saralynn

Arrival to Antarctica is not only cost prohibitive but if travelers-to-be knew beforehand of the discomfort of sailing through the Drake Passage, it may be enough to discourage a few more from making the journey. I boarded the Polaris after a 10-day wait in Ushuaia nearly trembling with excitement. I was only mildly aware that 12 hours later I would be trembling with nausea. Upon boarding the ship and receiving our room assignments we were called to the front room to meet our staff and learn more about our Antarctic expedition. We were all thrilled to hear that on our ship with a capacity of 64 passengers, we would be only 33. That meant maximum access and no lines! We were sailing on the newly acquired Polaris, a Russian ship contracted by the Canadian company Gap ... read more

I may have been on the shore of any lake in Wisconsin. The motor boats were coming in for fuel, there were jet skis for rent (I mean moto acuaticas), and I was sitting close enough to smell that familiar smell of water with a hint of gasoline from the fuel station. But the sand was black, which I cannot remember seeing in Wisconsin, and a glance to my left gave me a full view of Volcán Villarrica. I arrived here in Pucón, in the south of Chile, by way of a ten hour overnight bus ride from Santiago. It reminds me very much of a Colorado ski town. Many buildings have a chalet style and are of natural wood construction. Pucón is a place drawing in tourists who use the town as their adventure headquarters. ... read more

Quite behind the times I am. I will keep you in suspense as to where I currently write from but first wanted to share some pictures with you from the end of 2006. I spent my final week before Thanksgiving and Christmas vacation in the rented apartment of my friends Steve, Theresa, Ben, and Oliver in Viña del Mar. My apologies to a few of you who were tormented by me holding the Skype microphone out the window during our conversations in order that you hear the waves crashing. Living the high life was nice for the week. After leaving Viña I headed back to Santiago to get my things in order for my trip back to the EEUU. I spent the weekend with friends in Santiago, did a small trek on the Cerro, and even ... read more

It normally requires a lot to make me blush in the U.S. It may be the passionate expression used by Chileans that has influenced me to easily let that pink tint steadily climb up my face. Needless to say, I have blushed more in my 2.5 months in Chile, than I have over the past five years at home. It began with my endless battle with the word "alcachofa". Artichoke. Since day one of using that word I have only been able to produce "alfachoka", a variation of the original. It all came to a head on one of our visits to a favorite pizzeria here in Santiago, Cuidadano. I was ready. I practiced. The waiter approached, I made my attempt to order pizza with artichoke hearts, and failed. I could only say "alfachoka". I then ... read more

Last month I shook up my normal back and forth routine to Santiago and hopped on a bus heading north of Valparaiso to a beach town called Maitencillo. A clue that I knew next to nothing about what I was doing was in the fact that I had to keep referring to my guidebook to remember how to pronounce the name. Think, think, and keep repeating to self... Maitencillo, Maitencillo, until it comes naturally. A bit like my problem with the artichokes. The driver asked where I would like to be left in town. I asked for "the center" and started to feel a bit worried when we drove past a large number of beachside shops all boarded up tight as can be. Ah yes, October is not the high season. I was left at a ... read more