Barrio Bellavista

The wonderful thing about living abroad is that places always seem new  - even the ones you've been to countless times before -well, at least for me. I've lived in Chile a while back and though I've been to Barrio Bellavista for meals and even worked at one of the backpackers there,  

it almost always seems different.   

When I went there again last Saturday for lunch, the place looked again ; same same but different.  We even came to a point in our conversation where Luis had to stop me and say,

 " Yes, like for the third time already,
 it is the same restaurant!"

( in a very patient and jovial voice as always-  lucky me) 

See at this point,  I was figuring & sorting things out in my head -  everything is surreal when you've lived in so many places and so many streets

 -  you have useless tiny things that just stick with you and when you least expect it, it suddenly pops-out of no where and they almost always get crazily muddled up with your current situation.

  It's a mind thing though - you're really as foreign as you think you are or rather want to be or feel. The question is though, is that a good thing or not ?

 I for one,  have no problem with my lapse of memory at this point of my life

 - I'm enjoying it, I'm in discovery mode again.

This form is always fun for me especially when a place has as much character as Bellavista,

or in general, when I find great interest in a place.

 ( well don't you all feel the same for that mall you all love? especially when you've found that great shoe, you tend to walk pass it , stare , drool and go back repeatedly to fondle harass that poor shoe away,

yes something like that, it's all very exciting ! )

Enough already Marsha.

 The whole shoe talk is making me sick actually,

shoes in Chile are pretty darn expensive
 in comparison to Malaysia.

 So let me enlighten you all a bit about
 Barrio Bellavista instead.

  Firstly, it means " beautiful view". Actually it's one of the most charming places in Santiago.
 It has it all - the look and the feel.
It's renowned for its culture, art and cuisine

 - simply a great place to chill,

a feel good place

Everything is colourful and
every nook and corner tells a story.

There's always a beautiful picture to paint -  people having a good laugh, young lovers starring at each other , longtime lovers focusing on their food or people just day-dreaming the day away. 

 By night, it's a popular spot for alfresco dining and there are almost always cultural happenings from traditional Chilean dances to cultural and historical exhibitions.

At Bellavista, you'll find both tourist and Chileans alike.

 Definitely a must-go when in Santiago, it certainly offers a great Bohemian feel and if you don't feel like venturing out too much, you get to absorb it all right from your chosen restaurant. 

Below are a few snap- shots from the Spanish Restaurant we were lunching at.



Luis had the Cordero Magallanico (lamb from the South of Chile- the best quality lamb in the country)  & myself the Salmon, shrimp with pastry dish - scrumptious





A closer look at Luis's dish, as the above photo was way to bias !





I highly recommend this Spanish restaurant - El Tablao, by night the Flamenco dancers perform





The delicious Sangria , actually one of the best I've had - well then again,  I guess we were at a Spanish Restaurant





Us very satisfied and only around 25 US dollars poorer and that was with the jug of Sangria
and the much deserved tip too :)