October 2019

I arrived late evening on october 30. by plane in Santiago de Chile. The curefew had been ended (otherwise i would have to spend the night at the airport) and the airport buses where running, but at least CentroPort not go to their normal last stop at Los Heroes where my Hostel was nearby (appearently a demonstration was at this day around Los Heroes). The Metro was not running, some buses where, but no way to buy a ticket (a Centro bip! a Oyster type payment card would have been necessary, available at metro stations) at this time. Got then a Uber for 3500 Peso (~€5) for the final 5 kilometer (exact payment only !). The Museums where closed at the time i was in Santiago, most but not all shops are where open (october 2029), the supermarket next of my hostel had very long waiting lines (probably part of the staff was'nt able to get to work for having transport problems). Protests where mostly late afternoon and evening and sometimes roads out of Santiago where blocked. A easy way of seeing where demonstrations and toad blocks are: use Google Maps and turn on Traffic.

The Central Railway Station (unfortunately only some short rail servives today) from Gustave Eiffel.

Went first north to Calama (avoiding possible problems in Santiago) by plane but also there is a little bit of revolution, mostly banging pots and making music on the main place before the church, but also some looting. Many shops where closed or did sell only through locked gates.
Calama is a mining town, and the entry point for San Pedro de Atacama.