Blogs from Isla Negra, Valparaíso Region, Chile, South America

On Thursday, we signed up with a local company, Turistik, for the ride to the Coast to visit Pablo Neruda’s seashore home, Isla Negra. The tour offered the best of both worlds, the opportunity to see this Museum and, afterwards, a visit to a new organic winery in one of Chile’s youngest wine producing valleys, San Antonio. One of their vans was picking us up at 8:15 AM in front of the W Hotel, and taking us to their main depot area in the Parque Araucano Shopping Center to meet the vehicle designated for this particular tour. It is a well-organized enterprise that we had used in the past. The drive to Neruda’s house was heading south on the Costanera highway. It reminds me somewhat or the Florida’s Turnpike in that it has Toll stations along ... read more

Geo: -33.2042, -71.705Today I woke up, hopeful of a better day, and an even better tomorrow. But then I looked in the mirror - still hideous! As I showered, I was concerned at the alarming rate of skin loss from my face - I was worried that I would clog the shower drain ...At least I came up with a plan to treat my face - but unfortunately, I can't buy the required tools, because I don't know the Spanish words for "bench grinder" and "sandblaster". But seriously, the only things more horrific than my face are these Pablo Neruda translations! Depending on the translator, some of the English versions can sound beautiful. But it's disappointing when you read a brilliant verse in Spanish followed by the English version that sounds like it was written by ... read more

We went for a long walk to the city to the North of Isla Negra, El Quisco. it was a hopping place seeing as how it is New's Years Eve and that is a BIG holiday in Chile. They say that Christmas is for children and New Year's is for the adults in Chile. I think I could watch the Pacific rollers coming in for hours. We stopped at the fish market and noticed that they were selling bags of lemons and they are selling my favorite Chilean fish-- Congrio A little further they were selling clams by the kilo. A little further they were guys opening the clams so you could eat them raw with a little (lot) of lemon juice. So of course I had to try it!!!!! So I go to the ... read more

Vad toppen! Tänne tuli kolme ruotsalaista toimintaterapeuttia tekemään kolmen kuukauden työharjoittelupestiään. Ihan mukavilta vaikuttavat. Menimme pari päivää heidän saapumisestaan käymään pyörähtämässä perjantaina Vina del Marissa, ja valparaisossa. Ne ovat kaksi yhteenkasvanutta merenrantakaupunkia tässä kokolailla stgon kupeessa. Menimme sinne bussilla. Oli itsellenikin ihan mukavaa heilahtaa pois santiagosta ensimmäistä kertaa ihan omin voimin. Bussit olivat todella komeita ja hyvin varusteltuja. Menomatkaamme säestikin epäilyttävästi Demis Roussosia ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demis_Roussos) muistuttava pitkätukkainen mies, joka lauloi popahtavaa iskelmämusiikkia. Voin sanoa, että oli mielenterveys kovilla perille saapuessamme. Tytöistä kaksi kolmesta seurustelee, ja on ihan kiva, että täällä on kohtalotovereita :) Oli myös mukavaa puhua ruotsiakin koko päivä. -Muutenkin noi... read more