A few months into my study abroad program, I found myself in more of a slump than usual – I was still having a lot of fun and enjoying my adventures, but for the first time I really started to feel homesick. It was perfect timing for the arrival of two special guests – my sister Caitlin and her friend Kristyn!
From Tuesday-Thursday of this past week, the three of us spent some time exploring the city and learning a lot more about Chilean wine. Thankfully I didn’t have class as much this week, so I was able to spend more time exploring with them!
We spent Tuesday morning exploring downtown Santiago – the Plaza de Armas (which is sadly still closed), La Moneda and the Chilean Pre-columbian Art Museum. I had never been to the museum and it was actually really interesting, especially after learning so much about Pre-Columbian art in one of my classes last semester.
From Tuesday-Thursday of this past week, the three of us spent some time exploring the city and learning a lot more about Chilean wine. Thankfully I didn’t have class as much this week, so I was able to spend more time exploring with them!
We spent Tuesday morning exploring downtown Santiago – the Plaza de Armas (which is sadly still closed), La Moneda and the Chilean Pre-columbian Art Museum. I had never been to the museum and it was actually really interesting, especially after learning so much about Pre-Columbian art in one of my classes last semester.
Wednesday morning we decided to hike up Cerro San Cristobal to get a view of the city. It was much cooler than the first time I did it and there weren’t nearly as many people on a Wednesday morning. As we walked to the park, we happened upon a German Shepherd who ended up following us all the way to the top, so obviously we had to name him “Bear.” It was amazing to see how much the view from the top has changed in just a few shorts months – the smog has really settled in during the fall. Before, the skyline was crystal clear and you could see the mountains in the background, but now you can just see the outlines. Pretty sad to be able to see how dirty the city becomes…
After the hike, the first of our many vineyard tours began. We made our way to Cousino Macul, a vineyard in Santiago in a neighborhood I had never been to at the foot of the Andes. It was a beautiful vineyard (and rather large, as we learned as we tried to walk around it). We ended up late to the tour, but our tour guide was still great and we learned all about the long history of the family-owned vineyard!
On Friday, we made our way to the bus station to catch a bus to Santa Cruz, a wine (mas vino, por favor…) region about 2.5 hours south of Santiago. The buses run pretty frequently with a couple of companies so it was easy to find a bus. When we arrived at our hotel, the relaxation began as we ate some cheese, drank some wine, walked around the vineyard and ate at a delicious Italian restaurant.
After the hike, the first of our many vineyard tours began. We made our way to Cousino Macul, a vineyard in Santiago in a neighborhood I had never been to at the foot of the Andes. It was a beautiful vineyard (and rather large, as we learned as we tried to walk around it). We ended up late to the tour, but our tour guide was still great and we learned all about the long history of the family-owned vineyard!
On Friday, we made our way to the bus station to catch a bus to Santa Cruz, a wine (mas vino, por favor…) region about 2.5 hours south of Santiago. The buses run pretty frequently with a couple of companies so it was easy to find a bus. When we arrived at our hotel, the relaxation began as we ate some cheese, drank some wine, walked around the vineyard and ate at a delicious Italian restaurant.
Saturday was a long day full of tasting delicious wines! We started the day at Viu Minent, which was a beautiful family-owned vineyard.
Next up with Lapostalle, a fairly young vineyard that is very environmentally-friendly. As a more modern winery, it was definitely a big contrast to the family-owned vineyard.
The next day, Cait and I did a tour at Laura Hartwig, the vineyard right outside our hotel. We decided it was our favorite tour, as we got to see the entire vineyard, taste some grapes off the vine, hear about the production of the wines and taste the juice throughout the process. It’s a much smaller vineyard with a more homey feel, which we liked a lot!
Getting back to Santiago was a bit of an adventure… We made our way to the bus terminal in Santa Cruz, where we were bombarded with bus drivers asking if we needed a ride to Santiago. After I did some bargaining with one of the guys ($12 to $10 is a big deal, I was proud of my Spanish…) we hopped onto the bus, only to find out that we were sitting up with the driver… Slightly odd, but we didn’t think much of it. About an hour into our trip, though, when we pulled into another bus station, the man asked if we wouldn’t mind moving into the luggage room while we pulled up to the station so that they wouldn’t see passengers sitting in the front row… Apparently we weren’t in real seats, so we spent 10 minutes in the dark next to some luggage as we pulled into the terminal. A slightly sketchy ride, but we made it back in one piece!
Overall, a lovely week spent with good company. I think I’ve had enough wine to last me the next few months, but it was great to spend some time with familiar faces :)
Overall, a lovely week spent with good company. I think I’ve had enough wine to last me the next few months, but it was great to spend some time with familiar faces :)