Santiago 2 - Bellavista

Having walked into the city centre the previous day, it was no problem deciding to get the metro this time. We had a further look around and headed towards the tourist info to sort out the places to visit. It was here that we learnt that the Pre-columbian museum is closed for restoration for two years! That was one of our plans out the window straight away! So we hung about, went to the fish market that is now mainly a trendy restaurant left and then had lunch.

Anne's avocado salad

gary's churrasco a la pobre

We moved on towards Bellavista, a barrio that is well known for its drinking and eating. It is also known as the place of one of Pablo Neruda's (3) homes (incidentally. a controversy broke out while we were there concerning the manner of Neruda's death and is at the foot of Cerro San Cristobal a local 'mountain'. it is possible to ascend this by funicular. It has been suggested that he was poisoned by Pinochet's thugs).
It's a very colourful place with a fair amount of street art (more of which in a later post).

Neruda's house

restaurant

above the restaurant door

There is a parkway between Bellavista and Providencia that runs alongside the river Mapoche. This river has been channelled as it used to flood but now the river runs at immense speed down the middle of the channel cutting a new deeper bed. This leaves the banks dry for the local creative talents.

meanwhile in the park there was an 'International Food Festival' containing quite a number of stalls selling a wide range of foodstuffs - though not necessarily from a wide range of countries. Among the items were a number of stalls selling local Cerveza Artesanale (REAL ALE!) as well as giving out free samples - Anne wouldn't let me have any! (Howls of outrage behind me at the suggestion).
Beyond this was one of the best fountains I have seen - think Piccadilly (manchester version) only in nice surroundings and with more aesthetic effect!