Days 2 & 3: thirty-six hours in santiago in photos

A friend I met on the 10-hour plane ride from NYC to Santiago! Bella is taking a gap year to travel the world and nanny for international families. We talked about women in math and science, solo-traveling, and she even shared a starfruit and dragonfruit she bought at the supermarket with me. Safe travels, Bella!

Exploring the rooftop pool and view from our Airbnb in Providencia. Weather report: clear skies and lots of sun.

First meal in Chile! A spinach, egg, and cheese quiche with olive oil from El Clapper. Our first experience ordering in Spanish was a success.

Strolled pass Plaza de la Aviación while exploring the neighborhood.

Bella Vista was full of color and beautiful wall art such as this one.

Quenched my thirst with a mango juice (sugar free!) at Les Trois Cafe. Ran into four girls from Cornell who are here for two weeks taking a class in medicine. Small world!

Bella Vista is a neighborhood in the Northeast area of Santiago, known for it's restaurants, local arts vendors, and nightlife. I strolled through Bella Vista in the afternoon on my first day here and adored the afternoon crowds of locals (and tourists) roaming Pio Nono and Patio Bellavista.

Tiramisu gelato from Il Maestrale to celebrate Day 1 of our adventures.

We grabbed dinner with an MIT alum, Andy, at a bar called Ruca with some of his laboratory mates. Pictured here is a lovely plate of (colored) hummus.

Every Sunday, many streets all over the city are closed so that residents can bike, run, roller-blade, and walk the streets without worrying about cars. Take notes, Boston.

Lamb burger with goat cheese, sweet potatoes, and eggplant from La Sanguchería de Ciudad Vieja. The fries here were fantastic - like a combination between a french fry and a potato chip. Super crispy on the outside but really soft in the middle.

Trekked one hour up Cerro San Cristobal (San Cristobal Hill) to visit the Statue of Virgin Mary.

Statue of Virgin Mary (and lots of visitors).

An artisanal pasta dish with olive oil, avocado, and parmesan (we think) cheese that we prepared for a simple dinner before our first day of teaching tomorrow. Currently watching the Taylor Swift: Reputation Tour with Kate and Ava. All is well.