Since we arrived in Chile we have been toying with the idea of working part-time at a vineyard. Chilean wine is fantastic, we are interested in wine (too interested sometimes ;) and we live a mere 40 minutes from the Casablanca Valley so it's a no-brainer. Located about 80 km northwest of Santiago and 26 km from the Pacific coast (where we live), Casablanca's vines were planted in the 1980's, creating Chile's first maritime/mediterranean wine-producing region. It's Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are now internationally recognized for their deliciousness.
Read MoreThe Game Changer /
fter having the Suzuki for exactly only one year, we finally got rid of the car that had given us more headaches and trouble than the old rusty bucket, the Nissan Patrol (RIP 1983-2011) we bought when we first arrived. We tried selling the Suzuki online as is customary here but no takers. Probably due to the fact that it had 11 owners in just as many years...Our new ride is amazing - it gets us where we're going without having to worry about wheels falling off or engines blowing up. It's a panic attack free vehicle and we couldn't be happier.
Read MoreWhat Chile Does Best /
Meanwhile, all of Chile started preparations for the Chilean Independence Day ' Las Fiestas Patrias'. A week-long party that culminates on the 18th of September every year, Las Fiestas Patrias are basically a celebration of all that is Chile which marks the beginning of the Chilean independence process from Spain. Every municipality and pueblo hold 'Fondas' where party-goers enjoy the 'Asado Chileno' (Barbecue) and stuff themselves with meat, wine and 'Terremotos', a crazy homemade wine and pineapple ice cream concoction that produces the most wicked of hangovers. Kids and adults alike dress up in folkloric Chilean garb and dance the national dance the 'Cueca'.
Read MoreLasso the Moon /
All three Christmases we've spent here were strange. It's tough to get used to the Christmas in Summer, Southern Hemisphere thing. The first year (2009) we had just arrived and hadn't met any friends yet so we went to a gringo bar uptown where they served good beers and Mexican (NACHOS!) - I called my family on Skype on my iPod touch with no video.
Read MoreTourist for a Week and other happenings /
After about four hours of riding clutching onto my horse for dear life our guide Matias led us all to one of the famous seafood restaurants in nearby Con Con for some seafood empanadas. Pretty spectacular end to our day.The next day was the 4th of July and was spent eating some very American pulled pork sandwiches and other assorted meat products with friends of ours on Cerro Polanco in Valparaiso.
Read MorePost En Route /
The last few weeks have been crazy and though I've had a bunch of things to say unfortunately laziness has won out over blogging. My only excuse is that our car was in the shop for eighteen days during which we were working every day. Additionally, there happened to be a rain front (or whatever it's called when it rains every single day) that came through at exactly the same time.
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