My dad pointed out every stray dog, many of whom were sporting very stylish winter sweaters — thanks to the concerned Chilean public. He seemed pleasantly surprised that people never exited the elevator without saying goodbye or “chau.” And he laughed when he saw that every restaurant served hot dogs … and mayonnaise. As he noticed all these little things that have become so “regular” in my life, I realized just how much I have learned and adjusted in Santiago.
When you think of living abroad, you might imagine living in a fantasy. The truth is, that’s often not the case … and that’s a fact I’ve struggled with in the past months. But — I am happy.
I received polarizing reviews on whether to visit Chiloé, an archipelago of more than 40 islands. A friend of mine said he loved the beautiful island, and could spend a month there if he had the chance. A fellow traveler said he heard it was boring unless you were 80 years old and liked to visit churches. Nora and I decided to go for it anyway, and were glad we did. We spent two days on the island, and loved it.
Between the lush trees just across Río Valdivia is home of the Kunstmann brewery, a popular Chilean beer. After the 1960 earthquake destroyed Valdivia‘s main…
I spent ten days in February traveling through Chile’s Lakes District with my lovely friend Nora. Defined by towering snow-capped volcanoes overlooking deep blue lakes, sweet people with southern charm, sheep roaming emerald hills, salmon exports, a rich German influence and teal waters rushing down grandiose falls — the Lakes District is set in the bottom half of this ribbon-shaped country. Here’s a look at Valdivia.
Chile is not known for its cuisine, but all the fresh produce can save almost any meal. I feel like I’m in a movie every time I walk down the street in the summertime air, passing fruit stands and food vendors on every other corner. Being from Las Vegas where the only thing sold on the street is sex, I still find it hard to believe that in an urban city of 7 million people, you can still find fresh produce just feet from office buildings, shopping districts and cafés.
Oh yes, I am that girl. I am the gringa making a fuss about my coffee, declaring “I want I am milk, please … I am milk, it is very important.”
