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 shared days 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.
trips during the three shared days 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 every bit of effort -- both the views and the food are gourmet |
| Tasting room inside the Concha y Toro Winery, the largest wine exporter in Chile |
| All the winery stickers: What are they trying to tell me? |
| A taste of winery architecture |
| Siesta spot at Concha y Toro winery |
| Our last full day together in South America was one of the best |
| Wonderful to be with family in the Andes Mountains even if just for a day |
| After a month of coastal scenery, it felt great 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 just 45 minutes south of Santiago, Chile |