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Viña del Mar Travel Blogs

Background: Prior to the coming of the Spanish in the 16th century, northern Chile was under Inca rule while Araucanian Indians inhabited central and southern Chile; the latter were not completely subjugated until the early 1880s. Although Chile declared its independence in 1810, decisive victory over the Spanish was not achieved until 1818. In the War of the Pacific (1879-84), Chile defeated Peru and Bolivia and won its present northern lands. A three-year-old Marxist government of Salvador ALLENDE was overthrown in 1973 by a dictatorial military regime led by Augusto PINOCHET, who ruled until a freely elected president was installed in 1990. Sound economic policies, maintained consistently since the 1980s, have contributed to steady growth and have helped secure the country's commitment to democratic and representative government. Chile has increasingly assumed regional and international leadership roles befitting its status as a stable, democratic nation.

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By Dr Pepper
November 7th 2008

Sarita y Los Amigos Stupendos!

South America » Chile » Valparaíso Region » Viña del Mar

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Martin and his new bike

Moving on From Reñaca to La Serena Have finally dragged myself away from the excellent company of my friends in Reñaca. Its is so hard to find the words to describe just how openly and warmly these people have welcomed me into their lives. Since Saturday I have been staying with Lorena and Eduardo, they have a beautiful apartment overlooking the ocean, and we have spent many hours out on the balcony enjoying the view over the ocean and round to Valparaiso. Oh and the building also comes with swimming pools, sauna, tennis court, and covered bbq area, complete with a [View Full Entry]

By Dr Pepper
November 1st 2008

Adopted by Chileans

South America » Chile » Valparaíso Region » Viña del Mar

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So the last update the question was to study or to wine..... well neither happened of course! Saturday took a walk around Vaparaiso, passed a free concert from a group called Pachamama de Valparaiso, absolutely brilliant and ended staying for the whole performance and bought both cds. Met up with Brian, a friend from the Santiago hostel crew. Went to a crazy restaurant in the evening. The walls and tables were covered in graffiti, shelves crammed with a random assortment of nick-nacks, and passport photos plastered everywhere. Music by 2 old boys, one singing, and the other on the accordi [View Full Entry]

By Welsh Wanderers
October 25th 2008

Summer Holiday

South America » Chile » Valparaíso Region » Viña del Mar

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It was a grey and misty morning, as usual, when we left Valparaiso to head for the metro for the short trip to Vina del Mar. It is a large holiday resort close to the city and is full of high rises and apartments for the rich from the city to enjoy the weekends. It has a few miles of sandy beaches and row after row of street vendors selling candy floss, toffee apples, ice creams and local crafts at inflated prices. It had peddalo cars and a mini fun fair for the kids. Despite its generic look, we enjoyed it. [View Full Entry]

By mark and chrissie
October 23rd 2008

Practising our Spanish in Viña Del Mar

South America » Chile » Valparaíso Region » Viña del Mar

Vina Del Mar

Day 573 (22.10.08) The first question everyone asks you when they hear you´re going to South America is "How´s your Spanish?" and today we were about to find out. After getting packed up and doing a quick Spanish lesson from the iPod in the hostel courtyard we did what we haven´t done for quite a while and set off with our backpacks securely strapped to us. Having bought the van in Australia, settled down for a while and then travelled NZ with the luxury of a campervan and then a car it´s been about a year since we´ve really had to [View Full Entry]

By Bowmen16
October 12th 2008

Fiestas Patrias, Sept. 18th

South America » Chile » Valparaíso Region » Viña del Mar

The Master Chef at work
Carlos in charge of the grill.

Another "dieciocho" (18) has past and one again I had too many empanadas and too much meat. I am convinced that this holiday exists purely to indulge yourself in all the worst things for you. But hey, no complaints here!!! This year we went to Santiago to spend the long weekend with Carlos' family. The actual holiday is Sept. 18th but the 19th is a national holiday as well. And most people take off Wed. so it ends up being a 5-day long opportunity to eat and drink. This year we had an "asado" at Carlos' parents house on 18 and [View Full Entry]

By Crystaline
September 10th 2008

Getting settled in..

South America » Chile » Valparaíso Region » Viña del Mar

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I've been in Vina del Mar for a week and a half now and getting used to it. Class has been going really well. Our teacher Jenny is really good and we all have been learning a lot. Claudia (my host mom) and I have become closer, she is super super nice. She is only 10 years older than me, so we actually have a lot in common. Its really nice to live with her, she teaches me a lot. Today, she invited a couple of my american friends over for a Chilean lunch. I live across the street from 3 [View Full Entry]

By Crystaline
September 10th 2008

Photos link

South America » Chile » Valparaíso Region » Viña del Mar

So it takes forever to upload pictures on this website, so here is a link to my Facebook photo albums if you are interested... Argentina: http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2151471&l=f3d98&id=59501397 Vina del Mar: http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2152407&l=031fd&id=59501397 [View Full Entry]

By Bowmen16
September 7th 2008

Buenos Aires Part 2

South America » Chile » Valparaíso Region » Viña del Mar

the Oblisk
This monument is in the meridian of 9 de Julio, the "worlds largest street" or so they say. The Oblisk was inaugurated in 1936 and to this day it continues to be ridiculed and criticized and a group... [more]

Here is part 2 of our Buenes Aires trip. Enjoy the pics, feel free to write comments or messages. I love to hear from people. Take care. Love from Chile!!! Tori [View Full Entry]

By Crystaline
September 4th 2008

Vina Del Mar, Chile

South America » Chile » Valparaíso Region » Viña del Mar

So I made it over the Andes mountains.. spent a couple years at the Argentina/Chile border, but everything went good. We saw beautiful views and some cool looking ski places. My host family is really nice. I am living with Claudia, who is 34, and her son Benjamin, who is 4. He is really cute. The house is small, but clean and cute. I have my own room and bathroom. its sooo small, but its okay because i dont really have much stuff and dont really hangout in it much. I'm really happy with my living situation. I started class on [View Full Entry]

By Bowmen16
August 1st 2008

The Honeymoon

South America » Chile » Valparaíso Region » Viña del Mar

Carlos enjoying his last few minutes of his feet on the ground
Carlos hadn't flown in a plane since he was 16 years old. Needless to say he was a little nervious. This is us in the Santiago airport waiting for our flight to Buenos Aires

So after 3 1/2 months of married life, we finally were able to take our honeymoon. Since I started a new job and a new semester 2 weeks before the wedding, we figured it wouldn't look so great for the newby to ask for time off. Plus i have a 3 week break in between semesters in July so we thought a honeymoon in July would be best...except 1 thing. In this part of the world we are in the middle of winter in July. oops. Didn't quite think that one through but it was a wonderful, great, amazing trip. I [View Full Entry]

Travel Blog » South America » Chile » Valparaíso Region » Viña del Mar