WHAT TO DO / WHERE TO GO IN SANTIAGO

Santiago is one of the most important cities in South America. There are many interesting places for foreign tourist, many places to visit and many many activities to do. Really, Santiago is a fun city for tourists.

Personally, I recommend to foreign tourists visit the historic city center: the central square (“Plaza de Armas”), and the old colonial buildings located around the cathedral. Another place interesting to be visited is the Santa Lucía hill and the San Cristobal hill, where are beautiful roads, one cable car system and the metropolitan zoo. Other places to visit are the government palace (La Moneda), The Municipal Theater and the Museum of Fine Arts. Equally, the Pre-Columbian Art Museum, in the downtown, and the Natural History Museum, in the “Quinta normal” garden. Finally, a necessary place to be visited by a foreign tourist is the the central market, near the mapocho estation (an old railway station) and the ahumada walk, a typical urban area in Santiago.

In addition to these visits, a foreign tourist can not fail to visit the Bellavista neighborhood (typically area of Santiago's bohemian) and the bio bio popular market, near Metro station Franklin. In Bellavista, the tourist can visit and attend parties bars, where they touch all music styles. In the case of bio bio popular market, tourists can buy all sorts of items, at cheap prices. Finally, I recommend to foreign tourists go to the central station, where can buy a train ticket and go to another chilean cities.

If you ask me, my top 5 list of activities for a foreign tourist is: 1-the visit of the central square, cathedral and de historic city central, because of its cultural and historical importance. 2-the visit to Santa Lucía and San Cristobal hill, because of the beautiful roads. 3-the visit to “Quinta normal”, because it is a park with over a hundred years old. 4-the visit to bio bio popular market and 5-the visit to central station, because they are a typical popular area of our city.

SEPTEMBER 18TH

Hi everyone, this week on my blog I will talk about the September 18th. This date indicate the celebration of the creation of the first government joint in 1810. In other words, the creation of our first national government. Some people think that on 18 September we celebrate our nacional independence. They are wrong, our national independence was not conquered on September 18 of 1810. On the contrary, our independence would be conquered in 1818, several years later. However, September 18th is significant because it marks the beginning of oue fight for the national liberation. That is, the first steps of our journey as an independent republic.

For almost two hundred years, Chileans celebrate September 18th as a national holiday. In this day are performed dances, dinners, parties and all kinds of celebrations, in honor of our national indepedent. Usually, many people consume food and alcoholic beverages in these celebrations. We eat empanadas, chicha and drink chicha, a famous chilean grape brandy. Traditionally, September 18th is celebrated in the famous "Fondas", spaces where we dance cueca and other typical dances. In the nineteenth century, the "Fondas" called "Chinganas". However, today in the fondas are other types of dance dance; for example, cumbia, regueton (“perreo”) and other exotic dances.

Personally, I celebrate on September 18th by a barbecue and drink chicha. I prefer the traditional celebrations! However, at night go out with my friends, not necessarily to fondas. This year we will travel to Valparaiso to attend a party at a bar... And I think we take more beer than chicha.

TRANSANTIAGO: BEFORE AND AFTER

Hi everyone, this week on my blog I will talk about the TRANSANTIAGO. In general, my opinion of TRANSANTIAGO is very very bad... before and after! Transantiago sucks! It's slow, dirty and noisy and there are not enough lines. Transantiago is one of the worst things that has made the Bachelet administration. If it were me, I would eliminate Transantiago from the face of the earth... I am an angry citizen!


In many ways, Transantiago is worse than the pre-Transantiago system. For example, it is much harder to reach distant places of the city, there are no travels after 1 am, stations are far from the places of destination and many many, many!, etc. With the pre-Transantiago system was much easier to get to any place, stations were closer to home and had traveled all night. Yes, the yellow buses were much better than Transantiago! Finally, In Transantiago I can not jump from the moving bus to get off the bus. It was very entertaining and exciting to do that! However, in only one aspect is better Transantiago: there are fewer assaults and crimes within the buses. In other words, there are fewer bad boys (flytes) trying to steal the drivers.

In few words, my experience with the Transantiago when he started the new system is almost similar to today. Nasty! However, I admit that at first the crowds were giants, and bus’s wait times are crazy. If it's for me, I changes the transantiago for another system. I would return the yellow buses... to jump when they are still moving!

A COUNTRY I WOULD LIKE TO VISIT

One country that I would like to visit is Italy. It is necessary explain why? In few words, I would like to go to Italy because it is one of the most important historical and artistic centers in Europe. Its attractions include the historic remains of some of the world's major civilizations, the art of the Roman Empire, the renaissance architectural and many many other things.

However, my knowledge of Italy is general, although a little more detailed than usual. Anyway, I know that Italy was the center of the great Roman Empire (between year 0 and V century AD), one of the most important regions of the medieval Europe (in the tenth and eleventh century), and the place of origin of the most important artists of the Renaissance (during the twelfth and fifteenth century). In the city of Rome is also the Vatican, a older independent state, the capital of the Catholic Church. Also, in Italy there are, besides Rome and the Vatican, other important historic cities with many cultural and tourist attractions: for example, Florencia, Milán, Napoles, etc.

In iItaly, I would like to visit as many archaeological sites, museums, art galleries and cities as posible, depending on the time and money available. Obviously, In Italy I would like also to eat the typical food of Italy, pizzas!, and go to some parties... ... to learn the italian language better.

In summary, I think I'd like to live some months in Italy, to understand their culture and study about their history. On the other hand, if I could some postgraduate study of European history in Italy would be great, amazing! However, during my stay in Italy I think get fat a little, for the pastas!

FIRST TERM: GOOD AND BAD POINTS

Hi everyone, this week on my blog I will talk about the first term of 2009. During these months, I can say I enjoyed very much my university life. In general, it was a good experience, interesting, very motivating in many aspects. I have learned many new things in different areas of my career: for example, among other fields, in anthropology, archaeology, sociology and the learning of the English language.

One of the most interesting activities was reading several books on archeology, anthropology and chilean prehistory. I learned about archaeological theory, fieldwork techniques, new anthropological currents around the world and about of different prehistoric societies of northern, central and southern Chile. One of the most motivating courses was the laboratory, where I learned some of the techniques of archaeological análisis. Also, I learned many new things in the course of English III: for example, among other things, give a discussion about topics developed in my career.

In the field of sports, I went regularly to martial arts classes, two times a week. In my free time was sometimes the movies and theater with my friends. Also I read two novels, one about the French Revolution and the another about the life of Edgar Allan Poe. However, my free time was very limited. Because of this my recreational activities were not many.

In general, I had success in my challenges, especially in the university. However, because the academic responsibilities of the first term of this year, I had very little time for friends and family. This was one of the worst aspects of the past months. I lost contact with friends and could not go home to my parents outside of Santiago. I think it's something negative that university life not leave time for other things. Anyway, you can not have everything in life ... or not?