Wednesday was the Il Divo concert. I brought my friend Jon along because I thought it would be more fun to have someone enjoy the show. Little did we know that IL Divo is a total boy band for women over 50. I think it could successfully be compared to a backstreet boys concert, but instead of 15 year old girls screaming and crying, its middle aged women. WHOA. I wasn´t expecting that. I envisioned a classy theatre with older couples who payed the expensive ticket, but instead I got psychotic women waving signs and screaming the whole time. I thought Jon could´ve killed me for dragging him along. However, the show rocked, and I became a loyal fan, and admirer (because they ARE super cute...)
Thursday, a friend of mine from Argentina came to visit, so we spent the day walking around the city before heading back to Valpo. However, their was a bizarre feeling in the air, and we shortly found out why. Throughout all the main streets of Santiago, kids were rioting- breaking phone booths, smashing glass, it was totally chaotic. We happened to just be walking down thestreet when we stumbled upon this. Armed police with total riot gear where EVERYWHERE in the city, and we couldn´t seem to get away from the crowds. People throwing rocks, bottles, and anything else they could get their hands on AT the police- it was rediculous. And then swarms of these kids would go sprinting down the street as the police chased them. Their were armed tanks crusing down the main avenues, and all the stores were closing down early.
We kept trying to avoid the mayhem and taking detours, only to find gates not allowing us out. We felt completely trapped, but eventually managed to squeeze our way onto a side street.
Than came the huge tanks- the armed vehicles were riding down the street spraying streams of water at the people on the sidewalk, and it didnt look like a friendly shower. (pictures below). Later on we learned that this is a yearly event. Apparantly 25 odd some years back, during Pinochet´s ruling, two kids were killed by the police (the government) for unjust reasons. Ever since, this day of the year results in rioting and chaos in the streets of Santiago. One guy told us that 10 years back it was a lot more violent than it is today,but another lady said that usually its confined to the university these recent years, and this was a little nuts.
SO; at least this wasn´t just random rioting, which could have been abit scarier, but it would have been nice for our hostel to warn us about walking on the streets this day. Instead, we found ourselves in the middle of a mini-war zone. I took some pics that are posted below. Along with a few pics from Il Divo, Bela fleck, and some otherrandoms.
ooh Il divo... soo cute
Valparaìso.
who doesnt love a sunrise
Vic....wailin on the bass
No comments:
Post a Comment