Don't like it! Reading yours and David's blogs about southern Chile and Argentina ignites a longing nostalgia. China is about as far from there as its possible to be in the world...and I'm not just talking about distance. I never did blog in detail about our time there - just dumped a couple hundred pictures on Travelblog at the time, since our laptop succumbed to the elements. But if yours and David's blogs are anything to go by; the backlogging of these blogs is a particularly sweet endeavour. So to my fantasy, though only thing that keeps me sane reading these. We all go down there together for a leisurely few months living our shared memories through each others experiences and eyes. That's a blog, a book, a documentary, a movie and one spectacular adventure
Black Forest revisited! Thanks for the kind words on pics and descriptions, Jens. It was trippy being there with my friends from the Black Forest who kept saying the same as you. I don't really know about the people, but it was a very, very quiet town.
Fairy tales You're so right, David, it felt just like a fairy tale--so perfect it almost wasn't real! Another Patagonian other-worldly experience. Glad you're enjoying my travels--it feels as if we're in Patagonia together now.
Great cruise! Wow. Valparaiso to the Falklands--what a cruise, but I hope your Navimag tour was less eventful than mine! We spent only a day in charming little Fruttiar, so I'm not surprised our photos are similar. In my next blog, Puerto Montt, I stayed longer, so had more adventures and unusual photos. Happy travels!
Thanks for the tip, Roger! Well, I'll certainly visit Colonia Tovar when I'm in Venezuela--I love these little German towns and their kuchen! Glad you enjoyed enjoyed the blog, and thanks for writing.
Nice pics and descriptions! I remember Frutillar quite well. Felt like a Black Forest village to me, just with a lake and a volcano. It was funny to see that kuchen (pl. kúchenes) is a proper word in Chilean Spanish. Apart from that, those German descendents were a little too conservative for my taste.
Fairy tales "Croatians, Italians and Slovakians went to southern Patagonia, while Germans settled the Lake Districts"...your pictures the stuff of fairy tales. Fruittiar...sounds like a tale of the brothers Grimm. Ahh...Patagonia can do that to you...Chile...land of dreams. We are enjoying your travels Tara.
LOVELY. I took a cruise last February from Valparaiso to reach the Falkland Islands. I stopped in Puerto Montt and I did the same tour you did. Puerto Varas and Frutillar deserve a visit. Lovely places. It´s funny because I have the same pictures, hahahaha We all do the same things.
As usual, educational and very interesting. This reminds be somewhat of Colonia Tovar, Venezuela. Colonia Tovar (English: Tovar Colony) is a town of Venezuela, capital of the municipality Tovar in Aragua state. Founded in 1843 by a group of immigrants from the then independent state of Baden (later incorporated into Germany), is characterized by maintaining the cultural imprint of their origin, so it is called "the Germany of the Caribbean".
Great blogging. Thank you. Roger
Surreal in a good way! Since you like this little pup crossing the road, you're going to love the schmoozing two in Puerto Montt. Chile has such fabulous street dogs!
Fabulous Chile! There are so many fabulous spots in Chile, Merry Jo and David, though the Lake District should be high on anyone's list! The lake with the volcanoes is coming up. a couple of jewels away.
Traveling Chile Chile has been on our short list for at least 3 years now. We've got to make a reservation. The lake with 5 snow capped volcanos sound lovely. Keep these jewels coming.
Chillin' in Chile Yes, I was chillin'-- I was freezing most of the time. Glad you enjoyed the rainbows, Merry Jo, they really were magical. And thanks so much for your kinds words about writing a book--excellent idea for when I'm too old to travel. Happy settling in to your new home!
Chillin' in Chile Such amazing scenery that you've captured in the lens of your camera. The colors are dancing off the page! The winds and weather make it all the more exciting and the rainbows... ah the rainbows. Your life is so rich with experiences. Time to write a book. A four hour journey that turned into six...not too bad. Happy travels.
Stuff of legends, indeed! You're right, David, that one has to suffer a bit for a true legend--I survived the Navimag! Glad you liked that video--my friend Oscar, from the voyage, sent it to me. So funny! I imagine that's what you sometimes felt like on Route 40 in your 4WD.
a romantic ride These are the stuff of legends...the trips you don't forget...without throwing up would be much less interesting. Loved the video especially.
Supernumerary is an adjective which means "exceeding the usual number" Update, Dave. I had known supernumerary only as the "extras" in an opera production, and as an opera fan, had always wanted to be one. So when you said this was the name of the rainbow, I looked it up, Indeed, it's an extra, whether for an opera or a rainbow. Great to know--thanks!
Uncommon Journeys, We Two or Three Hi Dave, thanks for the further info on this magical rainbow! Glad you got to see one too. Love the Arctic, which I too visited, and the Antarctic, which only you, lucky duck got to visit. I lived my southern adventure through you--so thanks for that! Indeed, I visited Chiloe--a couple of blogs down the line. Great to hear of Paraguay--too expensive for an American, so like the Antarctic, I'll have to live it through you. Happy travels!
Super Numerary Rainbow Hi Tara Cloud... Thanks for the comments on some of our blogs by the way, I am pleased you could enjoy some of the Antarctic adventures! I really love that rainbow shot - It's a super numerary rainbow. I have saw one of these before up in the arctic... They are low on the horizon and they are two or more rainbows stacked in front of each other - if you look closely you'll see that the last couple of colours repeat themselves (blue, indigo, violet, blue, indigo, violet). Two rainbows, one in front of the other - super cool! And they are fairly uncommon too. Enjoy the rest of your Chile trip... Chiloe Island is really nice if you're out that way! Dave
Thanks, Jeremy! Yes, where there was rain, there were amazing rainbows. Patagonia is fantastic, and I hope you come down soon. I'll look for your photos and blogs.
Thanks, Merry Jo! These were amazing colors and shapes. Patagonia is unique. And like you, I love traveling in the off-season--no crowds, no reservations.
Rich South America! There is so much down here--I think for a visitor, the choice of where to visit would be daunting. But then again, there are so many amazing places everywhere. Look forward to yours on DC.
Historical tidbits I have been offered jobs as guides several times, and I'd love to teach a class in SA history. In Europe, I made elaborate charts of the countries, empires and leaders--I can be crazy for history, so I'm glad I didn't bore you with it. Hope you be able to get a pet in your new digs.
I´m a one-way ticket, slow traveler, relishing the freedom of the open road and trusting serendipity to guide my journey. When I was younger, I used to travel for a year at a time. Then a few years ago, I roamed Europe and North Africa for three and a half years and liked that even better.
On August 1st, 2010, I left my peaceful Mission Canyon paradise in Santa Barbara's mellow summer and emerged from a couple of planes a day and a world later in the teeming, sub-zero streets of Buenos Aires´winter. Now, with the Andes, Amazon and Galapagos between here and home, will three years be enou... full info
aspiringnomad
Jason
Don't like it!
Reading yours and David's blogs about southern Chile and Argentina ignites a longing nostalgia. China is about as far from there as its possible to be in the world...and I'm not just talking about distance. I never did blog in detail about our time there - just dumped a couple hundred pictures on Travelblog at the time, since our laptop succumbed to the elements. But if yours and David's blogs are anything to go by; the backlogging of these blogs is a particularly sweet endeavour. So to my fantasy, though only thing that keeps me sane reading these. We all go down there together for a leisurely few months living our shared memories through each others experiences and eyes. That's a blog, a book, a documentary, a movie and one spectacular adventure