Day 3 – The Great Corn Revelation (and the Soundtrack of Car Horns) | Chile Travel Diary
Date: Saturday, March 21
Location: Santiago, Chile
Mood: Low-lung, slightly on edge… but emotionally carried by fried corn
Quiet Mornings & Slow Starts
It was a quiet morning. And I needed that. I’m still not feeling great — in a way that’s a little too familiar. It reminds me of when I had pneumonia last year. Not as severe, but that same underlying feeling of “something’s off in my lungs” that makes you hyper-aware of every breath.
It’s sitting in the background of everything today, and I’d be lying if I said it’s not making me nervous — especially with the bikes starting tomorrow.
Trying not to spiral. Just… monitoring.
Breakfast was lovely again, and then I spent a couple of hours on the patio working on a top-secret project we can’t talk about yet (which is both exciting and mildly annoying because I want to say more).
Morning Walks & Car Horn Central
Brent and I headed back out to the same trail as yesterday — but in the opposite direction this time.
We ended up walking along Parque Avenida Américo Vespucio, which is essentially a massive linear park system that runs alongside one of Santiago’s main arteries. It’s not just a strip of grass — it’s a fully designed urban corridor with multi-use paths, bike lanes, green space, and public art woven all the way through it.
And the thing that really stood out?
It’s alive.
There were cyclists zipping by, parents with kids, people walking their dogs, runners, scooters — every type of movement happening all at once. The kind of space that doesn’t just exist for aesthetics, it’s actually being used. Constantly. We even saw someone taking a bath in the fountain.
There are also art installations scattered along the path, which break it up in a really thoughtful way — it never feels repetitive, even though it just keeps going. We walked for over an hour… and still had no idea where the end was.
Also — the horns.
People here LOVE their car horns. And not politely. Not casually. They’re on them before the light even turns green, and they stay on them like it’s a personal mission.
It feels completely at odds with how polished and high-end this neighbourhood is — but it’s also kind of hilarious. Like ma’am, where do you expect them to go? That light is red, you doofus!
The Great Corn Revolution
We went back to Honest Mike’s — patio this time — and ordered the “Korn Star.” We knew dinner was going to be substantial, so we decided to keep it light.
And I need to slow this down for a second, because this deserves it.
It’s boiled corn.
Cut into quarters.
Seasoned with lemon pepper and salt.
Deep-fried.
Served with melted butter.
That’s the description. Sounds simple, right? This was easily the best thing we’ve eaten since arriving. Possibly one of the best snacks I’ve had anywhere. Ever.
And that’s saying something, because corn is already one of my favourite foods. I genuinely thought I had experienced it in every possible form.
I had not.
This was crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, salty, buttery, slightly tangy — just… perfect. It genuinely felt like discovering a new category of food.
I would consider buying a deep fryer for this.
That’s not a joke.
The Moment It Became Real: Meeting the Crew
This is the part where the trip actually starts to take shape.
Up until now, it’s been just us — moving through the city, getting our bearings. But today we met the group we’ll be spending the next week with, and that always changes the energy. There’s a bit of curiosity, a bit of anticipation — like, who are these people? How is this dynamic going to feel?
Here’s the crew:
- Mary & Mark (Connecticut)
- Johanne (New York) — seems really nice, but she asked upfront that the group not bring up politics. It landed a bit heavy. Not in a bad way, just… you could tell that came from somewhere, and it sucks she felt like she had to say it.
- Darcy & Doug (Alberta)
- Ron & Karen (Nova Scotia — we met them before in Croatia, so that felt familiar right away)
Then we met our guides, Dinah and Juan Pablo (Jatta), at Hotel Bidasoa for welcome drinks. And immediately — relief. They’re warm, funny, relatable… the kind of people you want leading your trip. That matters more than anything.
We had Carménère (obviously — we’re in Chile, it would be weird not to), which is the country’s signature grape. Originally from Bordeaux, but it found its real home here after being wiped out in Europe. It’s smooth, a little spicy, super drinkable — and it kind of sets the tone right away:
You’re in wine country now.
They walked us through tomorrow — where to be, what to expect, how the day will unfold.
And just like that… it’s real.
Tomorrow we start. (Eeep.)
Reservations Required at Mestizo
We walked about 30 minutes (in flip flops — questionable decision, but we move) to Mestizo. And this place is not just a restaurant — it’s an experience.
It was designed by renowned Chilean architect Smiljan Radić, and you can feel that immediately. It sits inside Parque Bicentenario, surrounded by greenery, with this massive glass-and-wood structure that feels open, airy, and completely connected to the landscape (that’s the idea).
It’s one of Santiago’s most well-known restaurants, focused on modern Chilean cuisine — taking traditional ingredients and elevating them in a way that still feels grounded in place.
This was clearly meant to set the tone for the week. And it did.
The food was outstanding:
- A mushroom dish where they told me the mushrooms are “more expensive than gold”
- Cheese empanadas
- Serrano ham focaccia
- Caesar salad (shockingly one of the standouts)
- Steak & risotto (also spectacular)
- Tres leches (with manjar — richer, more caramel-y than the classic)
Restaurants are funny. Even the highest-end places always assume “crustacean allergy” means full shellfish restriction (even though that’s not at all what it means), so I got a separate appetizer — but I could’ve eaten everything anyway because none of it was crustacean-based. Fine by me if you want to serve up “mushrooms more expensive than gold”.
Also had a pisco sour — because we’re in the region of pisco and it feels like a requirement. Deliscious.
Yes, it was a lot of food. Generous portions across the board. But it didn’t feel excessive in a bad way — it felt abundant. Like they wanted you to experience everything.
By the end of it, we were full, a little tired, and very aware that this trip is going to revolve around food in a big way.
End of Day
The 30-minute walk back (still in flip flops… still not my best decision) felt longer than it should have, but also kind of necessary after that meal.
Tomorrow we head to Viña Vik.
I’m still not feeling 100%, and that’s sitting in the background of everything — but I refuse to let it dampen the trip. I brought drugs, and will use them.
The group is set.
The guides are great.
The food has already set a very high bar.
And somewhere in the middle of all of that…
a deep-fried corn dish absolutely stole the show.
Food Breakdown 🍽️
Winner of the Day: Korn Star (no competition)
Experience of the Day: Dinner at Mestizo
Drink of the Day: Carménère at welcome drinks (but that Pisco sour was a very close second)
Photo of the Day
📸 The Korn Star — crispy, buttery, life-altering
✈️ Travel Tip of the Day
If a restaurant has something that sounds simple but specific — order it. That’s usually where the magic is.
Let’s Talk About It
Have you ever had a dish that completely changed how you think about an ingredient?
And also — be honest — are flip flops ever the right call for a 30-minute walk?
