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"¡estoy super contenta!" (I'm so happy), the only answer to Juan's "¿estas bien?"'s (you okay's), and the only words spoken as the wool toggles of my gurro (toque) baila (dance) in the late afternoon air i'm rushing into on my purple bicycle. 12km bumping along a rocky, potted dirt road, past viñas (vineyards), country schools, hueso (cowboy) to...

It's a fairytale story really ... I once was an orphan but now am a princess! After 4 dias marvillosos in Santiago where I spent time with some good Chilean friends - amazing to have apartments to crash in and not enough time to pasarlo bien with everyone I wanted to see - climbed Cerro Pochoco, and worked in the government office of the Chilean...

Today was our second day in Santa Cruz. We are staying at Hotel Santa Cruz Plaza, the primier hotel in the area. The town is very small. We have not ventured to much outside of the immediate town square but I don´t think there is much beyond that anyways. The hotel itselft is nice but I don´t think its exactly worth the money. I would probably s...

What can I say: local food, folklore, wine, dances, fiestas, la creme´de la creme´of the Chilean society... plus me! It was an incredible day and such good fun. The wine was superb and the people good to look at!

After breakfasting at the Santa Cruz Plaza around the pool, we took off for Viu Manet Winery, a less-than-10-minute trip from the town of Santa Cruz. The horse-drawn carriages were awaiting our tour (yes, with surrey top!) and we were ready for a tour of the property and luncheon afterwards. Consuelo Valenzuela was our guide and lovely hostess.....