Day Three Hundred Thirty-Four: Bío-Bío Market

Today, we visited the Bío-Bío Market, which is a rabbit warren of shops and stalls, spread out over several blocks. There is everything from fresh produce, meats, and cheeses to homegoods and clothing all intermingled, sometimes in nice enclosed spaces and sometimes out in the open. It was somewhat similar to other markets we've visited in the world but still retained its uniqueness. Some of the most interesting finds of the day were a bin of various broken pastas, a cat cleaning itself in a produce bin, right next to the avocados, and a stack of eggs crammed in next to cheap house shoes. It's definitely a different shopping experience than you would ever find in the States, but it's so fun!

Hodgepodge pasta bin

The fuzzy ones aren't good to eat!

Walmart has nothing on Bío-Bīo!

We were mesmerized by the
 beautiful revolving cake display!

Day Three Hundred Thirty-Three: Vibrant Valparaíso

We joined a tour group today that took us to Viña del Mar and Valparaíso, which both sit on Chile's Pacific coast. I will share more about the whole tour on my family blog, but here I want to focus just on Valparaíso, which is unlike any city I have ever visited. First of all, it is a city built entirely on hills, so every little road is steep. There are staircases everywhere, and the city seems like a maze. (The hilly, staircase-ridden aspect of Valparaíso actually reminded me of a city we visted in Bulgaria a few years ago.) There are also several funiculars that make it easier for people to ascend the hills. The thing that is really striking about the city, though, is how colorful it is. There isn't a surface that hasn't been touched by street art--some of it just your run-of-the-mill graffiti and some of it truly amazing. Also, all the houses and buildings are either vibrantly painted in single bright colors or are covered in murals, and many of the staircases are eithered painted or tiled. Plus, it is a busy shipping port, so boats loaded with colorful containers dot the coastline. It is such a unique city, and I'm so glad I got to visit!

Colorful staircase

Pretty row of houses

Ascensor El Peral

Every surface is covered with art

Vibrant Valparaíso

Three Hundred Thirty-One: Coffee in a Castle-Inspired Former Bridge

We found a lovely French restaurant with outdoor seating at the edge of the Parque Forestal, right next to a playground. The building looks like a castle, but we later found out it was styled after the bridge that used to cross the river in that location. Jeff and I had coffee and the kids had "second-breakfast," and the younger boys had a blast playing on the playground. It was a wonderful way to pass a few hours on a beautiful day!

Castello Forestal

Three Hundred Thirty: Embroidery and Ice Cream

The day was full of Firsts as we were exploring new parts of Santiago. Our first stop was the Cultural Center in the basement of the Palacio de La Moneda (the president's palace). While we were there, the kids and I worked on some little embroidery projects together in the activity room. That was a First for all of us and something we want to try again in the future when we have more time.

Our embroidery was supposed to answer the question
"What does it mean to be Latin American?"
We went off our experiences while we've been here and
came up with a soccer ball surrounded by rain drops
and snowy mountains. I think we pretty much nailed it.

Upon leaving the museum, we headed over to Heladería Emporio La Rosa, which we had heard was one of the best ice cream shops in town. In fact, they claim to be in the top 25 in the world, but I don't know since I haven't yet visited all of the ice cream shops in the world. I have all of them on my list, though, so maybe someday. Anyway, the shop had several unique flavors, and I tried two that were new to me: rose and honey of ulmo, which is a particular type of flower that grows in Chile. Both were very good!

New ice cream flavors always make good Firsts!

Day Three Hundred Twenty-Nine: Interactive Art Museum

Today we visited Artequin, which is an interactive art museum unlike any I have ever visited. On the first floor, there are touchable reproductions of famous paintings and sculptures, displayed at a level that is perfect for kids to really see and explore them. A guide even took one of the paintings off the wall so we could get a better look at it. That floor also houses a virtual reality box, which was fun to play around with.

The second floor is full of interactive art stations, where you can learn about artists' tools, warm vs. cool colors, and the mixing of primary colors to make new colors. Another area focuses on upcycled art. There are also plenty of opportunities to create your own masterpieces.

And, the building itself is a work of art, which was built in France for the 1899 World Fair, and then disassembled, shipped to Chile, and reassembled some years later. It is perhaps the best art museum I have ever been to!

Artequin

Getting creative with my kiddos

My rendition of Starry Night, using mostly warm colors

Day Three Hundred Twenty-Eight: Celebrating America's Independence from Chile

It was a cold and rainy day here today, and it was moving day, so we we weren't out and about doing touristy things. But, we were determined to put together the best 4th of July party we could manage on foreign soil, so Jeff and the younger boys rounded up everything we needed from the little market near our new apartment. It was slightly improvised, of course, but we felt it was a pretty good little celebration!

Chilean Fourth of July party with all the necessities:
Lemonade, chili dogs, chips, and ice cream.
(One of the ice cream flavors, lúcuma, was another First.
It's a local fruit I had never heard of.
It' the orangish-yellow one in the picture.)

Day Three Hundred Twenty-Seven: Pentagon Swingset

We went back to the Parque Metropolitano today to do a little hiking and to explore the botanical garden we missed yesterday. While we were there, we stopped by the Gabriela Mistral playground again because the kids loved it so much and didn't get enough of it yesterday. We had the whole thing to ourselves since it wasn't a weekend or holiday, and the kids asked me to join them on the pentagon swingset so we could fill it up. Swinging sometimes makes me a bit dizzy, so I usually avoid it, but I couldn't resist playing with my kiddos on the super-awesome swingset. The really fun part of this particular swingset is trying not to run your feet into everyone else's since you are all swinging to the middle. We laughed so hard and had such a great time!

Pentagon Swingset

Day Three Hundred Twenty-Six: Mote Con Huesillo

Today, after riding the cable car to the top of Cerro San Cristobal in Parque Metropolitano, I purchased the national drink of Chile, mote con huesillo, from a sreet vendor. It is a non-alcoholic peach and barley drink, which is partially sipped through a straw and partially eaten with a spoon. It is very unique, and I have never had anything like it. The flavor was good, though it was very sweet.

Mote Con Huesillo

Whole peaches are dried and then rehydrated
in a simple syrup. Both the peaches and the syrup
top the cooked barley to make this unique drink.

Day Three Hundred Eighteen: Snowy Day in June

Last summer, while we were cruising around Glacier Bay, we experienced some light freezing drizzle, but today was the first time I have experienced full-on snow in June. Even though I don't particularly love being cold, there is truly something magical about snow, and I love to look at a snowy landscape. Fresh snow is just so pure and beautiful! I was sad to have to miss out on skiing with my family, but I am thankful I get to spend time in this picturesque place!

We woke up to an almost- whiteout

Snow in June!

Our home for the week

Day Two Hundred Eighty-Two: Wild Horses in the Backyard

Rapa Nui is full of wild horses that roam freely around the island. After exploring for several hours and seeing many of the horses, we arrived back at our cabin to find two of them taking shelter from the rain under one of our trees. It was very exciting, though I imagine we were too loud for them as they only stayed a short time.

A wild visitor

Day Two Hundred Eighty-One: Rapa Nui

We actually arrived on Rapa Nui (Easter Island) yesterday morning, but we did not start exploring in earnest until today. This is another huge bucket list place for us, and we are so thrilled to have the opportunity to visit, especially during my Year of Firsts! It is a magical place and contains a spot atop a volcano that we all agree may be one of our very favorite places on Planet Earth. From that spot, you have a view of the crater of the volcano, which contains a freshwater lagoon; a window to the Pacific Ocean, where the volcano once blew out the side of the mountain; a 180 degree view of the ocean; a mysterious village used by former inhabitants of the island; and a couple of tiny islands that house a species of bird that were especially important to those same former inhabitants. And when facing south, you have the knowledge that there is absolutely nothing between you and Antarctica except the deep, blue sea. In addition to this dream spot atop Rano Kau, we have been enamored with the Moai statues and the breathtaking landscapes of this small island.

Moai statues on the slopes of Rano Raraku, the volcano which is
believed to be the birthplace of all 887 Moai statues on the island.

Favorite place on Planet Earth with my favorite people on Planet Earth.
(Atop the volcano Rano Kau with the crater and "window to the sea" in the background.)