A not-so-chilly winter week in Chile

Well, although I hadn't intended to spend more than a few hours here in Santiago, I've been here for almost a week now (due in large part to the outstanding hospitality of Eyal's extended family). It's been truly wonderful to stay a ways outside of a city for the first time in weeks/months, especially considering the immense cloud of smog that keeps Santiago prisoner year round. Each night, the stars have been stunning as seen from the back patio of our hosts' house and the Milky Way is so clear that I've had a hard time distinguishing it from an actual cloud on a number of occasions. It's also been really easy to get around despite staying about an hour outside the city because of the well set-up public transit system. The city itself is also easy to get around on foot and we've spent a number of days walking around the main Avenue (La Alameda) checking out some impressive buildings and the Plaza de Armas. Thus far, the most impressive thing I've seen is the Museum of Pre-Colombian Art, which has a spectacularly well-preserved collection of artifact from all over Central and South America. The small room full of textiles was enough to keep me occupied for at least an hour oggling the intricate patterns and subtly different weaving techniques. In addition, I spent a sweltering hot afternoon walking up, down, and around the myriad small paths of Cerro Santa Lucia, which with its many beautiful gardens, small church, look-out tower, and wonderful rock outcroppings remains the most beautiful outdoor space I've seen thus far in Santiago.

Gotta go for now, be back with more reflections in the near future...

I spent a sweltering hot afternoon walking up, down, and around the myriad small paths of Cerro Santa Lucia, which with its many beautiful gardens, small church, look-out tower, and wonderful rock outcroppings remains the most beautiful outdoor space I've seen thus far in Santiago.