Monday we completed all of the service jobs that we had on our list. With the pensiones now in better condition, we don't get as many calls as when we first got here. Most of the calls are for small items that Elder Thompson can repair. The most recurring calls are for the califonts - water heaters. They get minerals and sand in the lines and have to be serviced to function correctly. Those calls we let our contractors take care of. We are not that familiar with how the califonts really work.
We had a wonderful day in the Temple on Tuesday. Wednesday morning we took the secretaries to the President to the grocery store to purchase food for the morning break of the first of three Zone Conferences. We then went next door to the chapel. We had the other Liahona School come for a mini capilla abierta and to tour the temple grounds. We were told to plan on 100 students so we got all set up and only 40 arrived. Our 14 young missionaries really enjoyed this day. The students were attentive and very respectful. They had good questions and were taught about the doctrine of Christ and temples. We showed the video of Elder Bednar and Elder Rasband touring the Rome Italy Temple. It really teaches all about temples and shows the rooms of the temple. It was a good day until about 8:30 pm when the dreaded call came that the Elders had locked themselves out of their apartment. We had to walk to the office for the truck and the keys to their apartment, about 40 minutes, then drive to La Florida. The traffic was backed up and it took about 45 minutes to get to them. It was only about 35 minutes to get home as the traffic had thinned out by then.
Our office is getting new carpet so we have been kicked out for the next three days as our desks and computers are gone so we are going to spend time with the Hughes.
Thursday we left the apartment complex with the Hughes at 8am. We picked up the secretaries to the President, Elders Corbishley and Peterson and again took them to the church office building that is next to the temple. They have to set up food for the morning break of the second of the Zone Conferences. We then went to the temple with Elder and Hermana Hughes. This was the first time they have attended the temple here in Santiago. How we love the peace and renewing that the temple gives us! Then we went next door to the Area Offices and visited with the Blacks for a bit. They came down with the Hughes and are getting ready to head for home in 7 weeks. They are Humanitarian Missionaries. Then we went to the Costanera Center for lunch at Tony Roma's and bought our tickets for our Friday adventure. We are trying to help the Hughes get their "to do's" completed of places to visit before they head for home. The nice thing is that they are places that we also want to visit.
The Red Bus Tour
Friday morning we picked up the office secretaries for the last of the Zone Conferences. We were very disappointed to have rain this morning. The weather report was for sun and in the 70's when we booked our tour. It is non-refundable so we will go rain or shine. With the rain, everyone decided to drive!! The traffic was awful going to the temple and coming back also. We met the Hughes at the office and walked to the bus stop. We do not want to drive today.
We took the 503 to the Costanera Center to board the bus.
It is a double decker bus.
We sat in the top section so we could really see the city well. There were no windows here so it was a bit cold when we first started out but the rain stopped and the sun actually came out before we finished our day.
There are 13 buses with 13 stops on the tour. You can get on or off at any of the stops during the day and then catch the next bus when you are done visiting the area of the stop. We had already visited a few of the places so we didn't get off on all the stops. We have already visited the Costanera Center so we started here.
On the bus and away we go. They had ear phones for us to listen to interesting information about what we were seeing during the tour. We just got on the bus and plugged them in.
It was pretty cold during this leg of our journey.
This building was the first Falabella's store in Santiago. It is a department store located all over the city now.
The next stop we got off on was Nueva Las Condes.
As we walked the 4 blocks to the Araucano Park, Elder Hughes tried to stand up on one of the scooters that are for rent all over town.
He thinks he wants to rent one and try it out for real, but this one actually has the kick stand down.
This park is 22 acres of playgrounds, sports areas, picnic areas, and gardens.
It has an underground city of entertainment for children
A 3 wheeled food wagon
A children's fair was getting set up cause the rain has ended and the sun is peeking through the clouds
There are 4 bikes here that you have to pedal to make the birds go around. The underground area included rock climbing walls, ballet studios, boxing gym, theatre, and lots of places to eat.
The gardens were amazing now but in about 2 months will be even more beautiful when the roses all bloom
A soccer field just past the roses
We didn't go in cause it cost to go in, but it was a hands on dinosaur exhibition. What an amazing park right in the middle of high-rises.
We walked out of the park and around the block to Arauco Park Mall.
A new building going up.
The amount of rebar in these building is amazing
One of the restaurants in the Mall had the back of a boat with a table inside it to eat at
And the front half with a table in it also
A Chinese restaurant
We didn't eat at the Mall but stopped for a quick bite at the Golden Arches
And we are off again
Our next stop was at the Teleferico and Funicular
Elder Hughes taking a foto of us loading into the gondola or teleferico
The views from up here were amazing. As you can see it was still pretty hazy
The tall building is the Costanera Center
The line goes up and back down. We will only go up and then catch the funicular to come down
playgrounds under us
We will end up on the Cerro San Cristobal which is above the zoo
We visited this hill earlier this year
Now this is a big chair. The Hughes are from St. George so they thought this was great
And into the funicular for the ride down the hill
And we are on the bus again
We are really enjoying NOT driving today.
Our next stop the Plaza de Armas
This is considered the very heart of Santiago. This type of square exists throughout Chile.
beautiful from ceilings to floors
Saint Santiago
Confession booth
Mary with the crucified Jesus
The stained glass windows were beautiful but couldn't get good fotos cause of the light
Joseph holding the baby Jesus
Sure wish the pipe organ had been playing.
The reverence inside the chapel was such a drastic contrast to the square
The square was full of beggers, preachers yelling about the love of God, venders
police on horseback and on foot
Musicians playing for donations in the hat
children getting their fotos taken with Pedro de Valdivia, the conquer who built the first church here and even had his house in this square
One of the buildings surrounding the square
This is the central post office constructed in 1881
Inside the post office
We really didn't feel comfortable in this square. The church and the post office were wonderful to see but we were glad to be on our way again and away from here.
There are about 7 buses trying to turn this corner because of a police blockade
We had to take a detour because of a protest going on so our tour didn't end at 6 pm. We didn't get to our last stop till around 6:30
This is a church made entirely of cement and block, no wood at all. So sad that it has been written all over with graffiti.
Two police motorcycles blocking the road and the policemen are directing traffic
the old architecture was amazing to see side by side with the new
We went by the Palace but didn't need to get off the bus as we have already been there. Police guarding the National Defense Building
The old churches dot the city
We caught the 503 and got back to the office around 8pm. It was a great day. What a wonderful way to see the heart of Santiago and learn a bit about their history. The traffic has been horrible all week. We don't know why but we had to drive out to La Florida on Saturday to look at a possible apartment to rent and the traffic was still bumper to bumper.
Well, it is Saturday evening and we are glad to be home. We have had a busy week as usual. Definitely no time to be bored here! We hope you have had a great week. You are always in our thoughts and prayers. We send our love. Till next week - Chao!
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