Tierra Atacama Spa

I don't even know where to begin to explain this vacation. It was the BEST! We flew into Calama, Chile, a very small town witha smaller airport, Saturday morning, and were picked up by a van and taken to the SPA!!! In the middle of the DRIEST DESERT IN THE WORLD! These first pictures are of the airport, our room, the view around our room, and the spa. Eat your hearts out, people. This was one of those times I actually felt like a Queen!

Museo y Iglesia (Museum and Church)

Here's the best deal in town-

For 500 pesos, ($1.00 US), you can go to this fabulous little museum beside this huge Catholic Church, and it's all just off a new subway line. A few pictures of this museum and the basilica church for your enjoyment. The basilica is in honor of the Virgen del Carmen. John Paul II dedicated this basilica on his visit to Chile in 1987. The white cassock was worn by JP. Also, on the way back, we stopped at a little Arabic cafe and Richard had a Arabic coffee (YUCK! too strong for me) and 2 soapapillas, also for $1.00 US apiece. And who says there are no bargains these days!!!???

Finally- a new post!

No picture here, but view this website to see where we'll be relaxing, hiking and bathing in hot springs!

This place is in the middle of the desert in Chile, which is north, for all of us geographically challenged folks. Underneath the equator, don't forget!

The Atacama Desert is the driest desert in the world. We'll be doing some star gazing too, as the sky is said to be so full of stars that there is no darkness!

Anyway, as soon as we get back and have photos to share, we'll share. Don't you wish you were here????

http://www.tierraatacama.com/en-us/index.htm

Survival of the Fittest

This post has no picture- doesn't need one. It's all about who's at the top of the food chain, so to speak, and that, at this particular moment, at this particular place, is me.

Bottom line- we have ants. I know you guys want to hear about Chile, but I have to say that right now the little black Chilean beggers are driving me crazy. The only good thing about Chilean ants is that they are not too small, black, and don't really bite to badly.

The word for ant in Spanish is "hormiga", and the verb "to curse" is "maldecir", so lets just say, because I know these two words, that I am cursing, in an oh so polite way, these little vermin.

Richard is off to the store to get some spray. Now I know that some of you think that's probably pretty harsh, since they are probably just coming in for water (Chile is ONE DRY PLACE!), and that the good Lord created ants, but I think of it another way.

God created ants, but he also created the guy who invented Raid, and then he created me, who uses the Raid, Survival of the Fittest and Evolution and all of that stuff, rolled into one tight little ant- free package.

Don't forget- say "Maldicion" if you get really mad next time. Doesn't it sound so much better than all of that other stuff?

Frutas y verduras

It's HOT, folks, but heat grows veggies and fruits, and I am showing you one example of HUGE! This onion was purchased instead of TWO, so it was plenty large enough for two recipes. We're getting loads of yummy peaches, raspberries, blueberries, enormous cucumbers, really red juicy tomatoes and others. They have so many raspberries here that they just juice the things. That seems like sacrilege to me, but it is tasty!

PS- The onion was really cheap. I think it was about 60 cents.

Richard on stage- EVERYWHERE!

So my sister, Patti, and brother in law, Jim, came in for a week after the holidays. We took them everywhere, but one place was a dinner theater with a dancing show of typical Chilean dances. Well, they pull up people to "join" them onstage to dance. We were TOTALLY in the VERY BACK, and what do you know- them come back and pull Richard up on stage. He's a good sport, so he's last up and this really cute little girl in the traditional coconut bra costume pulls his shirt off and rolls up his pant legs and has him undulating to some Easter Island hip shimmy thing! It was great, and everyone was laughing ALONG with Richard, and, of course, not AT him!

The next DAY(!!) we're in the plaza towards downtown, and a local comedian pulls Richard into the circle and starts to give his little performance. He is, of course, making fun of all of us that do not speak Spanish. Richard, again, was a great sport, and we all again laughed and were so glad it was HIM instead of US!

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!