Santiago

Santiago is surrounded by huge Andean peaks and is the most picturesque city I have ever visited, only beating Vancouver because of the amazing architecture to be found throughout the city. 

Due to the number of earthquakes Santiago has endured you often see old style colonial buildings with modern buildings built next them where the previous building collapsed or was badly damaged. Walking around the backstreets of the city many stunning buildings can be seen.

We visited Mercado central which is a fish market just outside the city centre where you can also eat freshly caught and prepared seafood dishes, and the restraunt owners haggle with each other for your custom. The food is delicious!

You can also buy a Completo (highly recommended) which is a hot dog with avocado, diced tomatoe, mayonaise and sometimes saurkraut all for the bargain price of around 45 pence, delicious and a total bargain!! 

Mercado central fish market

Telefonica tower

Old and new

The view from Cerro Santa Lucia in the centre of Santiago, aka the heavy petting zoo due to the huge number of amorous couples to be found lurking on benches and in bushes!

The bottom of Cerro Santa Lucia

The best completo's in all of Chile come from this stall!! All for the price of 45 pence!!!!

The most beautiful backdrop for a city apart from the smog, photo taken from Cerro Cristobal a huge park/hill near to the city centre

Lots of melted candles at the top of Cerro Cristobal next to a huge Mary statue and accessed by the shadiest gondola I have had the pleasure of riding in.

One of the many intricately adorned buildings

Palm lined street