Funicular Fun in Valparaiso
We can all remember how much fun it was to ride escalators as a kid. We'd try to go up the 'down' one and down the 'up' one, until our parents told us to stop (and then we'd do it all over again when they weren't looking, but I digress.) In the...
Sheep Sheering - Torres del Paine
In the early months of summer, a clan of gauchos travels to each estancia in Torres del Paine to sheer the sheep.
These gauchos don't mess around; this is a job they have been born and raised to do. And boy, do they work quickly.
First, they round...
Reflections in El Centro
The Plaza in downtown Santiago, or El Centro, offers striking juxtapositions of old and new. Neoclassical facades appear in the rectilinear glass towers of late 20th century skyscrapers. Children play in the fountain and men of all ages play chess...
Mimes in Plaza da Armas de Santiago
There were (conservatively) 500 people watching these mimes. They saw me taking pictures and started playing to the camera.
Cult of the Birdman
One of Rapa Nui's (Easter Island's) famous Birdman petroglyphs. I don't think I can type the history of the Cult of the Birdman in 1500 characters, but I highly encourage you to Google it. Interesting stuff- a physical challenge that would today's...
Marquee at Aloha Cafe
We met a bunch of awesome local musicians while on Rapa Nui and actually scored a gig with them at the Aloha Cafe on Avenida Atamu Tekena. An amazing mix of American Blues, Latin, and Traditional Polynesian music, and one of the most memorable...
Rapa Nui- Tahai Complex at Sunset
This is a solo moai with a red scoria topknot in the Tahai Complex. Sipped wine in front of him and watched the sunset.
Tapati Festival Parade Marchers
A good idea if planning a trip to Easter Island is to attend during the annual Tapati Festival. The festival dates vary each year but typically range from the last week in January until the first week in February. Visitors at festival time are...
Moai at Ranu Raraku
These Moai were left in various stages of completion in the Ranu Raraku quarry, where the basalt used to carve them was extracted. The moai on the right is sometimes referred to as "Crooked Neck" and is the most photographed Moai on the island- He...
