Santiago – lots of smog in Chile’s capital

Although I didn‘t really plan to go to Santiago it was my first stop in Chile. Not having  booked any accomodation I ended up in a very loud hostel, because all the others I checked were already full and it was quite late.

The  next day I used for strolling around in the city center and doing some sightseeing. I visited Plaza de Armas (the main square), La Moneda (the parliament), Cerro Santa Lucia (one of the hills in the city center with a nice view). After having lunch in Barrio Bellavista, the district with most of the restaurant and bars, I went to visit La Chascona, one of the three houses, owned by Pablo Neruda.

The house was situated just on the foot of Cerro Cristobal with a museum in it. There you could see how he was living with his wife. He also owned a house in Valparaiso, which I visited as well, and one in Isla Negra at the shore of the Pacific Ocean. After that I hiked up Cerro San Cristobal, the highest hill in town, to get some other views of the city and its smog.

Before heading to Valparaiso the next day, I went to see the Museum of Human rights. One of the best museums, I visited so far. Great overview and introduction into chilenian history and the dictatorship under Auguste Pinochet from 1973 to 1990

some pictures of the journey from the Argentinian border to Santiago

some pictures of Santiago

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