We’re the type of people who look at real estate windows wherever we go – sometimes because we could imagine living there, other times because we’re just nosy. That has not been the case with Santiago. It’s been interesting to explore this city, but after nine days here, we’re ready to leave. We’re not sure … More Santiago: Fun to visit, but we wouldn’t want to live here.
Valparaiso was once known as “The Jewel of the Pacific” – attracting European immigrants from the UK, Germany and Italy and serving as a main stopping point for ships from the Atlantic and the Pacific. As one of the Pacific’s most important seaports, Valparaiso enjoyed a heady golden age between 1848-1914. Wealthy families built magnificent … More The Blessing and the Curse of Valparaiso
After weeks of travelling through jaw-dropping natural scenery and experiencing nature’s peace and quiet, we knew it would be an adjustment to arrive in Santiago, a city of over seven million people. While we were ready to hit city streets once again, it has taken a bit of time to adjust to the reality of … More Figuring out Santiago
Volcan Villarica has been huffing and spewing smoke lately; so much so that treks to the volcano were suspended for a brief period. As luck would have it, this volcano roared to life again and has been creating dramatic photo ops just in time for our visit. It is one of the most active volcanoes … More Villarica: Smoking Volcanoes and Lakeside Beauty
Have you ever arrived at a restaurant at 7:00 p.m. and wondered why it was empty? Walked along a deserted beach, flanked with shuttered food trucks and imagined what it might have been like two months earlier? You’re not exactly alone, there are people about, but they’re stacking chairs and sweeping the floor. The party’s … More Puerto Varas: The Jewel of Chile’s Lake District
Founded in 1552, Valdivia was one of the first cities in Chile. Positioned at the confluence of the Cau-Cau, Calle-Calle and Cruces Rivers, the early settlement was considered to have strategic access to the Pacific and a set of fortifications were built. However, the challenges were not only coming from foreign invasion. Between an early … More Valdivia: From Catastrophes to Cerveza
We read a lot about the incredibly diverse and otherworldly landscapes of Chile’s Atacama Desert – the highest (8200 ft. asl) and driest desert in the world. As well as the bone-dry, seemingly lifeless and barren expanse that represents part of the desert, there are also volcanoes, numerous mountain ranges, geysers, salt flats, sand dunes, … More Llama attack, and other adventures in the Atacama Desert
When we first began to investigate what Galapagos might cost us, we a) picked ourselves up off the floor and b) wrote it off as something that might happen after a substantial lottery win. We were seeing prices between US$7,000 and $10,000 per person for 7 or 8 night live-aboard cruises, which meant $20,000 – … More Galapagos: Our Summary
Without sounding too precious, it feels like a privilege to visit Galapagos. We were neither invited nor were we vetted; filling out an online form and booking a flight was our only prerequisite for entry. But getting there is neither straightforward, nor is it inexpensive. Galapagos receives just 200,000 visitors annually, compared to the 30 … More Galapagos
On December 1, 1999, Cuenca was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in recognition of the culture, handicrafts and handmade goods produced here. CIDAP, the Inter-American Center for Handicrafts, is an international institution created to promote and safeguard Cuenca’s crafts and folk art. CIDAP is housed in this magnificent mansion, which like all museums in … More Cuenca’s crafts: from Panama hats to blacksmiths
Leaving Ourselves Behind 