36 Hours in Chile
Saturday, July 1st - Monday, July 2nd, 2017
Minneapolis, MN, Atlanta, GA, Santiago & Valparaiso, Chile
Of course, that's not to say everything went off without a hitch... Our flight from Atlanta to Chile was delayed a good ol' three hours. And due to some interesting standby rules in Chile, we couldn't check-in and go through security until we'd been guaranteed a seat on the plane. Which doesn't happen until about 30 min before the doors close. Ergo, on the way back to the US, we had only 30 min to scramble through security and run to the gate. (Also, I was wearing soleless mocassins. Which, let me tell you, are very comfortable. But really bad for running across a slippery-titled floor airport.) Airport shenanigans aside, Chile also had a bunch of big elections on Sunday, which shut down all the museums and the sale of alcohol.
So was it worth it? OF COURSE, IT WAS! It wouldn't be a true adventure if everything went perfectly. Santiago and Valparaiso were full of color and energy. Although our Spanish was pretty bad, and only about every third person spoke English, people were still friendly and kind. The city was a mashup of classic European architecture, modern buildings, and markets. It felt safe, but still totally new. And in our 36 hours, we managed to pack a lot in and see some great (non-museum) sites.
Day 1: An Airport Struggle
Day 2: Football, the Virgin Mary, and Markets
Av Presidente Kennedy 4700, Vitacura, Región Metropolitana, Chile
The staff was very friendly and accommodating. Things ran a little slow here, but that wasn't a huge deal. Our room wasn't ready when we checked in, but they let us use the spa to freshen up (which was honestly more efficient anyway, since there were more sinks and showers.) Even though it wasn't within walking distance to the sites we wanted to see, but that wasn't a problem since we had a rental car. Overall it was a nice stay, and we'd come here again.
Cathedral Metropolitana de Santiago
Plaza de Armas, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile
This Cathedral was designed by Joaquín Toesca and is the seat of the archdiocese in Santigo. Although we didn't get to go in (it was closed because of the elections) the exterior was beautiful and the surrounding Plaza de Armas was a great place to people watch.
El Aji Seco
Calle San Antonio 530, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile
We came here for lunch. The food was really good, and the service was too. There was a good mix of locals and tourists. The portions were really big but that was just fine because I was VERY HUNGRY. I had Tacu Tacu, which is a Peruvian dish of rice and beans, with a steak, topped off with two fried eggs.
Mercado Central
Mercado Central de Santiago, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile
The Mercado was a huge covered building, filled with fresh fish and a restaurant at the center. An interesting place to walk around, and if we were staying longer, in an apartment with a kitchen, it might've been fun to buy some fish to cook up. But since we're only here for a short time, and we're staying in a hotel, we didn't buy anything. I would not recommend going if you can't stomach the smell or look of raw fish.
Pergola Santa Maria
Avenida La Paz, Recoleta, Independencia, Región Metropolitana, Chile
This is a flower market. Not really a tourist destination, but oh my goodness were the flowers beautiful! (And it smelled a whole lot better than the fish market.) I was really mourning the inability to bring flowers through customs. They had bouquets, but also large flower arrangements for celebrations and funerals. They were over the top and gorgeous. Outside the building, a bunch of fried chicken vendors were set up, selling food to passersby.
Mercado Triso de Molina
Artesanos 700, Recoleta, Santiago 8320000, Chile
This was another market we walked through, and it sold a wider variety of food than the Mercado Central. It had more everyday items. One little shop that I found particularly interesting had a bunch of barrels, filled with different kinds of kibble that you could purchase for your dog or cat. Who knew you could buy pet food at the market?
Cerro San Cristobal
Pio Nono 450, Parque Metropolitano de Santiago, Santiago 8320000, Chile
This was one of my favorite stops of the whole trip. We took a gondola ride to the top of the hill, to see a statue of the Virgin Mary. The gondolas offered amazing panoramic views of the city. Being winter, it was off season, but we could see the pools that are open in the summer. (A little creepy, because they were half filled with sludgy water and looked abandoned.) There are lots of hiking trails and playgrounds. It's someplace I'd like to revisit and explore some more.
Day 3: Valparaíso
Valparaíso is a port city about an hour outside of Santiago, known for its brightly color street art and funiculars. It's also the home of the late poet, Pablo Neruda. We had a fun time exploring the beautiful, winding, and steep streets. We especially enjoyed climbing up a flight of painted stairs that said, "WE ARE NOT HIPPIES, WE ARE HAPPIES" at the top, and poking our heads into a few art galleries. I wouldn't miss this town if you're ever in Chile.
Cafe Allegretto
Picomayo 529, Valparaíso, Región de Valparaíso, Chile
This restaurant had great food, and an easy going, comfortable feel to it. The service was fast and friendly. I had gnocchi, while the rest of the family had pizza.
Now that we've been here once, we can't wait to come back!
Adiós,
Cristiana
