Patronato

Patronato is a giant shopping street/area located in Santiago. We had plans to go to Santiago last weekend, but as the weekend progressed, the plan changed and soon it was just me and Ana going to Santiago so I could experience the Patronato.

We got up early and took the bus to San Fernando, where Ana wanted to get on the direct bus to Santiago, as opposed to the one that makes a 10 minute stop in Rancagua. For me, I never really notice the difference. It really doesn´t bother me to make the stop...I just want to get to Santiago. Well, we ended up taking a bus with the stop, as the direct bus wasn´t passing through for another hour.

From the bus, we got on the metro. I haven´t spent alot of time in Santiago, but I have ridden the metro when I have been in Santiago. The last time I was in Santiago, riding the metro, I made a mistake and got on the train going in the wrong direction. I headed toward the University of Chile instead of the University of Santiago. Normally, this isn´t a big deal, but in Santiago, to get on the train going in the other direction, you need to pay again. It really wasn´t a big deal to pay again, since it is only about seventy five cents, but it was another line to stand in. So, I had learned my lesson to make sure I am on the right direction and to commit to memory that when I go to Santiago my bus station is at the University of Santiago, not of Chile.

My previous mistakes came in handy for our trip to the patronato. I had an idea of where we were going and I caught us before we headed in the wrong direction. I looked at Ana and said, I really think we want to go the other way. She looks at me with that...does the gringa really know what direction she needs to go in? So, she turned and asked the guard, since there aren´t any maps to look at along the tracks, and sure enough...the gringa knew where she was going! ha ha! It kind of felt good.

The Patronato, when we arrived, was crowded. It is basically anything made in China or Korea packed into blocks of stores. It really was quite overwhelming, for me. Everything, for the most part, is old town market style....you go to the counter and tell them what shirt you might like and they pull it off a shelf (still in a plastic bag) for you to look at and buy. Some stores have a little curtain to change behind, others don´t. The stores are packed with people. The streets are packed with people. Vendors are lined up along the streets too...some of them are illegal vendors and have a conveniently transportable stash of goods. By convenience I mean a piece of cloth that they can quickly turn into a nap sack and run. The yell or shout out their goods and their prices and when the caranineros (police) come, they sweep it all up and start running!

After about three streets worth of stores, tons of people, and no interest in what they were selling, I was ready for lunch...and so was Ana. We went to McDonalds. It was tasty. Then, Ana took me to the main plaza...plaza de armas santiago. There were a few souvenier shops to look at, but I knew of a artesania market I wanted to visit near the Cierro de Santa Lucia, which is the only hill in Santiago and it has the Santa Lucia statue and an old fort (I think it is a fort anyway...it is terrible I can´t say for sure right now)....but, by golly, i know there is a nice market right buy it! We spent about two hours, at the market. They really have some nice things and I was stocking up on some souveniers. Ana had never been to this market before, so it was fun for her too....not to mention another feel good moment for the Gringa!

It was a good day...very quiet...I think I am going to take another quiet day on Saturday and head to Pichilemu. I am in the mood for the beach.

Ciao!

jami