I love Santiago, Chile

I have been told that there are more interesting places in Chile that I must visit, but I am in love with Santiago.  I was in Santiago for two weeks for work and walked over 50 kilometers around the sprawling city.  I walked from the streets in the business district to the highest peak in the city.  Within viewing distance was the Andes mountains tempting me to climb them.

Santiago mixes Spanish culture and design with modernity.  There are some fabulous restaurants and bars in the center, and even better places not too outside the center.  I was amazed by the consumption of beer that the locals drink.  They have fabulous wines but during the weekend the Chileans are top notch beer drinkers.  There are plenty of places to go dancing, all types of dancing, and I did dance the night away.  Many of the public parks are wonderful, and have lots of interesting Spanish architecture in them.

One interesting part of the city is that some of important places and streets are named after Irish folks.  When I inquired about why I was told that the Irish played an important part of the liberation of Chile from Spain.  Yes, there are streets named after President Kennedy, but far more named after Irish folks, though the only Irish pub I found was not that Irish.

I am planning to go back next year and explore the coast and some other places.   Until then enjoy my pictures of Santiago.