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It was a BEAUTIFUL day and we decided to "escape" to the center of the city. Actually, a City Tour had been planned, but the teacher/guide was ill that day so the trip was cancelled. Once at the Center, we had a snack and spent a couple hours in smaller groups. A few of us went to see the ancient San Francisco Church and the Public Library building. Others had a lunch together.

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Then we all met again to catch the metro (subway) and micro (bus) to go home. From the center of Santiago, the subway does not go all the way to Las Condes, which is the area of the city where we all are living, so from the Metro exit of Escuela Militar, we have to catch a bus for the rest of the ride. It costs about 72 cents for each, and once aboard, you can go for a few blocks or completely across the city which can last over an hour of travel time. The Metro is very new, efficient, and so clean. Most of the buses are older, but very functional. The bus drivers are slightly nuts and often we find our bus about an inch away from the bus beside us! It´s amazing!

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inside the Biblioteca National (National Public Library)

Biblioteca National

outside window of the ancient Iglesia de San Francisco

an elderly worshiper in the Iglesia de San Francisco

one of the many altars at the Iglesia de San Francisco

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Robyn and Dubi found this sign ... interesting, ¿no? ...

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