Party in Santiago

Last night our airbnb hosts, Javier and Jason, hosted a birthday party for Pamela - Jason's sister from the host Chilean family he lived with when he first came to Chile 13 years ago.  It was meant to be on the roof of the building. The flat was empty when Paul and I woke up from a nap, so we headed up to the roof in search of the party. We were wandering around up there trying to find them, but obviously looked lost because we were befriended by another group of friends having a BBQ:

These guys were hilarious! They loved that we were from London - the girl in the white cardigan told us her grandad was from the UK but couldn't remember where exactly. So, despite being drunk (or maybe because) she called her mum to ask! (He lived in Salcombe in Devon).

You can't see it, but they had a massive hunk of meat on a BBQ behind us. We really wanted to stay and hang out with them! But after popping out for beers, we checked in on the apartment and that's where the birthday party had been relocated to (it was getting cold on the roof). It turned out to be really good fun.  One of the guys who came had been an airbnb guest in this apartment last year! And there was an American guy who's doing pretty much the same trip we're planning, but on coaches rather than in a campervan. Jason's Chilean father and aunt who speak no English also came, so they were subjected to my broken Spanish. We did manage a decent conversation though, which was pretty rewarding.

Other highlights include:
- being taught salsa by a teacher who's originally from China

- Chilean birthday cake consisting of layers of pastry and dulce de leche

- getting lots of tips from people who've recently been to places we want to go to
- party snacks!

Oh look, you can see the Milo we bough cos Paul wanted hot chocolate when he was ill (this is Jason)

Javier

This is what they were cooking

Yesterday in the daytime, we had our first completos - hot dogs in a toasted roll with toppings.  These are everywhere and the most popular seem to be Italianos: with mayonnaise, tomato and avocado - so-called apparently because the toppings are the colour of the Italian flag.

You can tell who took which pictures purely by their orientation

Here are some gratuitous pictures of the view from the roof:

Bit cloudy so you can't see the mountains in the distance

Today we went to the Museum Of Memory And Human Rights (metro: Quinta Normal) which documents the human rights abuses that took place during Pinochet's dictatorship.  It was really informative but quite harrowing.  Well worth the trip.  Entry was free.  It's mostly in Spanish, so we got English audio guides for 2,000 Chilean pesos (or about £2.50).  You also need to take ID to leave in exchange for the guides, although one is enough for two people.

Where's Pauly?

Oh! And we had our first ride on the Santiago metro!  Paul thinks the trains are on pneumatic tyres, although they are also on tracks...

Campervan shopping tomorrow - woop!