So last night was supposed to be soccer night — go out in the evening to a raucous futbol match, soak in a little local color, learn hooliganism with a Chilean accent, etc.
Weeelllll … it turned out the game wasn’t going to start until 9, and it wasn’t a game against a particularly interesting opponent, so we gave that a pass. So, instead, the Santiago IT group took us out on the town.
First up, a ride on the subway to the downtown area. The subway was moderately crowded, but clean and efficient. Interestingly, it looked to be tire-based, not on rails. Odd, but it worked.
The subway let us off downtown, and we wandered past the presidential palace (complete with contingents of polite, hard-eyed security guards and their dogs) on our way to our first destination, a place called Black’s. This is one of the cafés con piernas in Santiago, essentially a Hooter’s that sells coffee (or, in this place’s case, also zero-alcohol beer), served by girls in bikinis (on a raised serving floor). Nothing particularly illicit, and the waitresses were reasonably attractive, but I was just as pleased to move on.
We ended up (by taxi, passing many cool-looking colonial era buildings) at Barandiaran, a very tasty Peruvian restaurant. I had a very yummy lamb stew with Peruvian spices.
They also served pisco sours. Of which I had two. Or, maybe, three. I quite honestly don’t recall. And that lack of recollection is directly related to the pisco sours (plus, general fatigue).
I do recall we moved onward to a bar called Celtica, but I didn’t have any more to drink. At some point, I am informed, I called Margie and regaled her with tales of the revelry (and was “very cute”). Also, apparently, I got back to the hotel safely.
Well.
Anyhoo, we’re off to play touristas today, having wrapped up our work yesterday. I fly out tonight, arriving back in Denver mid-day tomorrow — and, remarkably, don’t travel more for a whole week after!
It’ll be good to be home.
Yes, you drunk dialed me. Yes, you were cute. You informed me in the first sentence that you were drunk, but years of debate club kept most of the slurring out of your voice. You were very fascinated by the policeman across the street. The way you described Black’s it sounded more like a titty bar. You were also very sweet and loving.
I was very amused and made sure you have a safe escort back to the hotel.
Enjoy your tourist time.
See you very soon!