First day in Santiago

Santiago is the mountainous region. From the air, it was so beautiful. I said a little thanks to the universe for letting me come and change my life. I stayed on a busy, crazy street, across from a hospital. People cross everywhere and beep. It is right next to the sign that says silencio. But I like it, I can hear it from my room but I have slept great. I am so tired every day from walking all around. When I first arrived I went to the restaurant downstairs and got something to eat. My room wasn’t ready to check in yet, so they watched my suitcases and I changed into my dress and sandals and I went out to eat. It had been hours and I was starving. In Santiago, they speak a mixture of what appeared to be Spanish and Portuguese so they didn’t understand a lot of my Spanish. But they still helped me and watched out for me. At the restaurant, I watched what all of the locals were eating and I got the same. I had red beans and rice, fried chicken strips, a salad and a cheese empanada, and El Presidente beer — it was all amazing. I took a nap and then went out to dinner. I went to Cuban Grill and walked to the grocery store. It was a long walk but I got some neat stuff. It was all $15 but in Dominican pesos. On the walk there were hazards everywhere. You had to watch where you stepped — the sidewalk or road could have a huge 3 foot crater at any moment. At one point there was just a dog sleeping in the way on the sidewalk, I almost tripped on it. I was the only non-Dominican person there. Dinner was frutas and Cuban meatball and a El Presidente beer. It was delicious. I did my daily exercise routine but I was too tired for my Chinese lesson. It was an amazing day.