Two Tourists

Our first week in Santiago started upside down - partying during the week, and sleeping it off on the weekend when normal people go out - and already on Friday night we both were knackered after long evenings spent out. As I told you before, Lukas's local workmates took us out introducing two very different and amazing places in the city. The first one we tried out on Wednesday evening is a must-see and can be found in every town - an Irish Pub - where we despite of its Irishness were able to try some local goods: Chilean beer and a pisco sour, refreshing but kick-in-the-butt strong drink. The next day we found ourselves in an old French hairdresser salon serving as a restaurant at night time. Boulevard Lavaud is kitchy, decayed romance style restaurant/hairdresser from the 1900 where no tourist would find by themselves. I absolutely loved it! Did I mention they prepare delicious steaks and dangerous desserts that make your mouth water? Yum-my.

Boulevard Lavaud.

On Saturday we packed the backpack and our Lonely Planet Guide like proper tourists and headed to the centre. Every time we manage to conquer little obstacles that come along our path while exploring the wonders of the Latin American culture, we feel like winners. Ordering lunch in a restaurant, for example, is still a bit of a head scratcher (unless you want to eat pizza all the time) with all the Chilean words, so from time to time we're forced to drool over our neighbour's plate. Only way to learn! ;)

I mean, look at the menu behind me! What would you order??

One of the great things about living in a big city is that it never stops surprising you. First, when we entered the Plaza de Armas (the physical centre of a city, such as "Marktplatz" or "tori") we saw hundreds of people on the square. Some chilenos were concentrated on a game of chess, children were running after the pigeons, painters were selling their art and adults were gathered around a street artist family playing the drum beat. It is incredible what kind of talent can be hidden in people!

Chess players.

The children chasing pigeons.

An inspired painter.

The musical father&co.



Moving further into the pedestrian street Paseo Ahumada, we met some Bolivians living in Santiago. They were celebrating the folklore of the Day of the Virgen Copacabana by chanting, dancing and playing in a colourful carneval. If I hadn't known better, I would have said it's Fasching in Vorarlberg!





Carneval on Paseo Ahumada.





Once we stumbled out of Paseo Ahumada, we arrived at the foot of Cerro Santa Lucía, especially popular among tourists. The view is breathtaking to all directions but if we had known what we're about to see on Sunday... As the sun was setting down our evening continued at another huge shopping centre, Alto Las Condes, where we wined, dined and saw the movie Proposal.

The warm winter colours.

The view from Cerro Santa Lucia.

Sunday showed us another side of Santiago and even a bigger hill on the other side of the Rio Mapocho. Cerro San Cristobal is considered as the biggest attraction for tourists visiting Santiago where Santa Maria is spreading her protective arms above Santiago.

The train lift taking us up to Cerro San Cristobal.

Cerro San Cristobal.

Santa Maria.

Rio Mapocho at dawn.