It feels like short shrift to tag on these thoughts about Chile right as I am wrapping up this trip and this account of it. Especially so because Chile is perhaps the most stable, safe and "western" of the countries on the continent and has been a beacon of democracy here, but for the blight of the Pinochet era (but that was America's fault). However the truth is, as a country, it didn't capture my imagination. Sure, it has beautiful beaches. But they aren't as beautiful as those in Brazil (or even Uruguay). It has wine regions, but they're not as fun or grand as those in Argentina. Half of Patagonia is here, but it is the lesser half. They have half the Andes too, but theirs is the barren, desert side. They have pisco, but the Peruvians do it better. And Santiago is modern and clean and easy to navigate, but it's just a little bit, well, boring. Perhaps all of this is unfair, and Chile is suffering by comparisons I'm making to places I had visited before it on this trip, places that were entirely new and exciting. If I had come only to Chile, or if I was looking for one country that had a taste of all of the continent's offerings (minus the rainforests of the north), then maybe this is the country I'd recommend. Very much in a "jack of all trades, master of none" sense.
What it did do best was the desert. The Atacama desert is surreal and otherworldly and a very easy place to enjoy. Each day is lovely and warm and every night is crisp and clear, perfect for swimming, hiking and stargazing. San Pedro de Atacama had a relaxed, bohemian-light vibe that I could easily get used to, and the Elqui Valley matched this with the added bonus of boutique wineries to explore. Highly recommended and a must on any itinerary of this country, although since the country is mostly desert (other than the remote south), it would be hard to avoid!
Other than that, there is not too much to say about Chile. Chileans seemed to me to be an incredibly proud people, and rightly so for their social progressiveness and for the strength of their democracy, particularly in contrast to other countries on the continent. But I also got the feeling that there was something of an inferiority complex underlying all the nationalistic bravado - a deep rooted understanding that Chile is just not quite as glamorous as Argentina, as important historically as Peru and Bolivia, or as important currently as the much larger player, Brazil. It's as though all the flag waving serves as a reminder to the world that "we are here too!". They don't have the world's best chefs or high profile, trendy exports like coffee or wine or beef, at least not to the same extent as their neighbours. Instead, they are more behind the scenes, exporting some of the critical elements of this modern age, like copper and lithium, and leading the way with inclusive social policies (recently with new, world first laws promoting inclusion of people with autism in the workplace, for example). Nothing flashy, but certainly respectable. I won't be rushing back necessarily, but it's certainly a place with plenty to offer and a great stopping off or on point to the continent, especially as it is the only direct flight available from Australia - a place to unwind by the beach, amongst the vines or under the stars. And for me, it served perfectly as a relaxed final destination before reality sets in.
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