Aguas de Ramon Santiago is a great place to hike. You take the bus, follow wrong googlemaps instructions and then you reach Aguas de Ramon. You have two types of trek: an easy one and a difficult one. For the later you have to start before 8:30. It takes 4 hours in. But the view on a 25 m waterfall might be fantastic. Might as my friend and I went for the easy version. Both of us are at the moment injured. We adjust our goals depending on our capabilities. We loved it, it was wonderful - getting closer to the nature to recharge the batteries... Santiago Colours are barely edit - just the contrast.... You see the tallest building, I live near that tower. At first the weather was cloudy and the weather forecast predicted rain...as usual it did not rain! The sun shone after two hours! Fabiola and I Always a magic moment Fauna and flora
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Vivian Maier A photographer who needs to be discovered. Vivian Maier was a nannny and after her shift went out to take photos, it was in the 50´s. until she died in 2009. She had a Rolleiflex camera and everyday went out there to capture the world, people, things, and even herself. No one really knew what she did, she was very strict about that. After work she was a mystery. No one can tell how she learned photography maybe in France??? She did not have much money to develop films, most of them remained until she died unprocessed. She could take the right moment, she had a trained eye and she mastered the techniques. She invented selfies before mobiles existed. Her background A grandmother left France to the US after giving birth to Vivan´s mother. Her mother was French and Her father Austrian. Vivian´s mother went to the US and were Vivian was born. She always said that she was French. Her mother went back to France, a village in the Alps, where Vivian went to school for some years. The family went back to the States. When Vivian grew older, she became a nanny, and travelled to France and to Asia too. Her particularity: always with a camera. Once she applied to get the US residency, she even said that her parents were deceased. She collected newspapers, and kept her undeveloped rolls in boxes, in storage. She died in misery. Her pictures stored in different places where bought for a penny! Now her pictures could be sold for a fortune. No heir, no heritage to be given - so her work is now scattered all over the US. I don´t want to enter in the story about who owns what and who is the official representative... What was discovered? 100.000 negatives and slides, each of them contains 12 pictures... do the math! To know more about it (if you are into photography) http://www.vivianmaier.com/ I highly recommend to watch Finding Vivian Maier. 100 years - Klimt´s death anniversary Klimt revisited Artwork made of copper. Amazing work! Mauricio Garrido Collage -
Exploring restaurants in Santiago Exploring good restaurants in Santiago! Sounds good, isn´t it!I have been injured for the last 5 weeks, I cannot go trekking, or do any sports. (strained or torn tendons in the thigh) Chile is far away of everything but you can find good international foods. We tried the restaurant called Meze a Turkish restaurant, in Manuel Mont. The place is inspiring and it felt like being at the Bosporus shore with the music, the painting, the delicious food! Turkey in Santiago Hamburgers Internations is a community expats that brings you to places you can never think of! This time we went to Streat Burger to eat hamburgers. It was tasty (hamburger with blue cheese) but a bit too small... Two bites and then gone! Afterwards, I had a brownie with ice cream to make me full! Chilean food and drinks Completo (hot style). Vienesas, Empanadas, Sandwiches ... I was too hungry to take a picture! A Chilean sandwich or food always comes with avocado... The national drink.. Pisco which is also Peruvian. A non ending discussion. Where does it come from? Well The Peruvian Pisco distinguished itself with the foam on the top that is a beaten egg white. Salud! On a list a Korean restaurant, some local restaurants etc.
A weekend in Chile... a French atmosphereI went to book fair at the Bustamente Park. The book cover was familiar although the title of the book did not appeal at all. I had a closer a look and this book is actually The little Prince. What a surprise to have The little Prince translated in Mapudungun. Mapudungun is the language spoken by The Mapuche in Chile. The Mapuche are one of the first indigenous who lived before Chile existed. I had the chance to speak with Margarita LLamin Neculhual who translated the book. It took her two years to translate because the little Prince's story is so different culturally speaking. A Swiss editor supports the edition of this book. Margarita wore traditional clothes and jewellery, that was the symbol of the earth and sky. She also explained to me she went to Santiago for her son to give him a better education. This is a sacrifice as she and The Mapuche have been suffering from discrimination. It was an unforgettable encounter! MetissageThis is the perfect place to have a French brunch with top quality products. For any French people who live abroad for so long... this is a paradise! Great service and DELICIOUS food! even better than in some boulangeries in France! I even bought a French book that day!
A CITY TOUR I noticed that I knew places but nothing about their history. Therefore I decided to take a three hours tour. The sun was shining and the sky blue, perfect for a tour. I learn about places, buildings. Most of the buildings are a copy of Europeans ones (the opera, the Stock Exchange area)) or inspired by a style (French neoclassical). What the most important is that they are nice buildings. LASTERIA A place in Santiago to go out and eat out! Bella vista Where Pablo Nerudo lived in Santiago.
His house is at the far end of Bella vista streets. It is also a neighbourhood to go out! Japan flavors in Chile Eating good ramens and yakisobas, it is possible at Kintaro, The atmophere is Japanese, the food tasted like in Japan! The dog is not part of the furniture, it is a regular customer that comes in and does not want to leave the place. The cook threw at him good meat but as soon as the dog reached the threshold, he went back inside... Bellas Artes 2 minutes away from Kintaro restaurant, Bellas Artes. Bellas Artes is the national museum that presents diverse exhibitions. One was about Fascism. Messages about fascism are written on brigh coloured panels with a drawing underneath. It is interesting for a country like Chile that became a democracy in 1989 after 17 years of dictatorship. What I discovered at the end, is that the exhibition was ready to be inaugurated by Allende in September 1973. It had not time for that as Allende was overthrown on 11th September 2018. The project has been reconsidered and exhibited. Other artists: Paz Errazuriz a Chilean photograph that took pictures from the bourgeoisie, trans, women (nude), wrestlers. He had different period and projects over the time. http://www.pazerrazuriz.com/ Jose Venturelli: Retrospective - 30 years after his death. He came to Chile with his parents when he was 4. He travelled the world and gathered impressions in his paintings. He spent some time in China where he died. http://joseventurelli.com/ Winter is still here... No sign of spring yet... It is good to enjoy a cheesecake with berries!
Quinta normal Located in the west side of the city, Quinta normal is a huge park where families come together on weekends to have a barbecue, to eat street food, to relax, and to go to museums. There are the Chilean National Museum of Natural History, the Museum of Memory and Human Rights, the Railway museum, Museum of science and technology, and the Museum of Contemporary art. Across the park A French touch in Santiago... The Artequin museum that is more an interactive museum to learn how to paint, to discover art for kids and adults. The most interesting part is the building. It was built in 1889 in France to celebrate the 100 anniversary of the revolution and it was kept for the universal exhibition to represent Chile during the exhibition. After the building was dismantled and transported to Valparaiso to finally reconstructed in Santiago in 1894. The Basilica of Lourdes was built in 1930 and is ringed by 16 apostles. Opposite the Basilica, there is the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes referring to the ones in France. MAC.... Sundays is the MAC supposed to be opened but not on 23rd... From Quinta normal to Plaza de armas A 40 minutes walk, enjoy the old facades, unfortunately abandoned although the area has great potential.
Maybe one day this neighbourhood will be restored. 18th 19th September During a week, 600 000 people leave the city. It is so quiet and so empty that Santiago turns into a ghost town The D - Day! Time to go to a fonda to celebrate the Festas de la patria. What is a fonda? It is a place usually where people celebrate the festivals. It takes place in parks. How do people celebrate? By eating lots of meat (BBQ) and have some beers or wine and going to a fonda. Once there, you have areas to play old fashion games but very fun, booths where you can buy local products such as food, hats, ponchos, jewelries, and even Egyptian statues,military forces´ presentation. You also have bands, playing Chilean music and people dancing the local folklore called cueca. The most expected show is the horses ones. It rarely in Chile but on 17th evening and night it poured cats and dogs, on 18th it was on and off. It was a pity as not so many people went to the fonda and the horses's shows were called off. I went with 2 friends and arrived at 2 p.m. to leave at 7. The irony of the situation was the sun came out when we were leaving, FESTAS DA PATRIA! CHILENIDAD TRADITIONS and MORE CUECA DANCER FUN GAMES FOR 1 euro! FOOD - BBQ & MEAT WAS IT RAINING THE WHOLE DAY? REALLY!
Chile in September September in Chile. The city changes its face. Flags grow like mushrooms everywhere. People get ready for THE week off to celebrating: las festas de la patria. The celebration is about Chilean started thinking of being independent. The idea sprouted when Napoléon overthrew the Spanish king (Ferdinand VII) and placed his own brother Joseph Napoléon on the Spanish throne back in 1810. It took 6 years for Chile to be independent after blood shed and battles. Chile signed its independence in February 1816. Another visit of one Santiago´s neighbourhood or let´s say streets: The London - Paris ones. Any gathering is an excuse to celebrate 18th September. Le´ts visit and learn more about Chile! The first Franciscan Church built in Chile - dated back 1554 when Pedro de Valdivia invaded Chile. The church because of earthquakes needed to be rebuilt several time. Therefore material and shapes differed from time to time. Franciscan owned a large territory here in Santiago. In front of the Church was held a flower market called La pergola. It was not only a market but a place where politicians gathered and families strolled. In 1940 the market moved to the North of the city. A famous Chilean theater piece is named after the market: La pergola. Londres Paris streets - neighbourhood The neighbourhood consists of 2 or 3 streets. It should represent Europe, maybe the Colonial era at its best. It was a upper class neighbourhood where wealthy people lived but moved away when middle class and artists began to move in. It turned into a prostitute area and had a bohemian flair. There is a story about the prostitute: la Mariposa nocturna (nocturn mariposa) and a killer: el enano maldito (the cursed dwarf). The nocturne butterfly was murdered in that hotel called now La vegas. To close the case the police charged the cursed dwarf that spent much of his life in prison for a crime that he finally did not commit. He already had some cases so he was an easy catch. At some point the real killer was caught and did not spend much time in jail as he was old and sick. Now Chilean used the expression enano maldito in their language as a common expression. There are a second case: a young and rich Brazilian couple who went to Santiago and stayed at Las Vegas hotel. The young girl disappeared and was found dead several days later. Her husband went back to Brazil. No one was found guilty at that time but the police figured out that the husband was the murderer! Londres 38 - London nb 38 A country has to heal its past and to live with it. This is one of the place where tortures took place during the 70 - 80´s. This place has been turned into a museum. Names´plaques on the pavement have been placed to remember victims of the systems. Londres Paris is a neighbourhood with companies, the extreme right party, and universities, It was a very nice tour, learned a lot! La serrena Another story in Chile. We end up in an Italian restaurant where half of the menu is pizza. The group I was with arrived quite early, 1 p.m. For Chile it is an early time to have lunch. Actually only our table was ready! The waiter told us that the oven to bake the pizza was out of order. It meant no pizza. What???!!! I was looking forward to it so badly. That day I could not change my mind so I decided not to order anything. Out of the sudden, 30 minutes later, when everybody was almost done with its meal, the waiter made an announcement. Pizza can be ordered now! I chose a blue cheese, mozzarella, cheese, and ham pizza. It was tasty but missing mozzarella and blue cheese! I did not have a pizza since I left China.... It did not matter. I enjoyed it! On my way back home. striking colours...
A part of France... It feels like being home when eating a croissant aux amandes!
Don´t miss it in Santiago - Metissage! SAKURA - Hanami Amazing! Sakura (cherry blossom) in Chile! Almost every corner you have a cherry tree . Every time it brings me back to where we were in 2016 - Okinawa, Kyoto, and Himeji -Japan . Extreme emotions! Only people who experienced Hanami (watching cherry blossoms) can feel it really. Powerful! A day in Japan What goes with Sakura... a miso soup and noodles! Let´s enjoy a Japanese atmosphere in Chile! Like in Japan... An Asian flavour... Thai spices, Korea soybeans paste, Chinese dumplings, noodles, soy sauce and tea...
missing miso soup and Japanese stuffs...well next time! Barrio Las Flores A tour in one of Santiago´s neighbourhood. Nice and easy walk to end up drinking the most expensive hot chocolate served in an expresso cup!!!!
Before going back to France ... Juliette and Lisa were my flatmates for 5 months in Santiago. They were in Chile for an Erasmus program. We got along very well and here are our last two weeks in pictures. Between museums and food...the last two weeks! Santiago - Centre KLIMT It was a real mess...to find the correct information! It was to celebrate the 100th death of Klimt. Based on reproductions: drawings and paintings, in total 40. The dates, the location, the opening hours no precise information... We were so motivated ... such a disappointment! 10 reproductions max!!! Under reproductions I thought of painters who reproduced them, not at all it was only copies! Entering Klimt´s world was just a door to discover more and go to a REAL exhibition! MUSEO DE LA SOLIDARIDAD SALVADOR ALLENDE Not far away from the Klimt´s exhibition, the MSSA Museo de la Solidarad por Chile 1971 - 1973 Founded to respond to a social and cultural situation after the 60´s decade, the cold war. Museo de la Resistancia y Museos de Salvador Allende 1973-1990 Founded to respond to a social and cultural situation after the 60´s decade, the cold war. Musei de la Solidaridad Salvador Allende 1990 - The Salvador Allend foundation started to get back the collection. Resistance and support in the 60 and 70´s against dictatorship Brussel´s heart Just delicious! THE MUST in Santiago... With Juliette and Lisa! Museo de la Memoria y de los Derechos Humanos- Museum of Memory and Human rights To commemorate the victims of human rights violations during the civic-military regime between 1973 and 1990. The museum was inaugurated in 2010. 3 storeys to depict the coup on 11th September 1973, poignant testimonials about the survivors, the last speech of Salvador Allende, the tortures, the camps, the protests in Chile and outside Chile against the regime, the media manipulation, Colonia Dignidad, the 3600 laws passed withing 13 months... until the Free Chile. The end of the dictatorship is not really explicit. there was a plebiscite and then that was it. 17 years of dictatorship ended like that! and what about the becoming of Pinochet????? nothing at all about it ... just NUNCA MAS! NEVER EVER AGAIN! WHAT THE STORY DID NOT TELL AT THE MUSEUM... IN A NUTSHELL Pinochet remained in the following government, went to London to get some to be cured, and in 1998 was arrested. From 1998 to his death, he managed not to be guilty of any crimes...He died without being judged. He was married and had got 4 children. Beyond the History ...related to that: A movie to watch: Colonia Dignidad. Salvador Allende´s last speech after the Palacio de la moneda was bombed, the Magallanes Radio was still on, he could broadcast his speech. Under those circumstances, as he knew he will not resign and not going to exile but commit suicide. During his last speech, he even spoke of himself in the past. https://www.marxists.org/archive/allende/1973/september/11.htm FOOOOOOOOOOODDDD!!! Everyday is suhsi day... |
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