Our favorite parks in Santiago

While we are used to having a yard to play in, living in an apartment in Santiago hasn't been so bad because the city is filled with public parks, green spaces and places to play. From where we live, we can walk to more than six play parks within 15 minutes -- and we do so regularly.

Trippie plays on the Spiderman webbing at Parque Bicentenario

Parks here are places to relax. At lunchtime, people have little picnics in them. In the afternoons, you can catch yoga classes at the park, and there are various skateboarding parks and running and biking trails.  Additionally, you find loads of snuggling couples throughout the city's green spaces, as well as multi-generational families strolling after lunch on the weekends.

Trippie plays with his brother Gavin at the park next to our building

Situated right next to Trippie's day school, we certainly frequent Plaza Peru the most. This is a neighborhood park for our area, and Trip loves it because he knows he'll see a little friend there (and because of the sand).

Little Trip plays with blocks at Plaza Peru

Ready, set: Slide!

Another park we love to visit is the El Golf park, in front of the San Francisco Catholic church. A little longer of a walk, the El Golf park is nice because it is shaded -- which is a must during the summer.

Playing on the up-down next to our building

Just a couple of blocks from our apartment, Parque Bicentenario is one of our favorites because there is a ton of room to run, multiple play sets and lots of public umbrellas and chairs for lounging on a nice day. Additionally, Parque Bicentenario tends to host neighborhood events, such as the fonda celebration during fiestas patrias, wine and food events, and even outdoor movies.

Parque Bicentenario on a beautiful fall day

Near my office, we love to play at Parque Araucano, which houses multiple play sets, a skatepark, rose garden and stunning views. Trip calls this park "the roundy park" because the play equipment is circular, and many times the boys go here while they wait for me to get off work. Parque Araucano  hosts similar events for the Las Condes neighborhood, and on Wednesday mornings, there is a feria that offers farm-fresh veggies at prices less than the grocery store.

Parque Araucano with the snow-topped mountains in the distance

Street dogs of Santiago

Moving to South America meant leaving out sweet puppies behind. It was such a hard decision because Beetsie, Brindy and Bonnie Blue were family. Thankfully, our sweet family took our girls for the time we were gone (but sadly, they have all passed on since we left).

Beetsie and Baby Trip in 2010

Nonetheless, we are able to get our puppy fix with all the dogs around Santiago (and Chile in general). Adding to the culture of the city, Santiago is filled with street dogs -- everywhere you look, there are street dogs dotting the landscape.

Snuggled up at the entrance to Tobalaba metro station, Santiago

Going for a ride at la vega

In Valparaiso

Guarding his artist on Cerro Alegre

Even if the cabbies pass me by for petting them, the street dogs pull at my heartstrings every day. And I'm not the only one who loves them; there are droves of people who care for these dogs, from neighborhood sweethearts who leave out food and water to commando groups who clothe the pups when it's cold outside. Additionally, there are a ton of pet rescue groups.

Wheels on the go

Cat nap in Viña

Patrick began capturing the city and our adventures from a dog perspective, and it has been a fun pastime to collect these images as we explore our new home. In that, Patrick started a group on Facebook called Santiago Street Dogs, and the city paper, El Mercurio, interviewed him and published a piece about it.

On the beach in Pichilemu

In Portillo