La Moneda

"La Moneda" means "the coin". It is so named as it was here that the coins of the country were once minted. The leaders of the country have traditionally had their offices here and for a while it was the residence of the president. The coup de etat of 1973 saw the socialist president Allende shot in his office and the front half of the building bombed and damaged. Allende and most of his supporters left the building feet first. It continues to house the presidential offices, government press 'team' and many other important political cogs. After more than a year of dillydallying;) Mike and I eventually made it on the La Moneda Grand Tour. Enjoy.

The front of the La Moneda ....waiting for the changing of the guard.

Across the street.

Design on the Ministry of Agriculture.

Another building for Zool to occupy.

Toy soldier- patiently waiting to be relieved. They are supposed to stand completely still.

Out comes the old guard.

Forward march!

Backward march!

G'day.

Here come the replacements.

All the king's men.

yup, all of them.

This nutter clapped enthusiastically and completely erratically, throughout the whole 'performance'.

Music men infront of the palace. They played a bizarre medley of WWII Allies and Axis war tunes!

Handing over the staff.

Why do the men get normal hats and the women have to wear a cap/polo helmet hybrid?

There was so much faffing taking place no one saw the old guard shoot off inside and a new guy jump up on the podium.

Is that a turkey?

Trusty steeds

In case you need more fire power- a normal thing to see on a Chilean street.

....as is this. Chileans love to riot, it would appear.

Street sign

Some of the better artwork inside the Moneda. Bachelet implemented a new policy to allow artisit show their work here on a 4 month rotating system.

Revolutionary, just like her plan to toss Kafka novels from helicopters into poor areas- aimed at improving the education system.

This fountain was moved 1 zillion times, brick by brick, till it finally made its home here after the final restorations to the building.

It sits in the orange orchard....planted in the square after it was remodeled. It was exactly here where the coins were once minted.

The gateway through to the next square.

This ancient cannon was made in Peru and brought here to ward off any Spanish attacks.

...amusingly it bears the Spanish insignia.

Bachelet's offices are on the 2nd floor- she was off on holiday when we visited.

These trees are sacred to the Mapuche people and are planted in one of the squares to symbolise unity.

The broken bricks symbolise the damage to the Moneda during the military takeover in 1973.

The copper plaques are a tribute to Allende who refused to leave the Moneda during the coup and retired to his office, somewhere behind this wall, where he allegedly shot himself. Copper is Chile's main export...which is why it is heavily represented in the Moneda.

The Chilean coat of arms. Both the animals are indigenous and that's not a turkey but a condor. The inscription reads "By reason or by force" SWEET!

Originally the only way into the building was through the main doors. Each time the President left he had to go through a pompous ceremony.

Annoyed by this one of the presidents had this door added so he could come and go in peace. During Pinochet's military reign the door was concreted in. It has since been reopened to symbolise the accessability of the seat of power to the people.

View through the window in the secret door.

Salon O'Higgins. This chandaliered room is where new ambasadors are received and 'signed-in'.

If you get a presidential invitation to breakfast this is where you'll find yourself dining.

The red room. It is from here that the presidents address the press and make speeches.

Mike's presidential speech.