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Category Archives: Travel Journal
Santiago, a modern city with fascinating recent history
After visiting the old town of Buenos Aires, the wilderness of Patagonia, and the wineries of Mendoza, Santiago seemed different. It is a modern city, with highrises and chic neighborhoods. …and every U.S. chain imaginable. TGIFridays remains TGIFridays here, not TGIViernes! … Continue reading
Valparaiso = Colorful in Spanish (not really, but it could)
From the modern city of Santiago to the old cobblestoned streets of Valparaiso is only a couple hours by car, but the differences are huge. Google Maps led us up twisting, turning narrow streets that reminded us of the nearly impassable … Continue reading
The Chilean Connection: cows, wine, and Michigan Tech
We visited just one winery in Chile, Kingston Family Vineyards, and we think we picked the best one! Kingston was identified as one of the best Chilean wineries to visit and it was on our route between Santiago and Valparaiso. Surprisingly we found out we had … Continue reading
Posted in Smell the Roses, Travel Journal
Tagged Casablanca, Chile, Kingston Family Vineyards, Michigan Tech, wine
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Crossing the Andes, then and now
The distance from Mendoza Argentina to Santiago Chile is only 111 miles “as the crow flies.” But not many crows could follow the flight path over the high Andes. For us, making this crossing by car was relatively easy, though … Continue reading
Posted in Travel Journal
Tagged Aconcagua, Andes, Argentina, glaciers, mountains, skiing
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Wines of Mendoza, malbecs and more
It’s two weeks before harvest starts in Mendoza. Wine makers are a bit nervous about this year’s vintage because the area has had twice the normal amount of rain this season. Many of the vineyards have netting over the vines because … Continue reading
Posted in Smell the Roses, Travel Journal
Tagged Argentina, Catena Zapata, Dominio del Plata, food, Francis Mallmann, Maria Antonieta, Melipal, Mendoza, Salentein, wine, Zuccardi
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El Chalten, our hiking adventure
About 130 miles north of El Calafate is El Chalten. All the local maps indicated we would have 30 miles or more on gravel road, but fortunately we didn’t. Instead we had this: Patagonia is a backbacker’s mecca. We saw numerous pairs … Continue reading
Posted in Travel Journal
Tagged Argentina, El Chalten, Fitz Roy, Glaciar Viedma, glaciers, hiking, Lago Viedma, mountains, Patagonia, Perito Moreno
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El Calafate, home of Perito Moreno glacier
Our next Patagonia location was El Calafate. This town is the jumping off point for exploring spectacular glaciers. But first, a bit of other information. El Calafate borders Lago Argentino. Along the shore and growing wild throughout the area are calafate … Continue reading
Posted in Travel Journal
Tagged Argentina, El Calafate, glaciers, iceberg, lavender, Patagonia, Perito Moreno, wildlife
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Buenos Aires, She is a Diamond!
We’re on the road again, this time to South America. So what happens now? It’s another suitcase in another hall, starting in Argentina, the land of tango and beef and wine and Evita. We used Buenos Aires as our base for three or … Continue reading
Posted in Travel Journal
Tagged Argentina, Buenos Aires, Casa Rosada, Cementerio Recoleta, Evita, roses, tango
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Red Rocks Revisited, this time in Sedona
The last time we visited Sedona in 2010, we had a downpour and could barely see the giant red rocks. We never expected such rain in Arizona, but it happens. This time we had beautiful weather and clear views of … Continue reading
Posted in Travel Journal
Tagged Arizona, Cathedral Rock, Red Rocks, Sedona, vortexes
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Finger Lakes to Lavender Fields 