¡Viva Chile!

Last night was the final qualifying game for the World Cub in fútbol (soccer).  Chile could have qualified a few days ago if they beat Columbia.  They led at the half 3-0, but ended up in a tie at 3-3. So tonight was one last shot to qualify without potentially having to go into a playoff to qualify.  Chile ended up beating Ecuador 2-1 in a home match, and let's just say everyone in Chile knew who won. One of the main roads through Santiago is Providencia, and all 5 or 6 eastbound lanes were closed down while people walked down to Plaza Italia in the center of town for a rally.

Now this is closing in on 11pm, and even the babies were brought to town.

There is this chant that people in Chile say.  Che-Che-Che, Lay-Lay-Lay, Viva CheLay! (this is a video)

We made it down to Plaza Italia pretty early, but you could see that that Carabineros were ready.  The one buy looked like he had on Star Wars Trooper gear from head to toe.

We took a few pictures to "experience" a Latin American soccer celebration.

The cars in a parallel street were making a parade of their own.

The crowd was building fast, so we left before things got out of hand.  Half way back to the casa some M-80's started going off - one very hear us - so it was good to get out of the chaos.  We could hear the celebration through the walls in the appartment even though Plaza Italia is about a mile away.  I've been in Europe during the World Cup and during the Euro Cup, but this celebration, eh, riot, topped them all.

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