Showing posts with label street art. Show all posts
Showing posts with label street art. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

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



Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Valparaíso and Viña del Mar

After about five days in Santiago some friends suggested a day trip to Valparaíso and Viña del Mar. I'd been told by many other travelers and friends that they were both cities that warrented a visit; especially being only an hour and a half from Santiago. Valparaíso is an eclectic port city spreading into the hills that overlook the ocean. There are many colorful, rundown buildings, many covered in graffiti on winding cobblestone streets. It is an interesting place because locals look at graffiti as a form of art and officials don't stop graffiti artists from doing there thing. Ideally I would have liked to have spent at least a few weeks exploring the area, but that wasn't an option for right now.

Valparaíso - the bay

Typical rundown streets - Cerro Concepción


Impressive street art


Cerro Concepción neighborhood

Coffe, Camila, Felipe


More street art


There were many random dogs throughout the city


Felipe, random dog, Brit


Myself looking somewhat awkward in the alley to a small restaurant famous for its chorrillana, which is a plate of french fries covered in scrambled eggs, onions and steak. Amazingly tasty and equally greasy.


Chorrillana and Escudo


Valpo and Avenida España


Just north of Valparaíso is Viña del Mar which is a more upscale, resort town with many high rise condos, bars, restaurants and beaches.


The coast and Valparaíso


Condos


Reñaca Beach - And so begins the Coffe Show


It seemed like a good idea at the time...


At least he tried


Reñaca Beach condos