The Faces of Santiago

As we journeyed through the Galapagos and headed back to mainland Ecuador, along the way we said goodbye to half our group of eight, affectionately named the Ambiguity 2.0. The remaining four of us (another Ambiguititi, I suppose, to borrow more idiotic made-up jargon from our Africa trip) ventured on to Santiago de Chile in search of fine wine and some fun.

We found both. But I’m not going to bore you with recaps of winery visits, or try to make a whole story out of us stupidly walking up a stark, dusty, broiling hot trail to the top of Cerro San Cristóbal, instead of taking the funicular. (To be fair, the wait for the funicular was a mile long. Which is why we also, equally stupidly, trudged back down that blistering hill.)

Instead, allow me to introduce you to a few of the faces of Chile’s capital city. Santiago is home to 7 million peeps, so there are plenty of faces to be seen. But besides the ones made of flesh and bone, Santiago is also densely populated by colorful graffiti characters in Bellavista, kitschy pop-art countenances in Lastarria, and of course plenty of statues and monuments throughout the city.

So pull up a chair and join me for a cerveza (you can’t drink wine all the time…or can you?) while I present a brief tour of some of the more interesting faces of Santiago.

When thinking about graffiti as art, it’s important to keep an open mind.

As you wander the city, it’s also important not to get run over by cars. So go ahead, dance like no one is watching (because everyone is texting). But be prepared to move…quickly.

It’s also important not to be 2-dimensional. Wait, was that really a photo of a young woman dancing in the road? Or just a very detailed mural painted on the side of a building? Also, where’s the goddamn cerveza I ordered?

This is definitely not 2-dimensional. More like 2-delicious! (And the food looks good too.)

If you can’t keep an open mind, at least try to avoid getting pooped on your head.

Especially if you have the head of a cartoon chicken.

Or the head of a beer. Finally! Thank God! Now that is one refreshing cerveza…y nada más!

Never mind head. I’d like to give you a piece of my mind.

Speaking of peace (of mind)…if they can, why not us?

Why not us? Heck, why not everyone? Heads, tails, and the other naughty bits too. It’s all good. Cervezas all around!

Cervezas all around? Naughty bits? Photos of a beloved Pope covered in bird poo? Blasphemy! We won’t have it! And we don’t appreciate you making fun of our faces either! You are rude, nasty, and you’re going to hell.