Feeling at Home in Viña del Mar

Viña del Mar is Valparaíso’s responsible and trend-conscious little sister working hard to come out from behind her older sibling’s über-cool shadow.

Valparaíso: A City Built in Neverland

A few months ago, I could not have told you the name of a single street in the entire country of Chile.  I could make broad statements about the desert in the north, the mountains in the south, and a fertile wine growing valley surrounding the capital city in the center.  The intricacies of this skinny country were nothing more than abstractions of guidebook details.

Llama Post – Photo of the Week

A warm sunset breaks through storm clouds and shines down on Valparaíso, Chile.

Llama Post: Photo of the Week

Do you see the blue cat painted on the white door?

PART TWO: Sandy Summits Cerro La Campana

5:00am came far too early for all that evening commotion, so we rolled over and hit snooze.  It was closer to 7:30am when I stuck my head out of our tent to take in the view.  Mostly I was checking to see if Sandy was anywhere in sight. She wasn’t.

If you haven’t read Part 1 yet, you may want to do that first!

PART 1: Backpacking Cerro La Campana

The Llama and I just returned from Parque Nacional Cerro La Campana.  A healthy dose of endorphins from climbing this 1,800 meter mountain was just what we needed to recharge from city noises, city air, and the pressures of looking for more work.

Farmers Market to Feria in Chile

 

As good farmer-worshiping transplant Oregonians, the Llama and I understood our adopted state’s message loud and clear: go to your local Farmers Market.  Expect to spend more than you expect to spend, and feel great about it.

The 6th Sense in Valparaíso

Perhaps one reason why Valparaíso enchants the pants off of so many visitors has to do with the sensual stimulation of the place.  The centuries-old port city presents a feast for the eyes, with expansive views of hillside homes overlooking the teal-blue sea, while intricately painted stonework, doorways, and murals overwhelm an artistic eye. 

Escape (to) (from) Bahía Laguna Verde

Detail:  Valparaiso in the distance as seen from Laguna Verde

This weekend the Llama and I indulged in a one night getaway in honor of Valentine’s Day. We packed our bags for Bahía Laguna Verde, about 14km (less than 9 miles) south of Valparaíso. Excited to explore new terrain, we pictured ourselves hiking on the coastline, reading on the beach, playing ukulele and relaxing by a campfire as we had done on many of our backyard adventures on the Oregon Coast or Northern California. While I hate to say our expectations were ill-met, I will say that the Llama and I once again heard the universe insisting that we drop our ideas of what comes next.