Barrio El Golf
El Golf is a suburb (barrio) on the east side of Santiago. Although there are many barrios within the city, El Golf is unique in that it has developed over the past 20 years into the "new" Santiago. It includes a beautifully planned city center with wide streets, rapid transit bus and subway, wide sidewalks, and all new office and condominium towers. This gleaming city rivals any modern city in the world.
The sidewalks are very wide and paved with tiles. All streets are landscaped and beautifully maintained.
The architecture of the office and condo towers is cutting edge, using every shape and angle possible.
Everything is new and clean and gleaming.
This is our favorite restaurant, the bistro Km.O. It occupies the entire atrium of a glass tower. Outside seating to the left.
From the inside you can watch the world go by on the sidewalks and street, and admire the wall of wine bottles that climbs up 50 feet to the top of the atrium. Food and wine are the best to be found.
Our hotel, the 17 story Plaza del Bosque, fits right in with the decor. Modern street art and wide sidewalks included.
The lobby.
The breakfast room on the 17th floor has a view of the entire city and the Andes.
The north view shows the Avenida Isadora Goyenchea below, lined with superb sidewalk restaurants.
Shopping is big here - both in large, fancy malls as well as in botique shops like this Pura, which specializes in Indian artistic clothing and jewelry.
Neat stuff inside.
The scale and quality of the wine stores is evidence of the popularity and importance of wine to the locals. This store has hundreds of bodegas represented, and wines which exceed $3000 U.S. per bottle.
The main check out area. Fortunately, they also carry some superb wines for less than $ 10 per bottle.
Underlying the entire city, and connecting all of the major barrios is South America's newest subway system. Like most of the Barrio El Golf, this system is gleaming and spotlessly clean. Ticketing is efficient and cheap.
Typical station.
Typical subway train.
Clean, neat and silent running.