This is not the Park Plaza or the Marriot

As I had a weekend for myself while in Chile I decided to popped out of Santiago, leave behind the luxury of the Park Plaza Hotel and go back to my roots, find a cheap hostel and talk to strangers, and with a bit of luck even drink with strangers like in the old days traveling through India or Central America.

I am in Chile on a business trip, and although I have had to downgrade from the Marriot to the Park Plaza I am fairly certain that I will not be sharing my bed with little insects like it happened in Laos, or sadly not waking up in a room with 5 22 year-olds from Germany like in Ecuador, at some God forsaken hour, rum-o'clock....travelling on the cheap has its advantages and dissadvantages.

Valparaiso was everything I had expected, decayed and beautiful, steep hills cover on a cascade of colour. The old port town, the entry to Chile before Airbuses started filling up the sky. But even a visit to the cementery reminds you that the town has seen better days.

Nonetheless, it is in town like this were people comes and talks to you, were an old lady will offer her help when you are looking at a map trying to make up where the North is.

Remembering

As I was walking around Santiago I came to reflect on those that we seem to have forgotten on Rememberance day.
I have always have the upmost respect for those that have died for our country, and in this I feel more British that I would ever feel Spanish. Everyone that knows me,  knows that I respect and remember those that die to defend Britain.
Nonetheless, should we not be remembering those that die defending the freedom of their country against those supported by Britain our Allies?
As I walked around Santiago I saw the memorial to President Allende, who in 1973 refusse to leave the Presidential Palace as a military coup supported by the CIA brought down a government democratically elected.

Until the day of his death he never lost his faith on the people of his country, as the Memorial reminds us

' I have never lost my faith in the people of Chile '

President Salvador Allende ( 1908 -1973 )

Time to re-visit my old friend

It has almost been two years since I stopped this blog of mine. However, for some reason I felt the need to rekindle myself with the old "a degree a day"

As I arrived in Valparaiso, Chile I decided that it was long overdue that I posted something on here.

I am in Chile for ten days, it is a work trip, but that has, for once, got a bit of free time.

I have managed to see my friend Consuelo, from my old days in Nepal.

And I have also felt the need to express my political views and a bit of social commentary, about a country that is growing fast but leaving many behind. For its many advantages capitalism, specially raw as sadly has been applied here benefits the few and not many.