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…