|
Sites Mercado Centeral is one of the cities colorful attractions. The historical center of Plaza de Armas is the pedestrian mall of Paseo Ahumada. Built like the Petit Palais in Paris and having a nice collection of European and Chilean art is Palacio de Bellas Artes.
The most important religious holidays are Easter and Christmas. In September, the holidays include Fiestas Patrias, National Independence Day on the 18th, and Armed Forces Day on the 19th.
The district attracts travelers who like climbing, horseback riding, river rafting, and mountain biking. Santiago's parks allow people to do all these things. The Caribbean Hall of Fame sports has baseball, track, field cricket, soccer, boxing, and others. Chile has two climates, tropical to polar, but that all depends on the latitude. Just like everywhere else in the world, mountains also change the climate. They act as "climate shields," stopping rain clouds from crossing over the desert. The cold Humboldt current trails along the coast, stopping extreme temperatures, even in the north. Chile is south of the equator so its seasons are exactly opposite of the northern hemisphere. July and August are the coldest months; December and January are the hottest. Chilean food is delicious. Countrywide foods range from fish to steak. An empanada is a pie shaped like a turnover with beef, chicken, or fish and is cooked until the crust browns. Bife a lo pobre is a huge steak eaten with fried potatoes and onions and a pair of fried eggs are placed on the steak. Children start drinking wine at first when it's mixed with water. Last but not least, a desert made with banana's sprinkled with sugar, spices, and cornmeal. Yum. Chile is ruled by a junta and a president. In 1981, the present constitution came into effect. The junta has banned all political parties and dissolved the National Congress. There are 25 provincial subdivisions. Most of Santiago's people have Spanish ancestry, or are of French, German, or Italian descent. Ninety five percent are Roman Catholics. Santiago's people live and dress like the people in the USA, Canada, and Europe.
|