Chile: a wonder along the Andes Mountains

Santiago can be reached from İstanbul via a connection, either in Madrid, Brazil or elsewhere. It takes about 21 hours to travel from İstanbul to Chile. While the flight from İstanbul to Madrid takes four hours, the flight from Madrid to Chile, after a four-hour stopover at the airport, takes 13 hours.

Located in the southern part of South America, Chile is sandwiched by natural boundaries. While the Andes Mountains stretch from north to south in the east, the giant waves of the Pacific salute it in the west. The total length of its coastline is 6,435 kilometers. Chile has several active volcanoes, and earthquakes have become a fact of life. Tours are available from Chile’s southernmost city, Punta Arenas, to the world’s least-explored continent, Antarctica.

Before the Spanish arrived in the 16th century, the central and southern regions of Chile were inhabited by indigenous people called the Mapuche. The Spanish established control over the indigenous people and single-handedly ruled the lands for close to 300 years. The country’s current population is 95 percent mestizo, or people of mixed European and Native American ancestry. Three percent of the population is of fully indigenous descent. The majority of the population is Christian. Chile neighbors Peru, Bolivia and Argentina. It has long-running land disputes with both Peru and Bolivia. Chile has one of the most stable economies in Latin America and was invited to be the first South American country to join the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) earlier this month. It is the world’s largest copper producer and exporter.

Founded in 1541, Santiago is one of the most modern capitals in South America. Situated on the outskirts of the Andes Mountains at an elevation of 520 meters, the capital has a population of 6 million, making it Chile’s largest city.

High levels of smog are very common in the capital, especially during the winter months. The smog is an indication of air pollution, which is visible in the city even during the summer because the Andes prevent air circulation. Some restrictions have been imposed on cars to reduce air pollution in the capital. Depending on the license plate number, vehicles are prohibited from being driven on some days. This is a measure to reduce traffic density.

The Mapocho River flows right through the middle of Santiago. There is an expressway that goes under the river. These kinds of roads relieve city traffic.

Plaza Baquedano (Plaza Italia) and Plaza de Armas are the capital’s most popular squares. Even though the building in Plaza de Armas in which the Spanish governor lived during Spanish rule is a bakery today, it is still worth seeing. Plaza de Armas is the first place local and foreign tourists stop by in the city. Buildings from the colonial period stand out as you tour the streets of the capital. Paseo Ahumada is one of the busiest streets in the capital. Shopping centers, stores and stands can be seen on both sides of the street. The street is filled with those touring, shopping, relaxing, observing and walking their dogs.

The Presidential Palace in Santiago

Chile as a country is just 200 years old. The presidential palace served as a mint between 1814 and 1929. You can see the place where President Salvador Allende died during Gen. Augusto Pinochet’s coup in 1973. After the coup, Pinochet ruled Chile with an iron first for 17 years before the people removed him from power with a referendum in 1990. The presidential palace is surrounded by ministries. President Michelle Bachelet is the country’s first female president. Her father was one of the generals that were killed during Pinochet’s coup. The city has a Mediterranean climate and has many parks. Local administrations attach great importance to places where the people can relax and enjoy fresh air. The parks are clean and green.

The best place to get a bird’s eye view of the capital is Cerro San Cristobal, the second-highest point in the city, with an elevation of 880 meters. The hill is named after St. Christopher. There is a 22-meter statue of the Virgin Mary on top of the hill. In 1987, Pope John Paul II celebrated mass there.

If your trip to Chile coincides with the first week of classes, then it’s likely that you will come across a different picture as you stroll through the streets of the capital. You may observe a mechoneo, which is a special rite of passage for new students. It includes older students pouring vinegar, flour, spicy sauces and eggs on top of new students, who must then ask for money from people on the streets. At the beginning of the semester, the streets are full of students celebrating this wild practice.

The majority of Chileans are Catholic, and the country’s most prestigious university is the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. Chile has two national television channels, Channel 13 and UCV.

Chileans love to have a good time. Just like many South Americans, Chileans love to dance, drink and have fun. Entertainment is sine quo non for them. In the evenings, especially Friday nights, they prefer to go to restaurants that offer live entertainment so they can have a good time while enjoying a meal.

When it comes to food, Chileans enjoy eating scallops. There are special and expensive restaurants in that capital that serve only seafood.

There are no visa requirements for Turkish citizens. The best time to travel to Chile is between December and March. When it is winter in Turkey, it is summer in Chile because it is located in the Southern Hemisphere.