Chile in December

December in Chile

Our arrival December 10th included the great surprise to see Coté in Chile at the arrival gate!

Coté surprised her Mom and Dad too, when she showed up from Australia about a month earlier than she had told them (a little white lie in the making for months, with the help of her brothers). Great fun for all of us to see Coté, and to know she would share Christmas with the family.

From left: Pete (Coté's boyfriend), Mónica, Coté, Margy and Gustavo.

A "Merry Christmas" (Feliz Navidad) welcome sign greeted us at Mónica's apartment door, along with notes, decorations and a house full of love.

It felt great to be back in Chile with our dear friends.

Some local shopping and a great home-cooked meal by Mónica.

Over the next few days we enjoyed several meals and family time, getting to know Pete better, as well as playing with Mónica's grand kids, Agustín (top right) and Valentina (below). Their parents, Ale and Flaca shared in the fun.

Mónica's beautifully decorated Christmas tree was a centerpiece that captured the attention of the little ones.

Such adorable faces and playful children. Pete became an instant playmate for both of the kids.

One special evening we all celebrated Gustavo´s birthday, with Agustín helping grandpa to blow out the candles.

While in Santiago, we walked our old neighborhood marveling at the changes with new buildings erected and others under construction. At left is a 70 story skyscraper, and above is the new Municipal Building for Las Condes. Below, a giant mall and hotel complex will soon be ready. Chile's progress can be seen everywhere.

Before leaving Santiago, we visited our favorite waiter, Felipe.

Monday, December 14th, we headed to our beach house, on the Pacific Coast in Mirasol, Chile. In less than a week we would be making a trip South, but for the next few days we just relaxed at home.

Some friends visited us during our first days in Mirasol.

Carmen, great Master Gardener, and her husband Patricio.

Andrea and Carlos (a friend from Artie's Aikido days).

Sunday, December 20th, we headed to the "Lakes District" of Chile, about 500 miles south (800 km), where we would spend Christmas week together with Mónica and her family. Click on the link to "Christmas Week in Pucón" at the bottom of this page for lots more photos and stories.

We stopped on the way overnight in the city of Concepción, where Artie's company had its manufacturing plant. We did a bit of window shopping in this beautiful mall, across the street from our Holiday Inn hotel, before heading out to dinner with friends.

We dined with two former Plant Managers and their wives (left to right): Fernando and Nora, Mary and Carlos.

The next day we visited our friends at the plant, including: Nico (Environmental/Safety Manger), Alberto (Financial Manager), Miguel (Human Resources Manager), Elizabeth (Administrative Assistant) and Manuel (Plant Manager).

After spending Christmas week in Pucón, we had a long 12-hour drive home on Saturday, December 26th. Along the way, we enjoyed more beautiful views, stopping frequently for roadside snacks, rest and photos for you to enjoy.

We loved this orderly stand of trees when we first saw it on our trip south in January with Selma and Noel, and we stopped again to capture the view on our way back this time too.

We stopped at this rustic stand to buy farmer cheese and a Chilean specialty, "mote con huesillo," which is a tasty treat made with one dried peach in a caramelized sweet liquid and hominy. The signs, "miel & queso", mean "honey & cheese."

Margy passed the time on the way home doing Sudoku puzzles, with "Mega Monkey" keeping her company behind the sun shade. After 12 hours we were glad to be back in Mirasol.

During the last week of December, we enjoyed one final day with Coté and Pete, who came with Mónica and Gustavo for a visit. We walked down to the nearby cove, enjoying the beach almost all to ourselves, tossing an Aerobie and watching the surf.

Sun, surf, fresh air, exercise, all made for a special afternoon together.

Occasionally, the Aerobie had us running to save it from the sea.

The best Christmas gift we all got was the surprise visit by Coté and Pete.

What a wonderful and memorable December this has been. The whole year of 2009 has been great, and we hope you have enjoyed browsing our Web photos.

Christmas Week in Pucón

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December in Chile


Our arrival December 10th included the great surprise to see Coté in Chile at the arrival gate!


		Some local shopping and a great home-cooked meal by Mónica.


Over the next few days we enjoyed several meals and family time, getting to know Pete better, as well as playing with Mónica's grand kids, Agustín (top right) and Valentina (below). Their parents, Ale and Flaca shared in the fun.


		Mónica's beautifully decorated Christmas tree was a centerpiece that captured the attention of the little ones.


Such adorable faces and playful children. Pete became an instant playmate for both of the kids.


		One special evening we all celebrated Gustavo´s birthday, with Agustín helping grandpa to blow out the candles.


		While in Santiago, we walked our old neighborhood marveling at the changes with new buildings erected and others under construction. At left is a 70 story skyscraper, and above is the new Municipal Building for Las Condes. Below, a giant mall and hotel complex will soon be ready. Chile's progress can be seen everywhere.

		Before leaving Santiago, we visited our favorite waiter, Felipe.

Some friends visited us during our first days in Mirasol.

Carmen, great Master Gardener, and her husband Patricio.		Andrea and Carlos (a friend from Artie's Aikido days).


We dined with two former Plant Managers and their wives (left to right): Fernando and Nora, Mary and Carlos.


The next day we visited our friends at the plant, including: Nico (Environmental/Safety Manger), Alberto (Financial Manager), Miguel (Human Resources Manager), Elizabeth (Administrative Assistant) and Manuel (Plant Manager).

		We loved this orderly stand of trees when we first saw it on our trip south in January with Selma and Noel, and we stopped again to capture the view on our way back this time too.


We stopped at this rustic stand to buy farmer cheese and a Chilean specialty, "mote con huesillo," which is a tasty treat made with one dried peach in a caramelized sweet liquid and hominy. The signs, "miel & queso", mean "honey & cheese."


		Margy passed the time on the way home doing Sudoku puzzles, with "Mega Monkey" keeping her company behind the sun shade. After 12 hours we were glad to be back in Mirasol.


During the last week of December, we enjoyed one final day with Coté and Pete, who came with Mónica and Gustavo for a visit. We walked down to the nearby cove, enjoying the beach almost all to ourselves, tossing an Aerobie and watching the surf.