PlanetEye

What is a completo, you ask? Well, it is the most beloved and eaten food in Chile. A completo to a Chilean is the equivalent of a hamburger to an American. You cannot walk a block in Santiago without seeing a completo stand or a fast food joint selling them. They come in many different flavors for all different kinds of tastes. Chileans eat them for lunch, dinner and as snacks. The most unusual thing about them is that you probably have already had something similar during your lifetime. You see, a completo is basically a hot dog on steroids. That description puts a completo in its most basic form, but a completo is so much more than just an ordinary hot dog.

All completos contain a bun and a hot dog, but that is where the similarities end with it North American cousin. From there Chileans pile on the toppings. The best way to describe it is to think of it like a pizza. The basic setup of a pizza is a dough, sauce, and cheese, but from there the imagination is allowed to run wild with other toppings. So just as Americans have taken the pizza to new tasty limits, so too have the Chileans with the completo. The most popular combination is called the Italiano. An Italiano completo is topped with avocado, tomato and mayonnaise. If that does not sound good to you, I am sure you will be able to find a combination that suits your tastes as Chileans will put just about anything on their completos. I have even seen completos with eggs on them. Completos make for a very good meal, or a quick bite to eat. So act like the locals and order up a couple of completos the next time you are hungry.

Nestled among art galleries and night clubs in Barrio Bellavista sits the restaurant, El Otro Sitio. The restaurant's menu is Peruvian based with Chilean influences. The atmosphere is welcoming and the wait staff are friendly. White table clothes and monogrammed plates sit upon the tables. Upon taking your seat you will be politely asked if you would like a pisco sour. While tradition suggest you should start off your meal with a local drink, have no worries if you prefer another dinner drink as the bar stocks beer, and a decent size wine list. Given the Peruvian influences the menu is mainly seafood dishes with a couple of pasta and meat plates. If you have never tried ceviche, there could not be a better place than a Peruvian restaurant. Also upon looking at the menu you will find that half of the menu is composed of starters. So if you are in the mood for a tapas style dinner this place could easily suit your needs. But if you need bigger portions have no fear as many of the dishes are large and more than likely you will leave some food on your plate.

El Otro Sitio's good food and reasonably priced menu has made this place a popular destination for tourist and locals alike. In fact, its popularity has enabled it to open three additional restaurants throughout Santiago. So even if you are not in Barrio Bellavista, you may be able to enjoy this wonderful restaurant. Just have a look at their website, find the nearest branch and get your taste buds ready for a great meal at a local institution.

For those who like to see the off beat parts of cities then Barrio Patronato is your kind of place in Santiago. To a Chilean, Patronato is the place where you would go to buy textiles. Just about every street in Patronato is lined with clothing shops. While to some this might sound like a great reason alone to visit Patronato, it is the buildings that will catch your eye. Walking through Patronato one cannot help but to stop and stare at the graffiti on the buildings. At first glance, you might think that this is just another run down neighborhood like so many in North America, but upon closer inspection something seems out of place. This is not the traditional or normal graffiti that you have seen before. You start to notice the graffiti has a purpose as each building seems to have its own theme. Then you start to realize that the graffiti looks more like it was put there with an artistic perspective. Something is very strange about Patronato, and it gets even more strange when you find out that the locals are proud of their buildings with graffiti all over them.

You see a few years back a newly elected mayor wanted to spruce up Barrio Patronato, but did not have the funds to do it all himself. Many of the exterior of the buildings needed a fresh coat of paint. So the mayor devised a plan to embrace those who graffiti buildings. The mayor told the people of Patronato that they should embrace these "artists" and give them a place to express themselves. The results can be seen all over Patronato today.

The scheme was really simple. An artist would contact the building owner and offer to paint the outside of the building. If the owner accepted then the owner's building would get a fresh coat of paint, with the artist's touch of course, and the artist would get a canvas to show the world his work. This was great for all involved as it cost the building owners nothing to get a fresh coat of paint and it gave the artists a unique medium to show their work. This has created a very unusual neighborhood in Santiago. So to see a unique side of Santiago and some creative government policy at work, head over to Barrio Patronato.

A destination that can fill all of your needs in Santiago is Patio Bellavista. Here you will find food, drinks, souvenirs, art, travel agencies, a hotel, and live entertainment. Patio Bellavista sits in between the streets Pio Nono and Constitución, in Barrio Bellavista, but you would never know this place exists except for the modest signs on the buildings. However, those who venture in find a calming oasis from the hustle and bustle of Santiago. As the name implies this place is a patio and everything revolves around the open air center. Shops and restaurants line the outer edges of the patio and plenty of seating can be found in case you need to get off of your feet. The souvenir shops in Patio Bellavista tend to sell higher grade and better made trinkets than those you will find elsewhere in the city. Some of the souvenirs being offered up include the traditional items such as postcards, t-shirts, hats, key chains, and glassware. However, you will also find local textile products, anything and everything made from copper, hand crafted jewelry, local wines, and leather goods.

The best way to experience Patio Bellavista is to walk around at first and see what is being offered by the local merchants. Then grab an outdoor seat at one of the many bars or restaurants and have a drink or a bit to eat. Finish off the trip by buying souvenirs for everyone on your list. To make your visit even better I would recommend visiting during the evening and plan on having dinner at Patio Bellavista. At night during the summer months live music is almost always being offered by one of the restaurants and sometimes a band can be found playing right in the middle of the patio. It is also worth noting that many local Chileans eat at the restaurants in Patio Bellavista. So even though Patio Bellavista was built for tourists, Chileans have found this charming spot and give it a truly local feel.

Any trip through Santiago would not be complete without a stop at Parque Metropolitano Cerro San Cristobal.  This is the largest park in Santiago and sits atop the second highest peak in Santiago.  The park houses a public zoo, gardens, picnic areas, miles of hiking and walking trails, two public swimming pools, a gondola, and at the summit an open air church, amphitheater, and 22 meter tall statute of the Virgin Mary.  The main entrance into San Cristobal is in Barrio Bellavista.  At the main entrance you will many local artists selling their goods, and when you make your way past them you will be forced to make your first decision in the park.  As previously stated this park sits atop a hill, and to fully enjoy the park you must get to the top of the hill.  Your two options in reaching the top is to pay for a ticket to ride the funicular or walk up to the top of the hill.  A walk is enjoyable and nice, but it is not an easy walk.  So if you do not like strenuous walks up hills, I would recommend a ride on the funicular.  The funicular will drop you off just below the summit.  From the funicular drop off just a short walk is required to get to the open air church and the great views to be had from atop Santiago's second highest peak.  Also nearby is a restaurant and the park's gondola.  A trip on the gondola will drop you off at one of the park's two pools, called Tupahue.  The second pool, called Antilén, can be reached via taxis that can be found at the entrance of the park or at the entrance to Tupahue.  Finally, if you are visiting Cerro San Cristobal stop at one of the information booths near the entrance to get a map of the park.  This is an essential tool in a visit as many of the parks attractions are poorly identified inside the park.  The park maps are easy to read and will guide you where you need to get.  

Recently the Travel Channel personality Andrew Zimmern experienced Chile and all its food treasures.  You can read about Mr. Zimmern's experience in the Mercado Central here.  After reading his accounts you might be a little weary about visiting the Mercado Central, but don't be alarmed if you don't share his food tolerances as the Mercado Central has many options to fit your appetite.  Like many other markets, the Mercado Central is housed in old and aging buildings with cuts of meat hanging from everywhere.  Upon entering the market the smells, sights and sounds will leave no doubt in your mind that you are in the food heart of Santiago.  The real pleasure of the Mercado Central is all of the restaurants lining the outer edges of the market.  You will not get a fresher meal in Santiago than a meal in the Mercado Central.  So after you are done walking around and absorbing the experience, pick out a restaurant and grab a seat.  

However, if you want a truly local experience I would recommend the nearby Mercado Vega.  Just across the Rio Mapocho from the Mercado Central is the larger Mercado Vega.  While the Mercado Central gets all of the press, the larger Mercado Vega is more authentic and not overrun with tourist.  Because the Mercado Vega does not get all of the press it is less of a tourist trap than the Mercado Central and, therefore, you will truly find cheap eats and cheap goods in the Mercado Vega.  The Mercado Vega has everything from socks, electronics, meat, fruits and vegetables.  Put another way, if you are looking for it, you can find it at Mercado Vega.  So grab your walking shoes and appetite and head to either the Mercado Central or Mercado Vega for a great Chilean experience.  

When one thinks of Santiago the images of high fashion probably do not come to mind.  However, tucked away within the Yarur Bascuan residence, in Santiago, is the museo de la Moda.  The museum houses an extensive fashion collection showcasing the evolution of fashion trends.  Pieces come from all over the world, but the majority of the collection consists of pieces from Europe, Latin America and North America.  In addition to the fashion collection, the museum has a permanent collection devoted to the history of tennis and its impact on fashion.

Not to be outdone by the fashion on display, the house itself should be admired for its architectural details.  The house was built by between 1960-62 by Chilean architects Carlos Bolton, Sergio Larrain, Luis Prieto and Jamie Lorca.  Those knowledgeable about architectural design will clearly see the influence of American architect Frank Lloyd Wright in the design of the house.  While walking through the museum you will notice that certain rooms do not showcase fashion, but instead contain original furniture and decorations of the former inhabitants.  The grounds themselves also overflowing with many variates of plants and trees and add to the overall experience of a visit.

After walking through the the museum a visit to the attached cafe, El Garage, is a welcoming experience.  As can be deduced from the name, the cafe is housed in the former garage of the house.  The cafe has a typical lunch style menu with coffees, juices, and beer to chose from.  The museo de la Moda is clearly an enjoyable experience and should be on everyone's list of places to see in Santiago.