Random Photo

Storm clouds from Bolivia rolling in over The Atacama Desert.

Rainy Santiago Weekend

It was a rainy weekend in Santiago, but for most Santiaguinos the rain is more than welcome because it means two positive things. First, that the winter smog and haziness will be temporarily washed away when the rain subsides and the city will seem clearer than ever. I like to think of it as Santiago in HD. The second reason being that it is probably snowing up in the mountains both making the views in Santiago even more impressive with snowcapped mountains and getting the 2012 ski season moving forward.

Sunday evening the rain gave up and the skies opened up to a beautiful sunset. 

The view from right outside my apartment

The view walking home to my apartment. My building is the one right after the farthest palm tree on the left side of the frame

Random Photo - Santiago Centro

Another image from Cerro Santa Lucia:

Cerro Santa Lucia at Dusk

Cerro Santa Lucia is just two blocks from my apartment and I haven't gotten to explore it much until today. I also haven't seen any of the Santiago skyline since I've moved down here, so it was well overdue. It's not as nice as the view from Cerro San Cristobal, but for being just steps from the apartment it's not too bad. This very cool public park is basically a Spanish Colonial style fortress covering a steep hill in the center of Santiago. These aren't views from the top, maybe about half way up, so it does get even better higher up.

Urban Planning vs. People's Homes

While exploring the neighborhoods surrounding my apartment I have encountered some notable buildings, streets and corners of life. Being in Santiago Centro I'm within a 15 minute walk of Barrio Brasil and Yungay, Bella Vista, Bella Artes, Patronato and Providencia. Each with distinct environments and groups of people. 

One area I have found generally bland is south of Alameda around the Santa Lucia Metro station. It is largely high rise apartments that all look exactly the same with minimal nightlife and culture beyond the graffiti covered walls (which themselves are really impressive, but graffiti alone can't make up for an otherwise boring neighborhood). 

Walking down Carmen I did happen to stumble upon these few buildings that must have been half knocked down when the road was put in.

                                    

Not sure what year it was, but it has definitely been for a while. But the strange thing was that beyond being the canvas for some street artists they appear untouched since the day they were half destroyed. Half rooms still remain with doors to the neighboring rooms where I'm assuming people still live. 

It's unfortunate that this building was subject to forced expansion by the city. That, and those ugly high rise apartments in the background are rapidly taking over the skyline.

                                      

Cool street art

Finally found an Apartment

It has been a little while since posting and that is because we have FINALLY moved into an apartment. A month and a half of searching and I thought it would never happen. But we found one and it is in a great location. In the heart of Santiago and walking distance to everything I like, want and need. Right next to Cerro Santa Lucia and in between the Santa Lucia and Bella Artes Metros. It's a great feeling to get a cool, antique apartment with lots of character in the neighborhood you want. Unlike in NYC where you are forced to get one in the few neighborhoods you can afford.

So we don't have internet and will be without it for up to 15 days, according the the internet service provider. So the posts will be limited while we get set up here. Soon enough I will get some photos up of the apartment and neighborhood. For now, here is a random photo from Bellavista, a small barrio about 12 blocks north of my apartment.