In Santiago we stepped off the coach at the Plaza de Armas. The prominent statue in the square was of Simon Bolivar considered the emancipator of South America.
It was Palm Sunday and the cathedral on the north side of the square was filled with parishioners.
On the sidewalk in front of the cathedral, local vendors were selling palm leaves and related decorations to church goers as they arrived.
Inside, the sanctuary was filled with parishioners, but Gene was able to slip into one of the smaller chapels for a quick photo.
Crossing the plaza we passed the monument to the indigenous people. It’s comprised of three elements: some vegetation, a seed, and a human face. The last of these proved to be particularly controversial, as it depicts the broken face of a Mapuche (indigenous) man.
From the plaza we walked to the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art. I'm not sure what this statue was, but I hope it isn't the fertility god!
Later we passed by a wooden sculpture at the corner of Paseo Bandera and Calle Huerfanos. What function, meaning or purpose did it have? No one seemed to know. It was just art.
Our final stop of the day was at the Presidential Palace. The Chilian President's office and staff are housed here. The president lives in a residential section of the city.
Returning to the ship we found the harbor filled with small pleasure and tour boats enjoying the warm fall weather. Many passed near the Octantis waving at us. It kind of made us feel like celebrities! We departed at 6:00 PM for Iquique Chile, a two-day voyage.
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