CHILE!!!

I got to have my first experience of Chile thanks to my sister, Heather, who has been in love with Chile since she visited South America thirty years ago. I travelled with Heather (on her sixth visit) Jack (on his third) but not David who couldn't be with them this time.

Here is a photo of Heather and Jack in the shop that has opened in the small home they lived in for a year four years ago. They have many friends there and speak pretty good Spanish now. I was impressed!

There's too many photos I want to show you so I have posted some on flickr for you to browse if you're interested. I wasn't game to take my good camera in case of loss or theft (for those who know my camera history!).

Valparaiso, where we spent most time, is probably one of the most photographable (a word?) cities on earth so it was tantalising not to be able to try to capture more... it was actually declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003 largely because of the beauty of its unique architecture... here a couple of evening view of the houses on one of the Cerros (which one Heather?).

One of the striking things about the architecture is the whimsy ... and care for detail. Outside our window on Calle Templeton was a modest building but the chimney had these faces cut into the metal. This seemed typical of the many arty fun things you see here including some of the murals below... my sister Heather likes to imagine the reaction in Australia if some of these murals were painted on our suburban houses...

There are hundreds and hundreds more but you'll have to go there yourselves to marvel at them. This is really my most difficult blog because I can't really start to do justice to the experience of Chile... of course I just have to express my view of it so for those who know it so much better I apologise. Just one shot of the colourful houses of Valpo, as it is called.

Before I go on I have to say that the inside of the houses are just as colourful or more! See the living room of Denise' hostel and the hallway upstairs!

Of course a constant theme here is the sea. Here the lovely fishing village of Corral, near Valdivia.

This one Qintay near Valparaiso where gruesome whaling took place for many decades... they stopped in 1967 which I thought was impressive, Japan!

Standing by the sea is one thing, getting in another! The water is extremely cold. Jack caught the look on my face the moment I dared to put my feet into the waves, here below.

We ate plenty of seafood, this meal a classic cooked by one of our hosts and good friend Denise. Plenty of shellfish as part of the cuisine, along with avocado and the best strawberries and raspberries I've ever tasted. Took lots of photos of a fish market by the sea in Valparaiso for Peter and not surprisingly they were the first ones he wanted to see on my return to Canada.

Famous poet Pablo Neruda, had three houses in and around Valparaiso and they are huge toursit attractions. What a unique life loving human being he seemed to be. This home in Isla Negra sits by crashing waves, Neruda's boat sitting near the house where he'd take friends for an evening drink apparently as he was too scared (and perhaps too smart) to take it into the sea!

Now as I said I haven't done Chile justice. Here just one shot of a beautiful lake near Valdivia at Choshuenko. And one, just one of a majestic (what else would they be?) snow covered volcano. And yes I did go to a winery and so much more!!!

And now I have to finish because I've run out of time. Today in Toronto it is minus 9 degrees. I am all rugged up and really enjoying the experience, surprisingly, maybe because it is sunny.

There's lots more going on with the restaurant but nothing finalised yet so I'm hoping 2010 actually starts for us soon and there'll be some news for you.

love to you all until next time

Lindy