Barefootford.com - Locals, gringos and lovers share a spot on the concrete bench at a viewing spot at Cerro San Cristobal, Santiago, Chile.

“I sold my piano, It couldn’t come with me. I locked up my bedroom And I walked out into the air.” Washington Square – The Counting Crows

It’s really, really difficult to comprehend how big Santiago is from the ground. Unlike Boise, where in order to see a tall building you have-ta’ look downtown, Santiago’s skyline and population (more than five million) is scattered through-out the city, all 250 square miles of it.

You could try and guestimate the boundaries of Santiago from a balcony, but your only going to see a fraction of Santiago. Your best bet is to join the locals and get up to city of Santiago’s second biggest hill, Cerro San Cristobal.

How to get there:

Take the red or green Metro lines to the Baquedano stop. Leave the Metro station and cross the big nasty brown river, Mapocho ( Not something to show when your parents are in town. It’s as contaminated as it looks.) Once you cross the river take Pio Nono to the base of the mountain.
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