This post will round out my Chilean blog for this year. First, our apartment. You have had glimpses before in the blog but this is more explicit. We stayed in the north side of Vina, about two blocks off the beach. The complex is called Mare Nostrum and consists of three high rise (about 20 floors) buildings. We were in the back one, Adriatico. Each floor has only two apartments so you know they are big. Ours was on the 15th floor and was in unusual in that the terrace was not glassed in. Under the building was a parking garage. Security abounded with gates everywhere and 24 concierges. The complex included two pools, a gym, a billiards room and a tennis court. I didn't use any of them except the tennis court once.
The site is situated on top of a small but very steep hill. This is great for the views but walking to the complex is tough, thus, they have a few funiculars which go from the hill top complex down to the main street (on the beach side) below. The location of the complex is excellent - walking distance to the beach, the main shopping mall, and a bit further, central Vina with its shops and restaurants. The apartments seemed a mix of local residents and vacation places. It was not for the casual renter though. We never saw any other Gringos in the complex but everyone was friendly and welcoming to us (though none of the concierges spoke English).
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| Adriatico building |
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| Randy in one of the very nicely kept gardens at Mare Nostrum |
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| The very cool (but slow) funicular - there were actually three on the property but this is the one we normally used |
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| Typical daytime view from our terrace |
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| The living room after the new couch covers were installed |
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| The dining part of the living room |
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| The big office where Alice worked at home night and day (literally) |
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| The kitchen with the utility room beyond (in the enclosed balcony) |
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| Our bed with the new cover |
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| The master bathroom - even a nice view from the shower |
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| A view of the terrace |
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| Another view of the apartment's best feature - the big and very well situated terrace |
I traditionally close out my blogs with a Best of the Best. Always hard to choose but below are my favorite photographic memories of our brief taste of life in Chile, unordered in any way. We are waiting anxiously to return, hopefully for a longer stay, in 2106.
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| Our favorite waiter, Mario, and the whole experience at Divino Pecado |
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| Seeing penguins in the wild - something to add to the Life List |
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| Warren's pleasure with almost everything in Chile | |
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| A rare ancient relic, not in situ, but as close as we are likely to get |
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| The cakes from the America bakery in Vina - damn the calories! |
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| Drinking beer at Guayacan and this stoner type picture of Ash |
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| Meeting a fellow cat lover (Lorena) with lots of common interests including a cat focused life |
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| The views and the weather in Pisco Elqui |
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| My two best lady friends - Rosa and Jimena - las aun mejores mujeres |
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| Horse riding at Hacienda Santa Cristina and the wonderful copper and stone jewelry made in Chile (this photo shows both) |
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| Vineyards and more vineyards |
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| Tasting from the barrel at Caliterra in Colchagua Valley with Juan Ignacio |
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| The primitive but appealing petrographs at Valley of Enchantment |
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| El tronco - a nearly complete petrified tree from millions of years ago lying about in this rarely visited national park |
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| The high road from Vicuna to Hurtado - never to be repeated and never to be forgotten. Glad to have done it and glad it is over. |
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| Seeing our universe like never before at Hacienda Los Andes |
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| Sunset from our terrace, preferably with a glass of something grapey and alcoholic |
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| Learning first hand about container port operations |
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| Chilling with pisco sours and local goat cheese at Hacienda Cristina |
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| Mozart's Requiem as sung by Jimena and company |
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| The bird life in Chile |
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| Seeing Gisele everywhere advertising clothes |
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| Drinking pisco sours around the fire in Pisco Elqui |
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| Sharing the pleasures of Chile with Arin and Ash, two intrepid and always "up for anything" travelers |
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The wood fired hot tub at Tumunan Lodge - especially watching the stars when the sun goes down
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| Daily pisco sours |
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| Did I mention pisco sours? |
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| Sunshine, sea, beach, good friends, awesome food and drink, challenging work, almost perfect weather all combine to make Chilean Happiness! |
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