Santiago

I have spent the last few weeks in Santiago, the capital of Chile. It is a great city. I have been to visit 2 schools here. One is called The Grange and is has an English website you can look at. The children here are taught in English, although they mostly speak Spanish at home. I helped in a P1 class and they even have Biff, Chip and Floppy reading books! It was a great school with friendly children and I really enjoyed my time there. The bottom classroom picture is The Grange.

The other school I went to was charity run in a much poorer area. The school did not have a lot of resources in the classroom but it was still a lovely place. The children were very friendly and keen to ask me questions about where I was from and to show me around their classroom and playground. The top picture is me helping them with their work which was all in Spanish. I will be going to this school again and I will take a few wee gifts for Christmas.

As well as visiting schools I have been exploring Santiago. One of the best things I have done is a cable car over the city, (see photo) pretty scary as its VERY high, but great views. There is a big statue of the Virgin Mary at the top of the hill and people go there to ask her for help and give thanks for good things that have happened to them.

I have also been to a crazy town just North of Santiago called Valparaiso. It is built on 42 hills, and I thought Edinburgh was hilly! There are lots of steep steps and interesting buildings. A few days ago I visited the sea-side town of Isla Negra, an hour away from Valparaiso, where Pablo Neruda's other house is. It is very beautiful.

Soon I travel South to a town called Pucon which has a smoking volcano!