Cerro San Cristobal, Santiago, Chile

Smogtiago

On the way up, the funicular passes an uncomfortable zoo situated along a steep incline.

Mankind’s true moral test, its fundamental test (which lies deeply buried from view), consists of its attitude towards those who are at its mercy: animals.  And in this respect mankind has suffered a fundamental obstacle, a debacle so fundamental that all others stem from it.

-Milan Kundera

I suspect the pooch above had something to do with the following…

Later this area was teaming with street performers, artists, tourists, and languid shoppers. Schools were in the middle of a two week (July) winter break, so scores of kids were out and about.  Listen to a young violinist…

or a teenage didgeridoo player outside Estaciòn Central…