Bienvenidos a Chile - Picking up a VIP

This morning we went to the airport and picked up our friend - Jes. After some 22 hours of being in a plane he seemed happy to be on terra firma - until we told him that it wasn't so "firma" in Santiago at the moment.

We headed for the apartment, rested a bit and then repeated the trip to Parque O'higgins to give Jes a warm welcome. Today is Army day but since we arrived a bit late we missed the parades. What we didn't miss was a rerun of yesterdays festival with music, food and lots of drinks.

We stayed and enjoyed the different bands and had some friendly toasts with some of the Chileans who were just as happy and just as drunk as yesterday. What a party. A local guy even compared Mikkel to Ricky Martin. Not so sure about that connection - but it was dark.

We headed back to our place - Jes looking slightly jet lagged late in the evening. Welcome to Chile.

Jes getting closer

Welcome to Chile

VIP Pick up at the airport

He's here

Even a couple of buddies to sleep with

Fresh imports

Terremoto drinks

Party at Parque O'Higgins

Fiestas Patrias in Chile

Finally. It's now. The big day in Chile. Actually they like to party for some days but this is the actual day - Fiestas Patrias.

We woke up to a deserted city. Like empty. We walked to Parque O'Higgins since that's where the party was supposed to be. An hour of empty city. Maybe they are all hung over. It wasn't until we got to the last 100 metres before the entrance that it got crowded. Like really festival crowded.

Then the party started, we had terremoto drinks, a couple of meat skewers, went to the main music area and enjoyed the party, the drunk Chileans, the Cueca dancing Chileans and the happy Chileans. We seemed like to only foreigners to make it there. What a party.

Nobody home

Yes, we like big flags in Chile

Terremoto drinks

Queue line Tequila

Meat on sticks - as we like them

Dancing la Cueca