Random thoughts/ reflections on this part of Chile

After 3 days here, I offer these thoughts;

a large chunk of the population are under employed. Everything is labour intensive. Take for example parking cars. There are no parking meters. On every street there are parking wardens (both official and unofficial). The official ones collected the parking fee. They dont cover both sides of the street, but rather have one person for eah side of the street. They don't cover the whole street, but rather have a person for each block (about 50 metres long), so a lot of people are employed (low wage I presume). The unofficial wardens work the free parking areas (which is anywhere really other than official parking zones. They guide in parking, offer to wash your car (at a price), ensure it is secure while you are away, and stop traffic so you can leave again. All for a donation.
Even local fast food joints have large numbers of workes, who takes your order, finds you a table etc.

The second reflection, this is still a nation of instant coffee drinkers, no filter coffee (well I found one place yesterday at Vina del Mar). But that aside, all the coffee houses offer instant coffee.

Third reflection: This si a country for stray dogs, they are everywhere, they wander everywhere, they foul everywhere, but people tolerate them, feed them etc. They all looked pretty healthy, but sleep everywhere (you have to watch where you walk.

Fourth: They don't believe in using indicators when driving, they see a small gap and go for it. I'm glad I am not driving.