Once I returned from Easter Island, I wanted to stay a few days in Santiago.
![Plaza](https://images.harvestamerica.tech/wj2o/dxpeditions/ce/summary/Plaza.jpg)
I stayed at the Hotel Torremayor. This was a very nice medium priced hotel that appeared to be fairly new. It was only 4 stories high so I asked for the top floor. Only the manager (who was never around) spoke good English. The others tried. Not much room for antennas, so I just stuck my mobile whips out the window, as I was only here 3 days.
Santiago, Chile
![All Equipment](https://images.harvestamerica.tech/wj2o/dxpeditions/ce/photos/CE_Equipment.png)
Operating position. The hotel provided a very unique curved desk that made a perfect operating table. Too bad my antenna was minimal.
![Gerardo](https://images.harvestamerica.tech/wj2o/dxpeditions/ce/photos/CE_Gerardo-2.jpg)
My tour guide.This is Gerardo. He claimed he was a student and was hitting me up for cash on the street for food. Not only did we go to lunch together I hired him to be my tour guide for the day. He knew about as much English as I knew Spanish so communication was comical at times.
![President's House](https://images.harvestamerica.tech/wj2o/dxpeditions/ce/photos/CE_PresidentsHouse-3.jpg)
The president’s house. Here I am in front of the President’s House happy that it had stopped raining.
![Spanish for park](https://images.harvestamerica.tech/wj2o/dxpeditions/ce/photos/CE_Plaza-4.jpg)
Plaza de Armas. This is a popular plaza (Spanish for park) which is very popular in Santiago.
![Shops](https://images.harvestamerica.tech/wj2o/dxpeditions/ce/photos/CE_Shops-5.jpg)
Shops. In Santiago there are plenty of small shops around.
![More Shops](https://images.harvestamerica.tech/wj2o/dxpeditions/ce/photos/CE_Shops2-6.jpg)
More shops
Flying Over The Andes
![Andes](https://images.harvestamerica.tech/wj2o/dxpeditions/ce/photos/CE_Andies1.jpg)
When flying over the Andes Mountains, they are so high you feel that they are going to reach out and touch the airplane.
![Andes Mountains](https://images.harvestamerica.tech/wj2o/dxpeditions/ce/photos/CE_Andies2-1.jpg)
The Andes.
![The Andes](https://images.harvestamerica.tech/wj2o/dxpeditions/ce/photos/CE_Andies3-1.jpg)
More Andes mountain views
![More Andes mountain views](https://images.harvestamerica.tech/wj2o/dxpeditions/ce/photos/CE_Andies4-1.jpg)
The Andes.
CE3/WJ2O QSL Card
![QSL Card front](https://images.harvestamerica.tech/wj2o/dxpeditions/ce/qsl/CE_QSL_F.jpg)
![QSL Card Back](https://images.harvestamerica.tech/wj2o/dxpeditions/ce/qsl/CE_QSL_B.jpg)
Getting My License
I received an application from the ARRL and, as instructed, I set it along with a postal money order of $25.00 to the:
Radio Club de Chile
Nataniel Cox 1054
Casilla 13630 Santiago
Phone 02-696-4707
The application said to send two passport size photos. They sent them back saying they didn’t need them along with a receipt for my fee. But no license.
Upon arriving in Santiago, I set out on the trek to find my license. I had no idea where to start, I spoke next to no Spanish and it was raining. Santiago is a beautiful city even on rainy days, complete with an excellent subway system and a rule that a cab fare can never be more than the US equivalent of about $1.50. I spent the entire day but I found the right place, learned a lot of Spanish words and the sun came out.
For those of you wishing to save time, get into any cab and ask to go to Amunategui 178 which is a corner building. On the 7th floor is the Ministry of Telecommunications. When you exit the elevators, go into the office on the left that has double doors. Once inside turn a little to the right and there is a small window that says “Radioaficionado” (this translates to Radio Amateur). Then gentleman spoke no English but understood “WJ2O”. He went through a small pile of paper and to my surprise pulled out my license all typed, ready and paid for. I shook his hand and set back to the hotel with a feeling of accomplishment.
![License](https://images.harvestamerica.tech/wj2o/dxpeditions/ce/Licensing/CE_License_Full.jpg)
The Station
![Equipments](https://images.harvestamerica.tech/wj2o/dxpeditions/ce/Operating/CE_Equipment.jpg)
Equipment:
Kenwood TS-940 Transceiver
486-DX laptop
Heathkit Micromatic Keyer
Hustler mobile whips
Customs:
Customs had me place one of my two large cases up on an X-ray machine, and then waved me on.
![image-20](/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/image-20.png)