Santa Cruz Plaza

... of the six red grapes of Bordeaux, it is virtually extinct in France due to the Phylloxera plague of 1867. Chilean growers had been planting Carmenere since the 1850s when they imported the rootstock along with other varietals from France. Until the 1990s, Carmenere was collected and processed alongside Merlot grapes, to which it very closely resembles. Not until 1994, did a French ...

... white wine. I'm no expert, but everything I tasted was delicious. There were also handicraft stalls, shops, and lots and lots of food stalls selling all kinds of local specialties. I had some churros filled with a caramel-like sweet filling. Empanadas, grilled meats, even chocolates. You name it, you could find it. There was music and a performance of dancing from various countries in South America, and it was just a really great ...

... prices ranged from a pricy but acceptable US$ 5 to a whopping US$ 25 per person! My philosophy on paying for wine tastings is simple, if you are paying to taste the wine you should be refunded when if you purchase some wine. I understand that some ultra premium wines, as they call them out here, are only produced in small quantities at considerable cost but to charge $25 for a small sample and then still have to pay full price if you do happen to purchase some wines ...

... in Cape Town, you have to book in advance and have to go on a tour, so it was easier to just visit one farm. I ended up having my own private tour as no other English speakers had booked (and I was feeling lazy and didn't feel like coping with a Spanish tour). I was taken by horse and carriage through the vineyards to the heart of the ...

We drove from Santiago to Santa Cruz, Chile today - a trip of about 2-1/2 hours - very nice drive. Santa Cruz (SC) is in the wine producing country. Tomorrow we are visiting a vineyard. Tonight, we visited a private home where they make a fruit licquer special to chile - the house was beautiful - it is a small family operation in a 100 year old home, beautiful garden, etc. Santa Cruz is a small village in the middle of vineyards. Out hotel is right on the main plaza (always ...

"¡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) topped horses seeking respite in creeks, perros ...

... looks the City. I have also met some great people from my hostel who have helped me adapt to life in South America...in other words i've been out on the town with them! Lauren from Germany, the 3 Chris's one from Newcastle and the other two from Barrow in Furness and Colin from Cork. We had a great night on Friday starting with a BBQ and drinking game, courtesy of the 2 Chris's and then most of the hostel piled into the local ...

... the only other volunteer here) and Leonor (Mike`s home-stay mother) picked me up for once ("on-say"; a light early evening meal, usually tea and bread). Once turned into a two night stay thanks to La Leo's warm bienvenido (welcome). I felt so comfortable in her home, but I was sleeping in her daughter's bed and was hoping to find a family soon so I didn't have to put her out any longer. Thursday afternoon ...