Glacial Deposits.indd - Department of Geography - Geology - Illinois ...

At the top of the hill, a number of people had gathered. Some were tourists, including a bus tour
of Japanese. Others were there on a religious pilgrimage. At the top of the hill was a very large
statue dedicated to Mary. At the base of the statue was a chapel, an outside worship area with
seating, and a shrine where candles could be lit by pilgrims. Some engaged in prayer in these
locations. Chile is 70 percent Catholic, and visible impressions of Catholicism on the landscape
are very evident. This includes the religious toponyms (names of saints commonly used) and
the large number of churches. In addition, I was struck by how the Spanish and later Chileans
used the “highest spots” in the city and country to erect a cross or statue related to the religion.
After some time on the summit of the hill, I made the descent. I walked through more of Bella
Vista, across the river, and through part of the main city park. I observed workers, students, and
street artists/performers along the way. I headed towards the Plaza de Armas, the main square
in Santiago. I found Santiago generally to be an easy city to navigate. As I approached the
Plaza de Armas, I could feel that I was entering an area that was central to the government
(with the presence of various government buildings) and also the heart of the business district. It
seemed very similar to any American city. Several stores and advertisements were visible for
banks and electronic equipment, similar to how they are commonly found in the CBD of
American cities. After a bit of maneuvering, I made my way to the Plaza de Armas; it was
around 3:00 or so in the afternoon. The plaza looked similar to the main plaza or square in
many big cities—big open space with many people doing different things. The plaza was
surrounded with important government buildings as well as the very large Cathedral de
Santiago, originally built in 1541 with the founding of the city. The historic ties between religion
and government were very apparent. A large statue of Pedro de Valdivia, Spanish conquistador
and founder of Santiago, also was prominently located in the square. The square was nicely
landscaped with palm trees and other vegetation. I looked around and did a bit of people
watching—some tourists with cameras close at hand, others businessmen and women on a
break from work, others artists or street performers putting in a day’s work. I took some time to
stroll around the plaza. I went inside the Cathedral de Santiago. The immensity of the structure
struck me, as well as the detailed artwork, statues, stained glass windows, and wooden pews. I
looked on the outside of the cathedral and noted that it had been rebuilt a handful of times due
to earthquakes and damage from Spanish fighting with the indigenous peoples of the area.
I next headed to the Mercado Central, which is the central market in Santiago. I always like to
see the major market in an urban area to see what people are selling and buying. After a few
wrong turns (even cartographers make navigation blunders in a foreign environment), I found
the market, which was partially indoors. The main products at the market were seafood and
produce, with various vendors also selling crafts and jewelry. Several restaurants had staff
positioned on the outskirts, trying to entice customers to sit down. I bought my wife a pair of
earrings made of silver and a blue stone unique to Chile. I also picked up some dried apricots
for a snack. I walked away from Mercado Central back towards the Plaza de Armas. As I
wandered, people were getting off work and the streets were becoming crowded. I felt much
immersed in the daily Chilean life in Santiago as I walked along with them. I eventually
wandered into another market, with vendors selling scarves, sweaters, jewelry, etc.
My final stop was Cerro San Lucia, another prominent hill in Santiago, although smaller than
Cerro San Cristobal. The hill was used by the Spanish as a lookout point. The hill was
decorated nicely with fountains, park benches, etc. I made the short ascent to the summit and
took a few minutes to enjoy the view. At this point my feet were tired, and it was getting dark, so
I headed back to the hotel. After a short stop at the hotel, I went out to one final stop for the
night—TelePizza. It was a Friday night, and the pizza place was a popular spot with the younger
crowd, just as it would be in the United States.
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