Bellas Artes and Plaza Ñuñoa

After laying low for a couple days with a cold (like everyone else in the household) yesterday I ventured back downtown again. I'm on an art kick lately, so I decided to check out the Museo de Artes Visuales for some contemporary Chilean art. There were a couple of exhibitions on, one of which was geared towards kids in that it was really interactive and you got to play with things and turn switches on and move things around. (I think I liked that one the best.) The museum is in a little section of town called Barrio Bellas Artes, because it also is home to Santiago's Fine Arts museum, the Museo de Bellas Artes. The barrio is cute and quaint, with quiet cobblestoned streets, lots of nice restaurants with patios out on the sidewalk, a repertory cinema. The museum is at the back of a little plaza tucked in the upper corner of the barrio.

Claudia joined me, and after some tea and cake in a cafe blasting The Best of Cat Stevens, we decided to go for a drink at Plaza Ñuñoa. Santiago is divided up into several different sectors, and Ñuñoa, the sector where I'm staying, is a large middle class neighbourhood north of downtown. Plaza Ñuñoa is a big square in front of the Ñuñoa town hall, and all around the park in the middle are restaurants, bar and clubs, with everything from chic arty art gallery type places, rock clubs, cafes and downhome diner-y places that serve typical Chilean food and atmosphere.

We decided on the latter, a place called Las Lanzas. (Here's a picure!). Inside it had the feel of a greasy spoon, except that instead of diner fare, they served more typical Chilean stuff. the lights are bright, it's full of smoke, and the waitresses are wearing these ugly blue pinafore things. The walls are covered with random photos and newspaper articles. The food and drinks are good and cheap, and the service is fast. The Plaza is close to a university, so there's mix of clientele, from students, to old men, to families. Of course, since this is Chile, we ordered a whole bottle of wine and a couple of of Chicken and avocado sandwiches (avocado is everywhere here!). A couple hours later we made our way back home and had some more wine with Claudia's roomate before retiring for the night.