Clint

Submission Date:  4/14/2009

Belen

Home Country:  Australia

1.  Which neighborhood do you live in?

Belen

2.  How long have you lived there?

1 month

3.  What is the closest metro station?  Is it within walking distance (10-15 minutes max)?

Exposiones (a good 30 min walk) usually take buses instead.

4.  What is the closest park or monument?

Unidad Deportivo de Belen

5.  Are you within walking distance of a big grocery store?  If yes, which one(s)?

Consumo 10mins, Exito 15 mins

6.  What do you enjoy about living in your neighborhood?

It has a quiet family feel to it, the streets are tree lined and residents take pride in keeping their properties well presented.  Most streets in my particular area of Belen only have 2 story buildings, each a little individualistic. Rent is reasonable, plenty of small shops everywhere and well serviced by buses.

7.  What is the downside of living in your neighborhood?

Is a little far to the metro, takes some time to know which buses go where.

8.  Do you feel safe in your neighborhood? If yes, does this extend to walking around late at night (such as returning from a bar/club)? If no, why not?

Yes, I am often found stumbling in the streets at odd hours, there are security guards patrolling the neighborhood 24/7.  Though Belen does cover a big area so this doesnt necessarily apply to everywhere.

9.  Please list the name (and address or directions if possible) of your favorite neighborhood restaurant(s), bar(s), clubs(s), gym(s), internet cafe(s), etc.

Several salsa style bars on the 80 and a sports bar (Champions), a mixture of bars on the 30, good alternative to Poblado, just walk down the road to see which one suits that night.  Los Molinos is a shopping centre (on Calle 30) with a cinema and a few restaurants (Italian one has an extensive well priced menu).  I recommend taking a walk up the hill of the 3 crosses, reaching a peak of about 1950m, it has good views of the city (see pic) and some rare green space.  Also, around Parque Belen there are plenty of fresh produce vendors.

Parque Biblioteca: free internet use in a large, modern library.

10.  Would you recommend living in your area to future foreigners?

Yes.

11.  Additional comments or suggestions?

Most rentals in the area seem to be through El Castillo real estate, the cheaper ones at least.