the Carretera Cobre (Copper Road) climbs up into the Andes to the historic mining town of Sewell, named for Barton Sewell, first president of the Braden Copper company.
The ride itself was impressive, taking us through the harsh dry
Andean landscape along the Copper Road. Here's a map of the ride starting from
Rancagua. You can zoom in as you can on any Google map.
Although Sewell was
"depopulated" in 1980 and exists as a preserved world heritage site,
the area is still an active mining community with some 15,000 people
involved and the road carries workers to the mine, concentrator,
smelter, and related worksites.
Here's the elevation track of the trip.
IMG-sewell-elev.JPG
Entering Carretera Cobre. Like any worksite in the world it begins
with a safety warning.
IMG_3382.JPG
Romulo, our guide, came to work at Sewell in 1969.
IMG_3386.JPG
Copper goes downhill. The smelter is below the concentrator and the
mine.
IMG_3388.JPG
I tried to take some pictures out the window but it didn't work
very well. I particularly am impressed by this kind of harsh
landscape.
Not a tree in sight.
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Arriving at Sewell.
IMG_3397.JPG
Patrimonio Mundial; Sewell is a World Heritage Site (UNESCO).
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Being the chief is good. The A workers' social center had a pool.
IMG_3402.JPG
Walking around Sewell Town.
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City of Stairs.
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Bowling.
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The Bowling Alley built by Brunswick., but in Portland Oregon.
IMG_3414.JPG
Country of Poets.
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Entrance to the working mine.
IMG_3418.JPG
It looked very quiet while we were there, but as we drove down the
Copper Road, the busses were bringing in the next shift.
Electric wires are everywhere. Mining takes a lot of power.
IMG_3421.JPG
Safety poster. Zoom in almost anywhere....
IMG_3423.JPG
... Here for example.
IMG_3425.JPG
Mining Museum, formerly the Industrial School.
IMG_3428.JPG
Group photo on the stairs.
IMG_3435.JPG
Someone didn't have a nice day when those rocks came down.
IMG_3443.JPG
Waiting for a one-way tunnel.
IMG_3445.JPG
What caught my interest above is that before the tunnel, the road
evidently went around the left side of the mountain. If you look
carefully you can see where it was, and how narrow it was.
There is snow on the Andes in the distance.
IMG_3448.JPG
The final picture is from the country club after lunch, with the
Andes in the background.
IMG_3454.JPG
Juan Pablo, Riley, and Juan IMG_3461.JPG
Jose Luis, Gabe, and Alvaro.
IMG_3464.JPG
John, Jaime, and Romina.
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Justin and Andreas
IMG_3466.JPG
Jamie P, Matias, and Everett
IMG_3467.JPG Noontime lunch was completos with the other international
students, Chilean students from international programs, and faculty,
hosted by the International Relations office.
Can you match the country with the flag?
IMG_3469.JPG
Quiz time: Non-Chilenos: Name 5 Chilean players in last night's
game.
IMG_3471.JPG
In the afternoon, Northeastern Students presented their final
reports in the Chilean Culture course. Many of the UAndes and other
international students came to watch.
We have a big audience.
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John on the Atacama Desert.
IMG_3477.JPG
Everett on education in Chile.
IMG_3480.JPG
Riley: Precolumbian Indigenous peoples.
IMG_3484.JPG
Gabe on Chilean food.
IMG_3485.JPG
Justin on Chlean music.
IMG_3489.JPG
Departure Dinner at la Fuente Vitacura. Of course we are all
being very careful about diet. At least they suggested sharing the
Chorillana between two people.
Justin and Jaime P. finished this.
IMG_3490.JPG
Ali's completo was in addition to half a chorillana.
IMG_3491.JPG
A little shopping and a final walk to get some pictures of sights
I remember. I've been running in Parque Arauco, but never brought the
camera. I believe this is the first topiary-statue combination I've
seen anywhere. Even in the haze the view from the bridge is
impressive with the mountains surrounding the city.
Pope Paul II.
IMG_3492.JPG
View from the bridge over Av. Manquehue looking south...
IMG_3495.JPG
... and north toward Manquehue mountain.
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Don Valentin; Great Cojonudos (Toast, chorizo, red peper, and quail
egg).
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After that, coffee and Pan de Pasas (raisin pastry) at Cafe
Diario; free coffee for my last day.