A few years ago, for my birthday, I decided to spontaneously go on a trip to Chile. There's two things that came with this trip:
I have never been down to South America.
I only had the weekend which meant I'd only get two full days in Santiago, yet that did not stop me from going.
I always hear people telling me how South America is dangerous and I should pick somewhere else to go. But you know what I say? Fear is the barrier between what you want to do and what you can do. Do not be afraid of trying new things and seeing the world with an open mind. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
One of the benefits of being able to maximize my time in Santiago was due to the flight schedule. I love red eye flights, as it gives you the chance to sleep at night on the flight and arrive bright and early morning at your destination, leaving you with a full day to explore. After having done so many spontaneous weekend adventures, it's safe to say that it's not the best option for many as it can get pretty tiring, and quite quickly too.
When I reached Santiago early in the morning, I had no idea what to expect or what to do! I knew nothing about the place, except for my little knowledge about Valparaiso, which I wouldn't have time for. I relied on my limited Spanish skills to get by.
I found an airline worker who happened to be finishing her overnight shift. She helped me get from the airport to the city center, by accompanying me in the bus and showing me where to go and where to stop. I booked 1 night at a hotel in the Bellavista neighborhood.
I personally loved this neighborhood and felt quite safe, as I found security to be almost everywhere. I especially loved the graffiti-lined streets. There is a lot of restaurant options and boutique shops. You can even explore La Chascona, the former home of Pablo Neruda.
After dropping the bag at the hotel and checking in, I made my way to the first stop, which also happened to be within walking distance from the hotel: San Cristóbal Hill. This hill is inside the Metropolitan Park, and to get to the top, you can take a cable car, where you are greeted with a beautiful view of Santiago. Alternatively, you can also get to the top by bus, car or by walking up.
At San Cristóbal Hill, you may also find other attractions, such as a Virgin Mary statue, a zoo, a Japanese garden, a chapel and a museum. I felt like going early in the morning was the best option, as there were not too many people, but sunset is great too. You can easily spend half the day here.
I explored the graffiti on the walls by walking around the neighborhood, and spending time at the square in our neighborhood. There, I also came across a beautiful area with lots of restaurants and shops, where I had dinner and dessert, before heading back to the hotel to call it a night.
On the next day, after having breakfast at the hotel, I made my way to the first stop of the day, Plaza de Armas. On our way, I came across a few ladies wearing traditional wear and decided to snap a few pictures with them. I also noticed that there were booths set up near the main square, similar to a farmer's market.
We then made our way to La Moneda Palace. Declared as a national monument in 1951, Palacio de la Moneda, holds a major significance in the country's political history, as a military coup took place there in 1973. Today, it stands at the seat of the President of the Republic and the headquarters of several ministries.
Last stop of the day was a late lunch at Mercado Central. I loved this market so much. It is any seafood lovers' paradise! Picture this: fresh seafood galore, from lobster to crab, to any type of fish you want! Not to mention, there is also live entertainment with bands coming to your table to sing you a song. If you order a lobster, they bring it to you to the table and clean it for you. Overall, the restaurants here create a dining experience for you I found and makes it a moment you can't forget.
Ending the day with good food was just what I needed before heading back to the airport and getting on a red-eye flight back to Toronto. The flight was expected to arrive by 6 am Monday morning and just like that, the weekend was already over and I was supposed to be back to class for 8 am, before going to work for an afternoon shift.
On our way back though, something unusual happened, where we had an incident of someone passing away on board, thus upon landing in Toronto, we were held in the plane for a while longer. I had to quickly make my way home, where I managed to get in a quick shower and making it to class on time. I didn't have time to relax after the trip, until I got home later that night, after having a long day of class followed by a shift at work, but was it worth it? Absolutely! I got a glimpse of Santiago and loved every moment of the short weekend.
I have met some lovely and amazing people in Santiago and I would love to go back. You can't really judge anything based on the feedback that other people give you, you really need to experience it for yourself to really know.
Have you been to Chile yet? If not, is it on your list?
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