I worked and stayed in Santiago,Chile for a short while. When I arrived I booked myself into a hostel, La Chimba right in the center of the city so that I could explore and get around easily. La Chimba hostel lies in the heart of the Bellavista district surrounded by universities and small restaurants and pubs. It’s a good point from where to explore the city and it was located close to my new workplace.
Bellavista had me stunned with its colourful streets, its beautiful architecture and the colourful graffiti found on the walls and sides of the buildings. These colourful streets have the lushness of a tree-clad hill, the Cerro San Cristóbal, as its natural backdrop. Barrio Bellavista lies between the Mapocho River and San Cristóbal Hill. It is known as Santiago’s bohemian quarter, with new hip restaurants, boutiques, and avant-garde galleries occupying loft spaces and lordly mansions along the tree-lined streets.
No wonder it was here that Pablo Neruda, Chile’s famous Noble literate poet, decided to build his home in the capital in the 1950’s.
On my first sunny weekend in Santiago I started my exploring early and this barrio felt like a village miles away from the roaring noise of a city. It was quiet and most of the streets were deserted. Everything was still closed and the city streets only came alive around 10am.
I enjoy walking around the neighbourhood early mornings when it’s quiet, it calms me down and gives me the chance to think. I have actually moved to different countries a couple of times up until now but I found my first week here very hard. It was hard being so far away from everybody I know again. Being in a foreign country where I don’t know anybody and can’t even speak the language. I love a challenge but the first week it was a bit overwhelming.
My second week in Santiago went a bit better once I actually started work and found a fabulous place to live. Now I can actually start settling into my new home and explore Santiago and unearth all the fascinating secrets it holds.
Janaline's world journey 
Wow, those are some cool shots!
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Thank you!
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Great series. One thing you might consider trying for next time is doing HDR photography on graffiti. It really helps bring out the grittiness of the art.
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Thanks will definitely give that a try!
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Beautiful street art. I hope all goes well for you here!
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Thank you Rachael! I am having fun exploring the city but getting the feeling that I wont be staying here too long…..will see what happens in the next couple of weeks.
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Some of the graffiti artists are really talented.
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I agree Colline, their work is beautiful!! I love that they get the opportunity to show off their work throughout the city!
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All the best for this new adventure. What an amazingly interesting and colourful looking place!
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Thank you Hayley!! Yes, Santiago is very colourful and I think I am going to enjoy living here!!
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Really cool! I have a few friends who are moving to Santiago in a month! I will tell them to be on the look out. My husband is obsessed with street art. Ever been to Montevideo, Uruguay by chance? Hopefully I will see some great art there. I am moving there in 9 days! I can’t wait!
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Yes, Santiago has some fabulous street art!! Having loads of fun walking around trying to photograph it all. Haven´t been to Uruguay yet, best of luck for your move!! How long are you planning on living there?
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I just love the colours!! Best of luck to you in Santiago 🙂
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Thank you Justine!! So far things are looking good and think it will onlñy get better from here on in now that the first 2 weeks of adjusting are done with!!
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Never been to Santiago, Chile but looks a bit similar to Valparaiso streets, very colorful!
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It is quite colourful! Looking forward to heading out to see Valparaiso soon.
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Good luck, hope you settle in to your own space soon, always feels better to have your own space
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Thank you! I agree, think that as soon as I have unpacked and living in my own place I will feel a lot more welcome and at home here!
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OMG! I love Chile! Keep the photos coming. x
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Thanks Jade. Will definitely be posting about all my travels in Chile!
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What an amazing area to move into, the street art is fantastic
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I agree! I was not expecting it to be everywhere in the city and to actually be so beautiful and colourful. I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered the stunning graffiti all over the city!
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What a fabulous set of images Janaline! Look forward to more from Santiago 🙂
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Thanks a lot Madhu! Starting to explore the city at the moment so expect more of Santiago soon!!
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Wow! What an amazing place! And to imagine a capital that is deserted till 10 am!!! You are so lucky, to be able to travel to such beautiful places! 🙂
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Thank you! I heard that the Chilean people are very laid back but didn’t expect the streets to only come alive after 10am!! It is quite an adjustment as I love walking around a city early and spending some time with a good book in a cafe early morning.
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The street art is truly amazing. I love the vibrant colours. Good luck with settling into and finding your feet in Santiago.
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Thanks Jolandi. I think the worst is over and think that by next month I should be settled and enjoying the city a lot more!!
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Looks like a fabulous place to live and explore! Great images.
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Thanks. Looking forward to exploring Santiago, have heard great things of this city from other people.
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Wonderful street art. Hope you’ll adjust quickly. Thank you for sharing your first week.
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Thanks Amy! Think that by next month I should be ok and enjoying the city a lot more.
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What an amazing place your living in!! Lucky you 🙂
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Thanks Christine! Only been here 2 weeks and agree, this is going to be a great place to live!! cant wait to explore the whole city and the rest of Chile.
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Enjoy!! I’d love to go there one day so I’m looking forward to getting ideas from your blog 🙂
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Love this! I adore street art, and photograph it wherever I see it. In my home city though, street art is not endorsed by the council so instead we end up with horrible cheap spray painted ‘tags’, generally just obscene language! So thanks for sharing this beautiful work.
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The street art here is stunning!! I have never lived in a city with such beautiful graffiti in! This is something new for me and I am definitely going to be taking way too many pictures of the graffiti!
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Very nice series; good photo’s. Thanks for sharing; enjoyed it!
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The place is filled with graffiti, I think most of my posts of Santiago will have some photos of graffiti in them!
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Fascinating images, some great shots here!
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Thank you! Love the street art, it is all new to me!
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