Muesos y Parques

Last weekend we visited the Museo de La Memoria y los Derechos Humanos with a Start-Up Chile friend and her sister.  The museum is dedicated to the victims of human rights violations during the Pinochet dictatorship in Chile.  It was filled with videos, news clippings, and publications during the dictatorship and was a sobering experience.  We both recently read "A Nation of Enemies: Chile Under Pinochet" by Pamela Constable and Arturo Valenzuela, which helped give us more cultural context for the museum exhibits. Matt and I both appreciated going with our Chilean friends, so they could weigh in with their perspective.

  

Next, we walked through the nearby neighborhood of Barrio Brasil- the whimsical structures were an appreciated break from the sadness of the museum.  Our Chilean friends went to school near here and used to play on these structures as kids!  We got lunch around the corner at a typical Chilean joint- it consisted of a family-style plate of Chorrillana (french fries with mushrooms, onions, and meat) and Completo sandwiches (meat, tomato, avocado, and mayo).

Parque Quinta Normal:

Yesterday, we spent a low-key afternoon hanging out at Parque Quinta Normal.  The park was bustling with families and very festive.  Although we were mostly just expecting to read in the sun, there were a number of fun surprises.  The walkways are lined wit food and toy vendors and there is a free Natural History Museum.  In addition, it seems that there is no end to the number of novelties available for rent: paddle boats, go-karts, surreys, inflatable human-sized hamster balls, children's train rides, and even toddler-sized art easel stands.

Matt in his natural habitat.

Paddle Boats and Birds

Low-Rise Bike Rentals 

We think these inflatable balls are meant for a version of soccer, but most kids were just trying to do somersaults in them.

Little Artists Hard at Work
- each easel comes with a paint set and a coloring book page.

Karen's feet

Zoologico

There is a zoo at the base of Cerro San Cristobal near our apartment.  The exhibits follow a meandering collection of trails along the hillside, which makes for a nice view of the city.