The Mercado Central or Central Market was high on my list of must sees in Santiago. I had seen it on TV while watching Amazing Race as well as Samantha Brown's and Andrew Zimmern's Travel shows. Thus, when we were in the Chilean capital, I knew I just had to see it for myself.

What set this market apart from all wet markets the world over is the presence of many restaurants inside its premises. Marc and I actually visited the place twice and I noticed two types of eating joints here. The restaurants in the inner core of the building were for tourists while the ones on the peripheral areas were for the locals. There were touts galore and when I asked a few of them for their restaurant's menu, I found the prices to be quite steep. Anyway, what was I to expect? It was very touristy. Can't really say if the food here was delicious since we only came here to sightsee and take pictures.