Welcome to Santiago...

Today I will talk of the town of Santiago.
First, I was born and lived all my live in Santiago and I have never lived in another country or place different than this city.

I know that the much people who are provincial or regions do not like Santiago, but I think it's not so bad.
Is true that in Santiago the transportation system is not very good, all the people running around and has stressful lives, and things like that. But I believe Santiago has good things and bad things like everywhere.
I think once you adapt to the lifestyle in the capital, you have a good time. For example, in Santiago there are many places to enjoy alone or with friends. Here are many museums, libraries, theaters and historical sites to discover.

Another thing I like of Santiago is that there are places for all tastes and interests of people.
As for me I like to do in Santiago is walking through the streets of Santiago, knowing new places, especially in older neighborhoods to learn about the architecture and history of the city's past.

If I could make some changes in the city, I think it would take the giant buildings; because I really hate the tall buildings and shopping centers, especially when they are constructed in an old residential zone or with small houses, because it breaks with all the architectural beauty of the place. I do not like when historic sites are destroyed instead of being preserved are destroyed to build the "buildings monsters" as I call them, because they generate a historical loss and break with the esthetic of the rest of the place, as when in a place full of small houses or buildings with moderate height, builds a building very tall in between.
Well, I think I saw a lot of the TV show "City Tour", where the architect Federico Sánchez walked the streets of the capital and was visiting and rescuing the beautiful of the architecture of Santiago, and he was critical as I.

I think if you are not of Santiago and want to know the city, you can choose do some touristic visit of the important historic neighborhoods of Santiago, or just take a map and walk the streets in search of adventure, I prefer the second option because it gives you more freedom, and you can find places that are not within the tour.
I think the places you want to meet in Santiago depend of your interests and tastes, but I think a good option is visit the museums, such “El Museo de Historia Nacional”, “El Museo de Arte Precolombino”, “Bellas Artes” (my favourite), the museums of the “Quinta Normal”, and much others. Too, there are others places such “La Casa Colorada”, “La Chascona” (one of the Neruda`s houses), the “Santa Lucía”, etc.

Finally, if you want to escape the stress and pollution of Santiago, you can take your travel bag and go somewhere on the outskirts of the city. Sometimes I do this, and I escaped to Pirque or Cajon del Maipo, are places near where I live.