Concepcion
Written: Aug 02 '08
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Product Rating:
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Pros: The people are friendly and the food is good.
Cons: Cold and damp, damp, damp, and hard to get around.
The Bottom Line: It's not a place you go to on purpose, but it's not bad to pass through.
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| Darkmistress's Full Review: Chile |
I came to Concepcion, Chile for a job. I was warned before I got there and immediately after I arrived that there wasn't much to do. Over time, I discovered that to be absolutely true.
Concepcion is about a third of the way down Chile's long coast. It's rather damp and cool most of the year. For about 6 weeks in high summer it becomes warm and damp and from July through August it's downright cold – and damp. Don't let the palm trees fool you, it gets very cold to the point of frost on the ground. While it never gets below freezing, the humidity makes it feel a lot colder. Then there's the weird tendency of Chileans have to not believe in heating things. Schools, malls, theaters, houses. It's really quite an experience to see a movie in a theater that is literally freezing. If you're intent on going make sure you have a couple pair of long johns. There are quite warm days in the winter, but you'll still want the layers. There were many days I went around with long johns, two sweaters (one of the hefty Irish wool variety) and a wool coat. A wooly scarf isn't just a fashion statement, it's a necessity.
Your big tourist destinations are the mall and the town square. Ecuador Park, near downtown is also quite nice.
The mall you will have passed on your way from the airport to where ever you are going in town unless you happen to be in one of the hotels just before the mall and then you will be able to walk there. It's a small to medium sized place with three large department stores, a Cinemark movie theater and lots and lots of ice cream stands. There is a marked lack of local craft works. I could find more Chilean handicrafts in Cleveland, OH than I can in Concepcion. Expect to see lots of red and black uniformed security guards patrolling the mall and more security guards inside certain stores. Walk in with a long coat and you will be followed. In the food court, Domino serves excellent hot dogs and sandwiches and has English menus. Rich's has the best burgers and fries in Chile, but no English or picture menu so you'll have to know a little Spanish to order. Tropic has more Chilean type food on steam tables so pointing and grunting works. (If they ask about bebidas, they want to know what you want to drink.) Downstairs Schoppe Dog is very good, Chilean style food. We're told Gatsby is a really good, expensive buffet, but we didn't try it. The ice cream is excellent, even in mid-winter.
The town square is a lovely little park with a bandstand and a fountain. Along the front of the park is the main city street of O'Higgins. If you go anywhere by bus, O'Higgins will figure heavily in your stay. If you are standing with your back to O'Higgins looking at the park, the tourist information office will be in the buildings to your right. It keeps banker's hours, so time your visits accordingly. About 2 doors down from the tourist office is the visa bureau. It's on the second floor and you will only need to visit it if you are about to over stay your 3 month tourist visa, but Sr Luis Navarro is an exceptionally pleasant and capable man if you need him. Some of the streets leading off the park are pedestrian only and others are ruled by pedestrians. On weekends, especially late in the day, there will be crowds and street performers, most of whom are really good. We had difficulty finding good food in that area, but Toto's (back of the plaza to the right on the left hand side) is really good. On O'Higgins is a place called Quick Biss which, while painfully slow, is really good too. Facing the park on O'Higgins in the Theatro De Universidad De Concepcion. Every Tuesday they show movies. Sometimes subtitled American films, sometimes other Spanish subtitled films, sometimes films in Spanish. They also have performances. We happened to catch an exceptionally good Beatles band there and a friend saw the ballet and orchestra.
Ecuador Park (Parque del Ecuador) is crammed on the foot of the mountains. It's a long skinny park with come intriguing paths onto the mountain and easily accessible waterfalls. There's also a nice playground and some little rides for kids. I couldn't determine what the prices were, but based on the surroundings it can't be much. You will have to watch for glass and trash as it's not very well kept up.
If you have the opportunity to spend time with the locals, avail yourself of it. This is the real draw of Chile. The people are kind, warmhearted and welcoming. The food is wonderful too. It's very simple and fresh and every meal includes avocado. Not many speak English so unless you are lucky or know Spanish, you will have to make your way haltingly.
Now a word on safety. Chile is not known for violent crime, but theft is common. If you want to keep it, don't put it down or turn your back on it. Keep your money in interior pockets and don't flash it around. Lock up travel documents and extra cash where ever possible. Make sure doors are locked at night and when you go out. I also developed the habit of, when taking my purse off to eat dinner, setting it on the seat and looping the strap around the back of the chair giving me the greatest chance of having it catch on the chair or on my hand should anyone try to make off with it. We did have a pair of headphones (noise cancellation) and computer speakers (not belonging to us) stolen in our short stay.
Unfortunately, Concepcion has a holiday destination price structure. I don't know why, but hotels are very expensive. This means not many people will sample the simple pleasures of Concepcion because they won't be able to afford to stay. An ugly, rundown hostel near the city center ran us $50USD a night and the only thing this place had going for it was location and a good Internet signal. But if you happen to be on your way through, it merits at least half a day.
Recommended:
No
Best Suited For: Students
Best Time to Travel Here: Jun - Aug
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Epinions.com ID:
Darkmistress
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Location: Concepcion, Chile
Reviews written: 484
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