Chile, the modern world

There's this thing about the subway here in Santiago: it's clean. I mean really, really clean. There's no grafitti, there's no garbage and even the dirtiest of the dirty bastards will put away his wrapper/can when he's done instead of throwing it on the floor. I think I've gotten so used to it that I forget how truly remarkable this thing is. The same people who can't figure out how to run a proper bus system or install a damn telephone in less than a month have this incredible subway system that's kind of pleasant to be on. It shocks me still how a country can be so dysfunctional and yet, so logical.

This morning on my way to work I remembered how remarkable this whole Chilean subway system is. They now have TVs IN the subway car. Please take a moment to imagine my amazement as I sat mouth agape, staring at Olivia Newton John and John Travolta in that lovely scene from Grease where they both, covered in tight leather things, lovingly proclaim "You're the one that I want." Does riding the subway get any better than that? Between that and old school Madonna videos, Shakira looking busted in her MTV Unplugged performance and some guy singing along loudly to Eric Clapton's "Change The World," I may never get off of the subway again.

New York, Phildelphia: please take note. Dirty, smelly ass subway = bad. Clean, video-showcasing subway = good.

Loves,

- E