Chile's Urban and Natural Wonders

SANTIAGO, Chile (Oct. 3, 2008) -- I arrived in Santiago, a bussling metropolis at the foot of the Andes. A number of interviews had already been set, and what lay ahead were an exciting four days of discovery.

Above: View from my hotel room on the 19th floor of the Radisson Plaza in Las Condes.

Above: The Radisson Plaza Hotel.

Above:

Above: Standing with my rental Cessna 182 at Vitacura Aerodrome in northeast Santiago.

Above: Flying over a copper processing plant near Colina, a few miles north of Santiago.

Above: Flying over Las Condes, including my hotel (top center).

Above: Heading south over the eastern part of the city.

Above: Heading east into the Maipo River Valley and toward the mountains.

Above: Flying deeper into the mountains, over the Rio Colorado.