Now it was time for a protest. As mentioned in a previous post, Chile is getting a new president. The first thing we noticed as we set out to explore our Lastarria neighborhood was green scarves thrown over various statues. Then, we begin to hear crowds chanting, saw people rushing down the street, and noticed more police than usual. So, we headed in the opposite direction, and our guide spoke to the police. It was an impromptu protest staged by communist sympathizers (who are not pleased with the recent election).
We were taking a private walking tour arranged through our hotel, with charming Margarita. A former actress and current artist, she had the perfect personality for this arts-focused morning.
Passing the dogwalkers and joggers, we wandered through Parque Forestal. Margarita shared some lovely stories about her grandparents’ courtship in the park, two generations past.
Creative Inspiration
Statues inspired conversation about literature, romance, and mythology before we stopped in at the Belle Époque art museum (Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes). The museum is the oldest art museum in Latin America and is free to visit.
The massive GAM Cultural Center has been repurposed from its political/military origins and now houses rotating art exhibits and pop-up performances. It’s become an airy, inviting hub for local artists of all sorts.
The narrow streets of the Lastarria neighborhood are filled with restaurants and shops. I particularly loved the cat-work of one artist famous for painting his images on buildings. There is also a rich history in this area, being adjacent to the historic Santa Lucia Hill, which played an important role in Mapuche culture, missionary worship, and defense of the city.
A Dramatic Reminder
A more recent history lesson led us to the Neoclassical Parroquia de la Veracruz, a striking red-toned church that was burned during civil unrest in 2019. Named a historical monument in 1983, the reliquary is said to house relics of the Holy Cross originally found in Jerusalem. Today, the church is left partially restored and has exhibits as a reminder of what happened.
In the afternoon, we enjoyed a breezy ride around town on a hop-on bus – retracing many of our steps and gaining an insightful overview of everything we’ve seen in the last two days.
The Wonderland Café provided a whimsical spot for some late-afternoon refreshment, featuring crunchy scones and sinfully rich chocolate cake. The Café offers three stories of Alice in Wonderland food, fantasy, and gifts. An appropriate ending for our magical trip to Chile.
