2013 Lonnie's final post for Birthday in Chile

I loved Chile and plan to return again next year to visit the Patagonia region. Even the locals who've been there highly recommend it as well as the Atacama and winery regions. I had several servings of wine in Chile and I'm no winehead but each glass was quite tasty. I also enjoyed nice cheeses, and coffees (thx to Andrea, I came home with a few bags:). Interestingly enough, a favorite food for the locals is, Peruvian cuisine, from the common to the gourmet. On my last day in Santiago, I visited the Artisans Market where I bought a few souvenirs for the Homeys, then enjoyed a pleasant day in the park Cerro Santa Lucia.

 

(Pics, 1-Cerro Santa Lucia, 2-friend Natalia -three year penpals-1st meeting at her job in Pueblo Los Dominicos, 3-Moai and wild horse on Easter Island, courtesy of Julie, a California I met there and have since had coffee with in L A)

 

3:This last picture was special to me that I asked Julie to send it to me. I never took a photo of any of the many wild horses all over the island. Our guide Patricia told us that horses were once the form of transportation until cars came, then the horse owners just released them. They're plentiful, beautiful, and live a great life, with abundant land, food, and water. No predators. There were also lots of dogs all over Santiago as well as the island. They were part of the community. Chile love dogs and dogs love Chile. Being a dog lover, that worked for me.

 

My only complaint is that I have yet to receive the post card I mailed myself from Easter Island airport:-( I gave up on thinking I'll ever see it again, but it had a lovely stamp of the Moai on it. At least, everyone else got theirs in the States and Australia. Oh well, I'll try it again next year!

 

 

2013 Lonnie's Birthday in Chile, pt 5

We departed Easter Island on my birthday, and the only reason everyone on the flight didn't know it, was because I didn't want to embarrass Uncle Rudy (UR), so I kept it inside. We checked into the Hilton Hotel near Santiago airport since UR would be flying back to Atlanta the following day. As soon as we entered our fancy room, UR turned on his phone and shouted, '4 Bars! Yes!' Then he turned on his computer, 'Instant connection...Thank you!' Then turned the big flat screen TV on CNN (aka 'chronically negative news' as my minister calls it),  then UR rejoiced, 'Thank God, Civilization again!!!' Oh well, so much for me getting away from 'civilization'. As UR lay contently in bed, playing with his high tech gadgets, I took a shower, dressed, and proceeded to leave. 'Where you going?' inquired UR. ''It's my birthday, I'm going to dinner." UR decided to join me, along with his tech toys also. I returned to the room and retrieved mine too, so I could check emails. My dinner was not what I ordered, then they brought the right one, which was not tasty, but the staff singing Happy Birthday and providing me a dessert treat was special...courtesy of Uncle Rudy!

 

Uncle Rudy and I hung out a bit in Santiago after we checked out of the Hilton. His flight would depart later that evening, and I would relocate to stay with Andrea, the lovely local I met on the flight from Atlanta to Santiago, her daughter Simone, and dog Mimi. Andrea lived in a wonderful Bohemian area, next to the Museo de Bellas Artes. While she was at  work teaching Neuroscience at a University, doing research, etc. and her daughter was in classes, I learned my way around using buses and the Metro. Being a Spanish speaker was a definite bonus whenever I was lost, people were gracious, kind, and helpful. I visited Valparaiso, a vertical costal port city, with striking ocean views, amazing history, culture, and seafood! 

 

1) Easter Island airport, Brazilian Sista in transit from Figi to Brazil,  2) Hilton Hotel Birthday Dinner, 3) Dessert, 4) Valparaiso (costal city west of Santiago), 5-6) Canon/balls at old coastal Navy fort, 7-14) Valparaiso city sites

 

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2013 Lonnie's Birthday in Chile, pt 4

Uncle Rudy(UR) was so frazzled at not having Wifi, so he could work, keep up with the news, etc., I found another accommodation, Hostal Sunset, just across the road. The place had more modems so it all worked out. We moved into a quaint cabina with AC and a sunset ocean view. Our beautiful, well-traveled hostess China, spoke/taught English, so finally UR met another English speaker, which he was very happy about. Walking around the town? Not so much...  I will again admit that I am a walker, a fast one at that, up to 10 miles in a day... one of the reasons I prefer to travel alone. So UR joined me for a walk thru the town since we needed dinner, snacks, souvenirs, etc.. Meanwhile, I wanted all of that plus a foot tour of the town. I loved hearing the locals speak their native language, and that they greeted us in it, gave me a 'Homey' feel. Had I been alone, I would have taken the time to learn and communicate a bit more with the locals. There was so much more I wanted to learn, experience, see, and do...next time, will do!

 

UR complained about the walking until we settled on an ocean-front restaurant with an extremely handsome English-speaking Rapa Nui waitor, Charles. UR was delighted by his gorgeousness, attention and conversations, so much so, we ate at the same restaurant the next night, excellent plates of curry chicken...yummy! In our rented car, we visited more amazing places including beaches, caves, and more archaeological sites.

 

On the eve of my Birthday, China treated me to a wonderful sunset dinner, ice cream cake w/candles, a wonderful ambiance. Thanks China and Uncle Rudy! After dinner, our ride picked us up to transport us to the Polynesian Cultural show. I walked in the place wearing my Birthday tiara, the hostess never skipped a beat, 'Well Yahara (local greeting)! Never has such a distinguished guest come to our humble show...thank you!' I melted with delight and was even gifted a CD of the show music. The stories, music, songs, dances, and wine were excellent! Loved my face make-up done by one of the dancers, great show!

 

Pics - 1)This was the view from our new accommodation, Hostal Sunset, 2) more Moai, 3-4) caves, 5) Patricio (best guide ever), 6-7) Hostal Sunset/restaurant for my 8) Birthday Dinner of shrimps w/rice - Delish! 9) Owner/Amazing Hostess - China, 10-12)Polynesian Folkloric show, 13)Julie/me (she's from L A area also), 14) Birthday breakfast treats, 15) A Birthday Rainbow, and 16) my favorite pic from the Polynesian show.

 

 

 

 

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