Road trip! This was our Spring Break and the week of Chile's Independence celebration - - which meant that something like 80% of Chileans were traveling. We headed north for the Elqui Valley to spend our holiday with two amazing families who are fast becoming our family abroad. We started with a pit stop in La Serena for lunch. This was our very first glimpse of the ocean in Chile. Cold, but gorgeous.
.jpg)
Once at the cabins, we began our routine of eating outside around the campfire. Wyatt, Kieran, Veda, and Greta.
Kelly and Jake and their sweet new babe.
Sweet ones outside of a church in one town's main square.
Shots around town.
Jake, Paul, and Ty huddled around a map. Stay tuned for more shots of these three in similar states of concentration.
Vineyards for Pisco, Chile's national drink.
Our children's first Chilean street food.
Sweet Trainors - - Ali, Ty, and Kieran.
Marching around town.
It seems that no matter where you go - - if you look back far enough in the distance, you will see snow covered mountains.
Without planning on it, we wandered into a winery - - one of the few vineyards in the region used for wine rather than for Pisco.
Greta did some tasting with the grown-ups while the boys dug in the dirt with a maintenance man. Everyone has priorities.
This little organic vineyard produces such a micro amount of wine, it only sells it from the tasting room. You cannot buy this wine outside of the Elqui Valley. We took a few bottles home, of course.
Not to be outdone by the wine and Pisco - - the Elqui Valley also has some great beer.
Lunch in this little open air restaurant right off the town square.
Back at our cabin.
We finally made our way to taste the Pisco, and to our great happiness, the vineyard had six little puppies waiting for us. Greta dubbed them the Pisco Puppies, and they made the Pisco tour bearable for the children.
We got to see the GIANT hummingbirds of the region. This photo is not enlarged. They are just that huge.
I don't know these backpackers, but thought I'd take a photo for old time's sake. Everything you need for a year can fit into one of those backpacks. And what we spent in one week is probably their budget for a month.
Greta taking care of the little ones, as always.
Our lunch spot. We arrived at this restaurant on the advice of a guy staying near our cabins. When we arrived, the door was closed with a note on the outside instructing anyone to call if they want the place to be opened. We called, and fifteen minutes later Carlos and his wife arrived to make us lunch. Viva Chile!
This trip has reminded us of why we came to Chile. Of all the remarkable places we have not seen. Of all the spontaneity and freedom and adventure yet to be had. It woke us up and made us remember our priorities. We have very purposefully placed our family in a place with a different language, different government, different food, and we hope it will create a different perspective. Again, gratitude is our predominate mood, and it is a very welcome change. We are grateful for these new friends and the chance to be exposed to the world's riches and beauty. Puppies and grapes and dust and empanadas and - no, not even Pisco - are salvation in and of themselves. But when taken together with the hope that more of this is so easily around the corner - - we have finally scratched the itch that travel brings. We are grateful again and again.
No comments:
Post a Comment