Oh, what a huge city.
Trip Start
Oct 24, 2009
1
4
38
Trip End
May 05, 2010
Santiago, Chile
Saturday, November 7, 2009
As we were soon to find out, we were very centrally located to the main part of the city centre. Everything was within walking distance. Some places a little further away, but hey we needed the exercise.
Our first morning we accompanined our hosts to the market, called "La Vega" produce market. We left them to do their shopping and we went exploring. We have always enjoyed looking around markets just to see and compare what type of foods are available.
Here there was beautiful fresh produce, and lots of it.
No need to make your own sauces, have someone do it for you.
The locals wanted to have their photograph taken.
As it was Sunday we were suprised at what was open. We found ourselves at the Museum of Contempory Art or Bellas Artes Museum. This was quite an eye opener. Everything was in Spanish so we just had to work things out. Most of the picture are self explanatory.
This one said a lot to me
While we were in Santiago there were quite a few demonstrations. Elections were coming up so the teachers were trying to get their feelings across about their pay. A lot of the things we might have done were closed due to the strikes.
We went for dinner at the oldest restaurant in Santiago.
Santiago is a huge city, one that I would not live in. It was too busy for me, but this said I enjoyed a couple of bike tours that we took to see more of the town. We chose two tours, one being Parks and Politics, the other Santiago by night. All the guides spoke excellent English and they were very informative. The pictures tell the story.
Our last stop on the afternoon tour was for Helado. YUM!
With time to kill between tours we stopped for a great sushi plate. Why do you always see us eating? Well we do a lot of it and we enjoy it.
The night tour guide was able to fill us in on a little more history of the area. It was a good tour with better bikes than the day tour. These bikes had gears and suspension. We saw the lights of the city, and then followed the waterway back to the city centre. The last stop for the night tour was for a Pisco sour and Tapas. YUMMMMY!
The architecture is so varied, but one influence stands out and that is French. I thought we were on the streets of Paris. It is quite amazing how many different cultures have come to live here.
We decided to do a day trip to Quintay. An old whaling village. It was to be a lot quieter than Valpariso where most tourists go which is the second largest city in Chile, the first being Santiago. It was a pleasant place but you could see that it would soon become a commercial place to visit.
Our last museum visit was one I suggest that you do not miss. The Pre-Columbian Art Museum.
It is only very small, but the exhibits are excellent.
I have tried to show you a few. Also you can get a nice lunch in the courtyard.
We did return for two days, but did not do any more exploring.
