Balance isn't something you find, it's something you create.
This past Monday was a holiday here in Chile, so we decided to take advantage of the long weekend by taking a road trip to Chile’s Norte Chico region. We set our sights on the sunny Valle de Elqui, a beautiful valley in the Andes that is blanketed with a patchwork of vineyards. The dry climate means days are bright and sunny, and nights offer some of the clearest skies on the planet. Continue reading “Valle de Elqui – Drinking Pisco Under the Stars”
It’s June and ski season in the Southern Hemisphere has officially begun. From our balcony, we can gaze out and see the nearest ski resorts in the distance. This weekend, we decided it was time to see them up close. Early on Saturday, we packed up the Jeep, picked up some friends and took the winding mountain road to the El Colorado ski center. Continue reading “Day Trip – Skiing El Colorado”
Some of my favorite trips have been inspired by photos. Pinterest led us to explore the coast of Croatia, photos on a friends blog led us to an incredible hike through the Calanques in southern France, and most recently a friends Instagram post led us to the small surfing town of Pichilemu, Chile. Continue reading “Beach Weekend – Pichilemu & Punta de Lobos”
As we set off to spend a long weekend in the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires, I was both excited and a bit nervous. In the weeks leading up to our trip, I had heard so many good things about the city. When I told friends and co-workers where we were headed, I was always met with a smile and an “Oh, you will LOVE it”. So, naturally, I couldn’t wait to see what all the fuss was about. But I also wondered if it would live up to the hype. After 3 days of eating, drinking and exploring, for me, the answer was a resounding yes. Continue reading “3 Days in Buenos Aires”
We moved to Santiago just shy of 2 months ago and, until this week, we hadn’t seen a single drop of rain. For a couple of mid-westerners, this kind of consistent weather isn’t something we are even remotely accustomed to, but I have to admit, I got used to it pretty quickly. Continue reading “Down Came the Rain and Washed the Smog Right Out”
Mendoza was one of the first places we added to our list of travel destinations when we found out we would be living in Santiago. The mid-sized Argentine city is driving distance from Santiago, and is well known as one of the world´s most important and interesting wine regions. In addition to a seemingly endless supply of incredible wineries, the region is also home to great food as well as an abundance of outdoor activities, from rafting to rappelling. Continue reading “Easter in Mendoza – Drinking wine and making friends”
Over Easter, we made our first trip across the border into Argentina (for tips on making the drive, head over here and for more info on our weekend in Mendoza, check out this post). The drive itself is beautiful, but I highly recommend taking the time to get out of the car and into the mountains. Continue reading “Day Hike – Cerro Penitentes (Argentina)”
Thinking about making the drive from Santiago to Mendoza? Read on for tips on crossing the border and making the most of the breathtaking drive over the Andes mountains. Continue reading “Mendoza from Santiago – Getting There”
I still can’t quite get used to the fact that, from our apartment, I can drive an hour in either direction and be either in the Andes mountains or on the Pacific coast. Our last venture into the mountains was a success, and we definitely want to spend more time exploring the many trekking paths in and around Santiago, but with Summer winding down here in the Southern hemisphere, we decided to head for the beach this Saturday. Continue reading “Day Trip – Zapallar and Cachagua”
We’re just shy of 3 weeks living here in Santiago, and this Saturday we decided it was time to venture out of the valley and into the Andes. There are many reasons we were drawn to the opportunity to live and work here in Santiago, but high on the list was accessibility to some incredible hiking. Matt and I share a love of the outdoors, and while a trail up a mountain can be physically exhausting, there are few things I find more mentally relaxing. Continue reading “Day Hike – Monumento Natural El Morado”