Christmas & New Year in Santiago

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We weren´t expecting too much from our visit to Santiago, we had been told that the Chilean capital resembled any ordinary city with nothing particularly unique to offer. We were therefore pleasantly surprised by what we found: a lively, friendly, walkable, full of endless possibilties type of city. We celebrated Christmas and New Year there and met some great people. We explored the various neighbourhoods (barrios) changing hostel once from Barrio Brazil to the Bellavista Barrio in order to check out the different vibes. Even the smog and the hole in the ozone layer above Santiago didn´t bother us, we just slapped on the factor 50 and walked and walked. I discovered an interest for the city street art (otherwise known as grafitti) and Jonty for the city´s many stray sleeping dogs, yup we kept ourselves busy!

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Photos

Louise´s favourite: move over Banksy
Street Art business district. Sushi a favourite.

Plaza de Armas
Jonty y los tres Reyes

Chorrillana for two
Chips, steak, onions and scrambled eggs (looked a bit like leftovers to us but tasted pretty good).

Cerro San Cristobal
main hill in the city

Cerro Santa Lucia
Views of the city from this central hill

The river
flows fast but isn´t pretty

Cerro Santa Lucia´s sleeping dogs
a bench is not complete without one

Centro Cultural Palacio de la Moneda
The Terracotta Warriors were also in town

Made in China
Terracotta Warriors (circa 200 BC)

Dog tired
from shopping

Pigs in Blankets
well they asked for something typically English for Christmas dinner

Christmas dinner
at Casa Amarilla.

Relaxing on Christmas day!
Santa´s little helper

Comments

[Lynn]

looks amazing Jonty!!!
This is much better than asking your mum how you're doing and where you are Jonty... A very happy new year to you both, your trip of a lifetime looks 'outa this world', the photos are beautiful. I look forward to following your journey guys, keep up the blog and goodluck with your travels..... LotsaLuv Lynn.. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx