Pan de Pascua, and other Christmas treats

OK, it's a little different here for the holidays because the air is warm (not really as hot as it has been, for some reason), the days are long and the stores are not too decorated. There are some decorations out in local establishments, but that has only come about in recent years because of the expats, I believe. Try listening to "Let It Snow" in English when it's 85 outside. "Oh, the weather outside is frightful.....". WHAT????

Let's talk about Pan de Pascua. This is bread-like cake, not too different from a fruitcake, I suppose, and it is only eaten at the holidays. OK, people, these poor Chileans really LIKE this stuff! We bought one from the grocery and it was crumbly dry. It says to put some sort of alcohol on it, and well, YES! It would be the only ingredient that was eatable! I am sure that if Chileans built their houses out of these brick-like forms that the casa would hold up under ANY earthquake.

I am including a link for a recipe, so, if any of you really are stumped as to what to get those most HATED and GRUMPY people on your list- this is your ticket!

http://southamericanfood.about.com/od/holidayrecipes/ir/pandepascua.htm

Next- Cola de Mono.

I thought this was a cola drink of some sort, but it translates into "tail of the monkey". It's, again, only served at the holidays, and tastes like a thin version of Bailey's. I heartily give this drink my two thumbs up.

Here is a recipe, if you don't have time to rush right out and get this little bottle of joy.
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Isas-Cola-de-Mono/Detail.aspx

So, peoples, go to a liquor store and ask for Cola de Mono. I cannot wait to hear the report of the look they give you. Try to find someone that speaks Spanish. It will be a good look!

While you're there at the liquor store, see if they have pisco, make yourself a pisco sour and drink that. Get the 80 proof stuff, and you won't care what the heck that ole pan de Pascua tastes like! OLE!

Bomberos @ Nuestra Departamento!!!

Richard came home the other day and was greeted by four of the fire trucks from the Las Condes area parked in the street in front of the building and a large number of nice looking young men in uniform. The orange truck is the from the Deutsche Feuerwehrkompanie station, the red truck is from the US station and the little red and yellow truck is the HAZ MAT and hiding down the street behind the trees was either the French or British style truck hooking up the water just in case. You may notice that each of the fire companies have different uniforms depending on their specialty and training. Once all the trucks were in place, the firemen of each company meet at the entrance to the parking area to determine their entry strategy into the building. With the crowd gathering and the road blocked to traffic, the three larger trucks prepared as the firemen from the HAZ MAT unit with Scot Air Packs proceeded into the lower level of the garage. All the while Margie and Richard stood on the balcony of the building watching.

A few minutes later the firemen emerged victorious!!! The fire in the parking area was subdued and all were able to return to their respective stations for dinner. So what was the event? I was able to converse with the concierge to find out that someone had thown a cigarette into the garage collection area in the basement which created a large amount of smoke, but was contained to a small area.

Happiness is!

The dinner came with drinks, and see what this much alcohol can do for you? Just kidding- Richard was "smiling" for the camera! Anyway, here are the happy dinner people. Lots of food, and great wine (see label photo- they have a pic of the cueca on the label!) and fun!

Going Commando!

Last night Margie and Richard and I went to a dinner show at Bali Hai Restaurant. This was a GREAT show, and here are the blurry pictures to to confirm this.

We started with Iti Iti's ( a drink of unknown origin and content) and then had a wonderful dinner. The show consisted of a typical Chilean dance, the cueca, and Mapuche (the Indian) dances, and those typical to Easter Island. Too bad my pictures are a little blurry, but those young women were shaking thier hips so fast my camera couldn't keep us. We all had a great time. NOTE- The MEN in this last dance sequence DIDN' T wear any UNDERWEAR! COMMANDO!!!!! And they were shaking too! Couldn't get a picture, girls, sorry! My eyes were glued to the dance floor, to say the least.....

Little ole winedrinkers- US!

Margie and I went to Cousino Macul today for a little tour and tasting with some friends and had a great time. We got there and didn't know we needed reservations, but the man behind the counter gave us a tour anyway. He was actually the Sommelier! What a great tour!

This winery is very old and owned by one of the richest families in Santiago. Very nice, great wine, and we got more glasses (free, but with the 7000 peso fee, which, I guess doesn't make them free). We're getting quite a set of mismatched wine glasses from various wineries now. Garage sale- here they come!!!!!

Go out this weekend and buy some Cousino Macul.

Feliz Navidad

OK, so we put up the tree a little soon, but it's part of our new Christmas card, so when Margie brought it from Texas, we had to go ahead and put it up. Truth is, Margie decorated the entire thing. Oh well....

Note the FAN in the background, and know that it will be SWELTERINGLY (I made up that word, I think) HOT at Chirstmas here, so the fan will be a fixtue. No air conditioning in the buildings. UGH!

BIG TREE

Margie. Big tree. Don't know what it is. Nuff said.

Concho y Toro

Because Margie is a lush, we decided to go to Concho y Toro, the biggest winery in Chile. Our tour was actually very touristy and lame, but the wine tasting let us forget all of that. We came away with one garage sale glass apiece and a bottle of some kind of red we could have bought cheaper at the liquor store. Aren't we the perfect tourists!!!!!

Note the beautiful roses and home in one of the pictures. This is the SUMMER HOME of Mr. Concho y Toro, whatever his name is, so keep buying his wine so he can have at least two huge homes. Note the picture of the devil in one photo. This cellar was raided centuries ago by locals, so the owner made up the tale of a devil living in the cellar to frighten away the thieves. No more problems. If it had been the three of us, however, we would have stolen it anyway because we're not afraid of the devil- especially when it comes to wine.

Chicha! OLE!

Margie and her chicha. It's a fermented drink that has really very little alcohol next to some drinks, but I guess if you drink a lot of anything it can make you loopy. We never got to the loopy stage, darn it, but it was a good sweet drink made of fermented something or another. We didn't really know or ask. Seems like they just ferment apples or grapes for a while and throw it in this cute little pottery glass! BUENO! Margie looks happy enough!

Over the edge!

My mom is visiting, and I took her up the funicular (old rickety cable car with only ONE cable that I've talked about before) to the top of this mountain. It's usually a nice view of the city, but, as usual lately, the view was obstructed by smog and dirty air, YUCK! But I did have Margie sit on the edge and smile in front of what would have been a gorgeous view of the city. Use your imaginations as to what the city really looks like from the top. As you will see from any future posts we did not lose Margie over the edge, and she lived to tell the tale. She was, as is looks, precariously close! Also note- in the picture of both of us, only MARGIE is sitting on the railing. Silly girl has a death wish! Not me!

A Garden Party!

An invitation went out from the Ambassador of Great Britain to all to a Garden Party in celebration of Veterans Day, or Remembrance Day, as they call it. Not only did we want to be among those to celebrate freedom and thank those who protect us, but it was a darned great way to see inside the grounds of the British Ambassador's Residence. The Embassy of each nation is a wonderful building, but the RESIDENCE is usually a grand old HUGE home with lovely gardens, so to see inside was quite a treat. Before you all point out that we are NOT British, or close to British, or even KNOW anyone from the mothership, we already thought of that, but the Embassy said anyone was welcome, so we jumped on this event!

We were given a poppie before entering, and proceeded to have a fabulous time in the lovely back garden. There was food (scones and clotted cream, for example), drinks (whisky for Richie! He was happy!) and some lovely tea before leaving. We caught a glimpse of the elusive Ambassador, but no problem, as we just chatted with all of our friends. Here are pictures of the front of the Residence, with Margie in the dark, Richard and Margie, me and my friends, and Margie and a lovely bird of paradise plant on the grounds. Pip Pip, and Cheerio, whatever that means!

Semper Fidelis

We attended the 235th Anniversary of the US Marine Corps. which was celebrated here with a formal ball at a very nice hotel. The event was wonderful and touching, and the man I was with, my HANDSOME HUBBY, was in rare dancing form, so we had a great time.

My mom found pictures of my father when he was overseas with the 2nd marine Division during World War II. My sweet friends, Larisa and Robert, downloaded and emailed those photos of my dad, along with his Marine records and an article about Nagasaki. I took these pictures and the article to show all of the young Marines, and they were very interested and proud that Richard and I attended in memory of my father. He served when he was 17, and joined the Marines because he wuld have been drafted into the Army at 18, and he wanted to one of "The Few, the Proud, the Marines!" He served at Nagasaki, Saipan and was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for Heroic Accomplishments in July 1944 at the Marianes Islands. He was 19 at the time.

He was a very good man, and I miss him.

Don't sit in that chair! It's ART!

We were at the visitor's center here in Santiago, and they had these chairs. I sat in one and it was very comfortable, but, more than that, it was FABULOSO!!!! Gotta have that chair! Pictures will make you understand why.....

Aren't we cute!

For all of you that want to see our smiling faces- here we are at a party. For all of you tht don't care- just move one to the next post. This is for our relatives.

Tree identification- who knows

Your guess is as good as mine. As usual, the winner of this identification challenge gets a brand new "nothing but the satisfaction of being really bright" award. Or having wwwaaaayyy too much time on their hands, if that's you, mom! You know love you!!!! HEE HEE

Being Halloween, maybe it's one of those pods things that grown new people that will populate and inherit the world. NOW who has too much imagination or time on their hands?

What happens when you put up the winter clothes....

It is still snowing in the mountains. There can be only one reason for that- I put up the winter clothes. Not only did I put them up, but I washed, dried and folded them neatly, and changed their location to another room. The very next day- RAIN here, which translates to snow in the mountains.

Doesn't that make the prettiest picture? Look quickly, as it will all be gone tomorrow, and we'll not be able to see the mountains for the smog. Sigh...