Where We Be
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| Santiago, Chile -- Day Trips |
| Our first view of the snow-capped Andes Mountains, about two hours east of Santiago |
We put our rental car to good use, making two
day trips during the three days we shared with my
mom and dad in Santiago. The first was a journey
to the Concha y Toro Winery in the Maipo Valley,
only 45 minutes south of Santiago. It sounds
close, but we took such a roundabout path in
getting there, we almost didn't make it at all.
The second trip was more ambitious. We drove
our rental car over rough gravel roads into the
Andes Mountains two hours east of Santiago. This
trip was a great success, in part because of the
fine mountain scenery and in part because of the
gourmet restaurant awaiting us at the far end of
the journey. The restaurant, Refugio Lo Valdes,
was open (thank goodness) and offered stunning
views from its outdoor patio. The food was pretty
stunning too: the filet mignon was cut-with-a-fork
tender, and the pork medallions were served with
one of the most refreshing rice-and-fruit dishes
we've ever tasted.
day trips during the three days we shared with my
mom and dad in Santiago. The first was a journey
to the Concha y Toro Winery in the Maipo Valley,
only 45 minutes south of Santiago. It sounds
close, but we took such a roundabout path in
getting there, we almost didn't make it at all.
The second trip was more ambitious. We drove
our rental car over rough gravel roads into the
Andes Mountains two hours east of Santiago. This
trip was a great success, in part because of the
fine mountain scenery and in part because of the
gourmet restaurant awaiting us at the far end of
the journey. The restaurant, Refugio Lo Valdes,
was open (thank goodness) and offered stunning
views from its outdoor patio. The food was pretty
stunning too: the filet mignon was cut-with-a-fork
tender, and the pork medallions were served with
one of the most refreshing rice-and-fruit dishes
we've ever tasted.
| It's a long, dusty, bumpy journey to the Refugio Lo Valdes restaurant but worth the effort -- both the views and the food are gourmet |
| Tasting room inside the largest wine exporter in Chile |
| All the winery stickers: What are they trying to tell me? |
| Our last full day together in South America was one of the best |
| Wonderful to be with family in the Andes Mountains |
| After a month of coastal scenery, we were ready to get up into the mountains for a change |
| This glorious stretch of whitewater rivals the pure mountain rivers we see in the Rockies |
| Entry gate to the Concha y Toro Winery, located 45 minutes south of Santiago |