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SANTIAGO
The towering Andes provide an awesome backdrop for the
sprawling metropolis of Santiago. The population of this
flat urban stage that spreads out from a compact city
centre numbers more than five million. Despite this, a
small town atmosphere prevails downtown where friends
will more than likely meet and greet each other in the
overcrowded streets and bustling walkways of the main
commercial district.
The city is a curious mix of skyscrapers and 19th-century
European architecture, with some Spanish adobe bungalows
thrown in for good measure. Threaded through this
architectural tapestry are numerous green areas, busy
markets, and quaint old squares. Street life is vibrant,
and adding to the vibe is the presence of numerous chic
sidewalk cafes, outside of which traditionally dressed
women hawk their wares hoping to catch the eye of the
tourists. There are also some small but impressive
museums, several modern hotels, excellent restaurants
and some good shopping opportunities in the Ahumada and
Huerfanos pedestrian malls.
The city exudes an aura of health and wealth in the
inner city and fashionable suburbs, despite the shabby
shantytowns stretching out from behind the skyscraper
facade. The city is also one of the 10 most severely
polluted cities in the world, thanks to its position in
a bowl of mountains. It is nevertheless an excellent
base in which to spend a relaxing few days taking
excursions to the wineries, national parks and ski areas,
which are all within easy reach of the city. |
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