Getting to Know the City

We're been here for a little more than two weeks now, and we're getting to know the city. We've walked and walked around our little neighborhood, and I'm sure we'll walk some more.

Very near our apartment in SanHattan (Santiago's Manhattan).

One cool morning, we visited Parque Bicentenial, which is a pretty close walk to another neighborhood called Vitacura. (We live in Los Condes.) This park is new -- so the trees don't offer much shade -- but it's really wonderful. It's filled with walking and biking trails, has a wonderful restaurant called Mestizo, and ducks and flamingos to feed.

Much of the play parks have these Spider Man-type climbing  things.

Jumping like a pro.

Trip, of course, loved the play park, except that the equipment is for children a bit older than he is. Nonetheless, we enjoyed it, and we are excited to return to feed the ducks.

Phaedy and a sleepy Trip walking in Parque Forestal.

We also visited Parque Forestal, which runs along the Rio Mapucho (river), and leads to the Marketa Central, where we got to see some fish mongers at work.

The interior of Mercado Central.

A sleepy Trip awakened by fishy smells.

While certainly a touristy experience, the heat and massive crowds (think Bourbon Street at Mardi Gras) got to us, and I don't know that that's our fav.

But we did go to Cerro San Cristobal (Saint Christopher Hill) today, which includes a number of churches and reflection points, as well as a zoo and other fun stuff. (According to Wikipedia, San Cristobal was named by Spanish conquistadors and has always served as a landmark for the city.) A giant statue of the Virgin Mary is on the top of the "hill" (I'd call it a mountain), given to the city in the 1920s from France.

Mary, Phaedy and Trip at the top of San Cristobal.

There were a ton of mountain bikers there, as well as devoted Catholics seeking Him. I think it would be a wonderful experience to go to one of their outdoor services... maybe once we get a little better at our Spanish.

A glorious church on the way to the top of the hill.

Amazing stone artwork on the walls of the church.

The haze clouds how beautiful the view is from a pew at the outdoor chapel.

A view of the city.

Nonetheless, Trip loved climbing all the steps, as well as the "train" ride up there and down. (They call it a funicular, but it seemed like a train to us.) I was a bit frightened of the train ride, myself, but I enjoyed it once I was off.

Pure joy on the train ride.

Happy family.

At the base of Cerro San Cristobal is a lovely bohemian neighborhood called Arte Vista. Speckled with tons of outdoor cafes, jewelry and boutique stores, as well as a lion's share of discoteques, the neighborhood reminded me a ton of the Quarter in New Orleans.

We met some very nice Canadian girls who are teaching English here (which has been identified as the typical "gringo" thing to do), and we had a fantastic pitcher of sangria (but the food at the little cafe we chose left something to be desired...).