We awoke to another stunningly beautiful Santiago day. Crystal clear blue sky and the temperature around 85 degrees F.
As we walked down our street, sunlight filtered thru the trees' lush green leaves and there was a slight breeze. Simply a lovely way to start our day.
We took the metro to Quinta Normal Parque. As with each stop on the Santiago metro, the interior walls of Quinta Normal's stop were filled with colorful, original tilework.
The Quinta Normal metro stop was extremely impressive. It is a modern glass structure. Here's the interior and
here's the exterior.
After we walked up the numerous flights of stairs from the metro to the Parque Quinta Normal, we emerged into the bright sunlight and saw massive trees lining the pathway with wrought iron lamp posts guiding the way.
We explored the rambling pathways of the park and soon discovered the Chilean National Museum of Natural History. It is one of the oldest museums in South America founded in 1830. Its current building was constructed as a palace in 1875. Just to put that year of palace building in perspective, that was 10 years after our country's North vs. South Civil War.
The interior was amazing.
Instead of simply having an artist's rendering to illustrate the size difference between a human and a great blue whale,
they have a 56 foot long skeleton of a great blue whale that has alternating red and blue colored spotlights to really draw one's attention into the building's exhibits.
Some of the exceptional exhibits were on the geological regions of Chile, the flora and fauna of Chile's numerous climatic zones, along with the animals of Antarctica region of Chile's research area.
Once outside again, we strolled through the park and wandered over to the large lagoon where families had rented paddle boats. What a lovely way to spend a summer day!
We walked past rows and rows of massive palm trees stretching in one area as far as the eye could see. (There's a person in the middle of this photo on the left-hand side for you to gauge the height of these palm trees).
It was so bright out today that the palm fronds' shadows created beautiful silhouettes on the pathways.
We were so impressed with the beauty and splendor of Parque Quinta Normal and yet we had only scratched the surface. I'm certain we'll return here someday, but for today we were headed on our way for lunch in Barrio Brazil.
Between Parque Quinta Normal and Barrio Brazil is Bario Yungay. Barrio Yungay was once an 18th century aristocratic neighborhood. We passed many cultural centers, universities, and museums such as this photo of the cultural film cinema,
This historic district has a beautiful Yungay Square. It was very serene and relaxing.
In the center of this lovely, peaceful square is a statue commemorating the end of the Bolivia-Peru Confederation war against Chile in 1839. The Bolivians and Peruvians called the Chilean soldiers "Rotos" or "broken and weak" ones. Hard to believe that the vicious battle which gave Chile its ultimate victory over Bolivia's and Peru's Confederates was fought right here in the Yungay square.
Chilean troops were mostly common folks and even Chilean children fought in this war. This poignant statue of a child warrior is a tribute to the "sons of Chile". The inscription on the base of the statue translates from Spanish to English as: "Chile gives thanks to her sons, her children, for both their civic and military virtues." That is why it is called the Chilean Roto monument for the Chilean Roto's became victorious.
Surrounding the square are numerous majestic churches many of which consume an entire city block.
After we left Bario Yungay we could tell we were nearing the Barrio Brazil, for we walked thru some pretty amazing streets. Gone were the majestic homes and instead there was graffiti on virtually all the buildings. Not your typical tagged graffiti either. But beautiful works of art.
One of my very favorite places that we walked past was a park with a hilarious climbing creature. Directly across from it was
a bar appropriately named "Springfield". Right at the bar, just waiting for you to buy a drink, were Homer Simpson and Moe!
In keeping with the spirit of Bario Brazil, we found our restaurant that has to be seen in person and experienced to be believed. It is Ocean Pacific. The reviews of this restaurant are stellar "The best restaurant in Santiago for seafood and fish" and
"if one wants to eat real Chilean food at its finest and taste wonderful seafood at its best then go here". So we did. We should have known that we were in for a treat when we had to enter the restaurant by stepping through a submarine's hatch!
We knew we would enjoy it when the sign on the door said:
"If the sea were wine,
then everyone in the world
would be a sailor".
Ocean Pacific definitely has unique decorations...is it a museum restaurant pretending to be aboard a ship in the captain's cabin,
are you inside a submarine or are you inside a huge sperm whale?
And the review didn't lie when it also said, "As much as a visual experience, its gastronomy is delicious and abundant for your whole crew!" It was an amazing visual
and gastronomical experience. The food was phenomenal. Jeff's freshly caught broiled swordfish and my sauteed garlic prawns were the best ever!
We would also return for their divine cappuccinos.
It doesn't get dark in Santiago in the summer until around 9:30 so we decided to walk back home. We headed to Plaza de Armas, always one of our favorite spots to view the government buildings
the fountain for cooling off in the hot sun,
the reflection of the church steeple in the modern bank building
and of course, watching these gentlemen play their afternoon game of chess.
Later that evening we headed back home and packed up for tomorrow morning will come all too soon and we have an early plane to catch. We're going to the Atacama!