Only scratching Santiago’s surface

I was at first delighted to see “Now Santiago Comes Into Focus” (Jan. 19) about Chile, the country of my birth. However, it was written by someone who was a casual observer at best. It was superficial, lacked homework and had a few misleading and derogatory nuances.

Although Chile has been shaped mostly by those of Spanish ancestry, only a transient traveler can omit a mention of the country’s large mestizo population and the German, British, French and Irish populations, which have jealously preserved their cultures there.

It is true that Barrio Bellavista is now a bohemian neighborhood. But only a few lines of text could have revealed that in its heyday, it was an elegant residential area. Even today, distinguished Chileans live there.

Author Marshall S. Berdan gave the impression that the pristine Parque Forestal serves as an outdoor latrine. He omits the park’s sheer beauty with its romantic tree-lined walks.

Chile is a country where elegance in manners and an awareness of the world, the arts and culture can be experienced from exchanges with even the most average citizen. Chile is unquestionably more than a former military dictatorship where you can enjoy a cheap meal.

Bill Yankes

Sunland