Snow day at Salsipuedes

Well, it's winter finally! I spent most of Saturday getting the barn ready for snow. Sure enough, I awoke Sunday morning to fine snow just beginning  to fall. I rapidly finished my barn chores--just in time--the snow became heavier and continued all day. What a winter wonderland. Just as pretty as last year. This year I managed to get over to the pond and take a photograph. Unfortunately, my golf cart got stuck on the way back--but lucky for me,  right in the front yard. So I didn't have far to walk. A neighbor came over later and pushed me out.

After turning the horses out into the big pasture (they were waiting patiently by the gate), I returned to my nice warm house, started a pot of beef vegetable soup, and played on the computer. I'm enjoying the snow, but will be glad when the weather is warmer again!

Final day of Chilean vacation

I spent my last day in Chile just being a grandmother--the best of all! Sarah, Owen and I played most of the day-I watched the grandchildren ride their bikes without training wheels, we played go fish, legos, etc. We watched a movie and just hung out. Paul cooked a delicious salmon dinner on the grill with the kiddos helping.

 

A great visit to Chile--thank you Paul and Dawn! And thank you Sarah and Owen for all of your help. And muchas gracias, Miriam! I miss all of you already.Now I'm back home freezing. Brrr!

Casa de Isla Negra-home of Pablo Neruda

 

View from the bedroom

After visiting Vina Tarapaca, we then drove to Isla Negra on the coast to tour the home of Pablo Neruda, the Noel Price winning poet. He was also a diplomat and politician. But I guess above all else, he was a collector. He owned three homes--this one was very quirky. He bought the one room house overlooking the sea and added to over the years. It seems to be on little house leading to another little house, etc. with a different collection in each. What a collection--everything imaginable. The most impressive to me was the collection of masts-wow! The view was spectacular!

Unfortunately no photos were allowed inside.

Vina Tarapaca-4th post

More photos:

 

Typical Huaso (Chilean cowboy)

Drat--I didn't get his neat chaps!

These horses are not your typical stable horse.

Vina Tarapaca-3rd post

More photos of the house and grounds:

There are 1,400 acres of vines planted at this locations. Ninety percent are harvested by hand with scissors!!

 More photos on next post . . .

Vina Tarapaca -2nd post

To continue - -
 After walking around the grounds, we then toured the production facility--or rather, the remains of it--the earthquake heavily damaged it and repairs were being made. Our guide, Diego, told us they lost 60,000 gallons of wine. He said that in the nearby town of Isla de Maipo wine was running in the streets. Some of the wineries have not re-opened. Vina Tarapaca's large steel storage tanks were toppled and some of them were completely destroyed. As you can see from the photos, they are quite large.

One fascinating thing that I learned was that the cork stoppers come from the bark of  Quercus suber, cork oak trees. I believe Diego said that most cork trees are grown in Portugal, but they had several of the trees on their grounds. The bark is shaved by hand, the corks punched out. The bark re-grows on the trees. I will never look at wine corks the same way again.

The cork tree's bark feels like cork even on the outside.

                                                         Close-up of the bark!

Other photos of the house and grounds:

The large palm is the Araucaria araucana palm, the national tree of Chile.

More photos and a recap of my trip on next post . . .

Vina Tarapaca

A short drive from Santiago through the mountains leads to the vineyard Vina Tarapaca. We arrived early for our tour and stopped at the main gate for the guard to get permission for us to enter the grounds. Check out this beautiful bougainvilla!

A narrow road led us five miles up the mountain to the house and winery. Gorgeous vineyards as far as the eye could see.

The original home is now a small hotel. What a wonderful place to stay. The house was built in the 1870s.

                                                          Front of House

Diego met us at the gate and invited us into the parlor for a coffee. Beautiful room!

                                                                    The Parlor

We then walked around the grounds. I definitely would love to visit this place for a few days. There is a wonderful pool, golf course, pond and horseback riding through the vineyards.

                                                                    Atrium

                                                              Back of house

                                                           Criollo Horse

 

Paul getting tips from the chef

More photos on next post . . .