When we started our traveling adventure 18 months ago, we thought about all the countries we hoped to visit. We were eager to learn about the language, people and cultures of these countries. We did think about our physical safety in these countries, but never did we envision that a pandemic might endanger us. Since our arrival in Mendoza, Argentina, two weeks ago the Coronavirus has been on our minds constantly. We cannot avoid it. After much deliberation, we decided…
With the number of cases of COVID-19 growing, Chile and Argentina are taking dramatic measures as we fluctuate between feelings of normalcy and feeling bizarre. This epidemic has caused us to evaluate our travel options. A few weeks ago, our travel to Argentina started out so innocently. We made plans to take a bus from Chile into Argentina in what was advertised as the “most beautiful bus ride in the world.” We hoped it would be as beautiful as they…
Update: We are safe and healthy and life during the Coronavirus pandemic seems to be more normal here in South America than in the U.S. We are following the news in the U.S. and plan to continue our travels in South America for the next few months. ISLAND OF MYSTERY AND LEGEND Early Saturday morning, we hopped into a van for a 3-hour trip to Isla Grande de Chiloé (The Grand Island of Chiloé). Geographically and culturally, this is one…
We left Viña del Mar on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, took a bus to Santiago, and then flew south to the Patagonia region of Chile. For the next two weeks, we are staying in Puerto Varas. It is a small, quaint town located on the shore of Lake Llanquihue (the second largest lake in Chile). As we entered Puerto Varas, we saw an unforgettable view of the lake and mountains. Our apartment is a few blocks from the…
We left Santiago and are now enjoying the coastal towns of Viña del Mar and Valparaiso, Chile. Although these towns are next to each other on the Pacific coast, they are quite different. Valparaiso Valparaiso (Paradise Valley) was once a major port city in Chile. It is known for its steep, hilly neighborhoods, narrow streets, colorful buildings and funiculars that take you to the top of the hillside neighborhoods. It was known as the “Jewel of South America” because its…
Chile is a long, narrow country bordered by the Andes Mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is known for its spectacular mountains, lakes, fjords, and the driest desert in the world. We are excited to explore the country outside of the huge capital city, Santiago. For the past year, we have stayed in big cities and now we want to experience more natural areas. We won’t be able to visit all regions of the…
Two weeks ago, we arrived in Santiago, Chile anxious to explore the city. However, we were surprised to find a city scarred by political unrest, demonstrations, and uneasily waiting until April when a national vote on whether to change the constitution will be held. The October Uprising Although Chile is called the political and economic leader of Latin America, economic inequality has reached an all-time high. The current unrest is caused by protests last October. Over a million Chileans demonstrated…
Lucha Libre What defines Mexico? Some things that come to mind immediately are Tequila, Mezcal, soccer, tacos and Mariachi music. However, there is a popular sport in Mexico that also defines the culture and that is Lucha Libre. It is literally translated as “free fight” but in Mexico, it means “wrestling”. We are not fans of wrestling, but our son who was visiting us in Mexico City had been a fan of wrestling when he was a child. We thought…
Sunday is an amazing day to be in Mexico City. Everyone is out and about — sitting in parks, eating with family, and generally enjoying the day. It’s a great day for people watching and strolling through the Zócalo. The Plaza de la Constitución, known as the Zócalo, is Mexico City’s most well-known landmark and plaza. Zócalo means ‘base’. In its early years (around the year 1629), there were plans to build a large monument in the center (base) of…
Some people may disagree about whether the following post is an appropriate subject for a travel blog. Although we have strong political opinions, we never blog about our views. We stick to non-controversial posts about our travels in Mexico and South America. However, we were angry to learn about a U.S. war atrocity involving Central and South American countries during WW ll. We will leave it up to you, readers, to decide whether to read further…. Japanese Americans were transported…