It has possibly been established by this point, that I am a fan of wine. You know how the saying goes, when life hands you a grape…well, something like that. Continue reading Undurraga
Category Archives: Phlog
Monday Memories – Dieciocho
I have now spent three independence celebrations in Chile. For an entire weekend, it’s all things national heritage, all things Chilean, and it’s been fantastic every single year. Last year was the 200th anniversary of Chile being Spain-free, and I was there, running around with my camera, documenting what it truly meant to be Chilean. So this year, I decided to forget the worries and dangers of dragging my beautiful camera around, and simply enjoy. Aside from all the pretty fireworks, nothing was different in comparison to my previous “dieciochos.” It’s all about food, family and fun. What more do we need in life?
200 Years
Flash-less
This is no unusual occurrence in my life…I hate using flash, I hate charging the batteries so often, I hate lugging it around…but, had I had it, it would have made for one great photo. New goal: Carry around and use flash more!
Monday Memories – 18 is coming!
Ok…so it’s Tuesday…yesterday was crazy busy! In honor of the big national heritage celebrations, September 18, it seems only appropriate that I give you insight as to what the streets in Santiago are like.
¡¡¡Dieciocho is coming, dieciocho is coming!!!
Santiago Sidewalks
How could I not stop and take a picture of this?
I see dogs doing cute things every day…now, they never slip my vision, but I´ve finally stopped getting the urge to photograph every single one of them, there´s neither enough time nor memory space for that. But this guy, well, he’s special.
Here he was, all curled up in the corner, suitcase in front. It´s as if he´s one of those street entertainers, with something in front of them for tips, but he gave up for the night. The only thing better would have been if he were actually sleeping inside the suitcase. Continue reading Santiago Sidewalks
Monday Memories – Food for thought
I like food. A lot. And through food, I found revelation. I hope this entire site is tribute to that.
Not quite chips and salsa…
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Hot soup containing beef or chicken with a potato, a corncob, carrots and possibly other vegetables with some rice: Cazuela, a typical Chilean dish. How about a steak covered with grilled onions and French fries topped off with a fried egg: “a la pobre.” Completos, a hot dog on a fresh baked roll with tomatoes, sauerkraut, avocado and mayonnaise, or empanadas, filled with various ingredients…this is Chilean cuisine. Continue reading Monday Memories – Food for thought
Monday Memories – Atacama
Oh the good old days, when A. I had savings and B. I blew them all hopping around Chile and beyond…
Money well spent…
San Pedro de Atacama
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Heat, salt, and endless blue skies define San Pedro de Atacama; it is a place of grand scale beauty, unfathomable until you have seen it with your own eyes. Continue reading Monday Memories – Atacama
Destruction
Both the day and the strike are coming to an end…the streets will once again be much safer and daily life will prevail…my eyes will sting less… Continue reading Destruction
Santiago on strike
The city has all but come to a halt. Windows are boarded up, the streets are empty and talk of rioting and protests fill the air. It´s the two-day national strike, where the people unite and demand a better life. Yesterday was eerily peaceful, but today thousands are filling the streets to march–and sadly, I´m here sitting at work on my lunch break, dying to be out there with my camera. It´s probably best though, as I´ve been teargassed before, and there is a guarantee of more of that today. Continue reading Santiago on strike
Monday Memories – Mendoza
…because I love everything about wine…
See, Swirl, Sniff, Sip, and Savor
11/22/10
La más Noble de las Bebidas. The Noblest of Beverages.
Convoca a las Masas. Summons the Masses.
Enaltece las Mesas. Enhances Tables.
Celebra las Misas. Celebrated at Mass.
Seduce a las Mozas. Seduces Women.
Inspira a las Musas. Inspires Muses.
Home, part two
” I am chained to the earth to pay for the freedom of my eyes.” ~Antonio Porchia
I used to walk all over our property looking for photos…it felt good to do that again! Continue reading Home, part two
Home, part one
I recently went home for the first time since May 2010, more than a year since I’d last been there. I can’t tell you how good it was, to briefly be in my parents’ house and a part of their daily lives once more. To see my family, feel their love, and all of my lovely friends, people with whom even if you haven’t spoken in months, you pick right up where you left off…these are the things to cherish in life. I am blessed. Continue reading Home, part one
Monday Memories – Brrr!
Well, it’s just so very cold, so while I’m laying in my bed wrapped up in six blankets, wearing long johns, pants, a long sleeve shirt, a fleece jacket and two pairs of socks on, I see this as an appropriate Monday Memory: My first go around with a heat-less winter, 2009. This is my third now, and it’s probably the worst, as I have not even an old, ghetto heater to warm my bones. It’s cold folks, downright cold.
Despite cliché, it’s cold!
Graceful twists and turns
New favorite thing: photographing ballet. A recent first for me, being so privileged as to photograph the Santiago Ballet, it was as much a challenge as it was fun. But it was fun, really fun. Études/Gaîté Parisienne (Alegría Parisina), is a colorful contemporary dance ballet that I have already written about for work, so enough about that, let the pictures tell the rest… Continue reading Graceful twists and turns
Me + Andes Mountains = LOVE
I don´t know if you knew this, but I just love Santiago. I live in such a cool city! This was taken out of a bus window last Sunday…this is the kind of view I have just riding a bus. Oh the magnificent Andes Mountains!
Monday Memories – Winter…
So in honor of 4 July, I thought I would do a Monday Memory from the U.S., but from the season in which I´m currently experiencing: Winter. (Last week was a holiday for us, and I completely forgot to publish a memory! woops!)
Though not like my former West Virginia winters, snowy and icy, it still gets quite cold here in Santiago. Well, you say, days where the high could be in the forties, the low just below freezing isn´t that bad…and you´re right, in comparison it´s not. HOWEVER, the States has this lovely little cozy convenience of central heating, far from the norm here in Chile. Heating is expensive, so we just bundle up and deal with it instead. My normal at-home garb: Leggings, sweat-pants on top; socks, fleece socks over those; a shirt with a fleece on top and generally a scarf. My bed has six blankets and I still get cold. Needless to say, I´m looking forward to my two-week visit in the States this August!!
Winter Gardening
2/18/2010
Far from conventional…
So the photo slide show component for my work´s website is being dysfunctional and making all vertical photos look horrendous. I will not have it; therefore I am going to publish the photos I took the other night of a great play Uno Toma Lo Que Tiene (En Casa) on my own website. For more about this far-from-conventional play, visit CiuSantiago! Continue reading Far from conventional…
Monday Memories – Bailamos!
Starting two weeks ago, two of my friends and I started taking private salsa lessons. We chose my apartment for the location, as I have yet to acquire any furniture, despite having lived in it since February. Granted I have two camping chairs and two stools, but fold up the chairs, and my apartment transforms into a salsateca! We’ve been having so much fun and learning quite a bit.
So I dedicate this Monday memory to the love for Latin rhythm. The phlog shows its age though, as I have since been to this club and it is not really a place I would recommend. Seriously, don’t go to Club 4-40. As I wrote in an article for work, there are so many other places in the city to dance. ¡Bailamos!
One, two, three…and one, two, three….
Continue reading Monday Memories – Bailamos!
Monday Memories – Soccer in Chile
Last night, two grand rivalries played for the national championship title, Universidad de Chile versus Universidad Católica. U de Chile had a major win, 4 to 1, and the streets filled with U de Chile fans, waving flags down the streets, beeping horns, yelling endlessly. It was crazy, and actually a bit dangerous to be out and about.
Chileans love their fútbol, and the madness reminded me of when all of Chile united behind their country during the World Cup games. During the games, the streets were virtually empty, as if time had stopped, and then after the wins, the streets came alive, transforming into a confetti-scattered party. So now, I bring you Monday´s memory, in honor of all those who kept me awake last night with their chanting and screaming and incessant horn blowing.
Continue reading Monday Memories – Soccer in Chile
Oh, the dogs…
You´d think that after more than a year living here, the dogs would lose their charm. But they don´t. I don´t think they ever will. I was out in Plaza Italia Tuesday night and ran across this guy, sitting amidst the flowers, all the while some protest is going on and tons of bikers are gathering for Critical Mass, promoting bike culture.
And here´s this one, taking it all in.
The view at work
Well sure, there are far superior views in this city, but since the view in my apartment is that of a concrete wall, this gets me pretty excited. As I mentioned in yesterday´s post, we finally got some rain here, which helped clear some of the smog and left my favorite mountain chain snow-capped. I love, love, love the giant Andes Mountains! And I love Santiago, such a beautiful place to live!
Monday Memories – Fall
Well, Fall is falling upon us once again…how time flies. Yesterday we finally had our first rain in months, and alas, the giant Andes are back to their snow-capped glory.
Though it means winter is coming, I absolutely love Fall here in Santiago, and this is why:
Continue reading Monday Memories – Fall
And you thought leopard print was out of fashion…
I went to photograph a very interesting band last night, Kali Mutsa, named after the lead singer, the one in the little leopard number above. They play a very gypsy/cumbia style of music. They were interesting to say the very least. Keep updated at CiuSantiago for a full article and many more photos!
Valdivia
The South of Chile truly holds a special place in my heart. It’s beyond words beautiful, and for some reason, every time I go, I feel a little bit at home. I think it’s all the green, tree covered rolling mountains, surrounded by water and that it’s full of down-to-earth people. Continue reading Valdivia
Monday Memories – Where I live!
I can hardly believe it, but it´s true, I have now lived in Chile for one whole year. I have not been to the US, nor seen most of my friends or family in more than one whole year. Loco.
Much has happened in this year. I´ve gone from an English professor to finally utilizing my degree, I´ve improved my Spanish skills tenfold, made new friends and have really come to love Santiago.
I came here the second time for love, but before I made the move, I asked myself, would I still be able live there without love? Is there more for me there than simply feelings? Well, the answer was and is yes. This year has taught me patience and heartache, along with strength and what it´s truly like to live in the “real world.” Love didn´t work out, but I´m still here, making it, and generally quite content with it all. It´s not always been easy though, and from the bottom of my heart, I thank my parents´ for their continued love and support.
As I said in an earlier phlog, I don´t know exactly what the next step is, the next piece to my puzzle, but I´m sure having a great time figuring it all out.
I chose this phlog for today´s Monday memory, because I´m proud of where I live. I absolutely adore this city and for now, it´s the place that I call home.
