Valparaíso

Here's some photos I took while taking a stroll around Cerro Concepcion, the same hill where the Gerrity's restaurant, La Concepcion stands. This hill is part of the "patriminio"- a protected UNESCO world heritage site. It's full of colorful graffiti, brightly done antique buildings, cobblestone streets, wide open views of the sea and a continual uphill climb.

Rob and Jude under a very large plant.

Cerro Castillo, Sunday Markets and Penny

Chile has some striking resemblances to California. The towering palms, endless coastline, the Andes rising out of the sea like the Sierra Nevadas, great avocados and even the smog in Santiago like LA. More than anything though, the light here reminds me of California.

One of my most favorite things to do while traveling is going to outdoor markets. Jude and Rob enjoy it as well. Every Sunday afternoon thus far we've stopped by to do a little bargain hunting. They sell everything from antique spoons, to birds in boxes, to fresh squeezed orange juice, to door knobs and fried empanadas. These are two stands I found particularly interesting.

Selling pin-wheels at the Sunday market.

Penny is a Lhapsa Apso. Lhapso Apsos were originally bred as indoor palace guard dogs to Tibetan monks, maybe this explains Penny's "enlightened" temperament. This is Jude giving her a bath.

This is Penny dry.

Jude's Gardens....

We went to this nursery in the country to buy plants. It was a gardeners dream. A tall rose bush cost $4.50 US. A bouquet of 25 long stemmed roses runs about $8.50 US.

This is the tea garden outside the kitchen. Jude says the roses don't grow as well as they use to, but they look pretty good to me. The Mediterranean climate here is perfect for growing all sorts of plants.

Long view of the side garden.

Jude in the kitchen window.

A previous restaurant manager insisted that all the plants be ripped out to fit more tables in the garden. Jude refused such a stupid idea. Customers often gasp at the sight of the garden- it is truly breathtaking.

They just got torches to light up the garden at night.

Jude says you should never leave the house without a small pair of clippers in your purse. A true gardener should always have a pair handy. Besides being an artist and an excellent cook, Jude loves to garden. Here's a few shots of her impressive work. I feel more inspired now than ever to have my own little garden.

Over the Andes....

On the way to Retiro with all my bags!

Nay was sweet enough to accompany me to Retiro. We both despise the bus station in BA, so it was a treat to have her there. My friend Jessica also made a surprise appearance to wish me farewell- very dear of her to come all that way.

Chilean side of the Andes.


Leaving BA was bittersweet. I was excited to get out of the city, start a new adventure in Chile and be with Rob and Jude, but also sad to leave behind so many wonderful friends and a place that finally felt like home. Parting ways with my dearest Nay really marked the end of an era for us. We've spent the past 9 months side by side and have been through so much together, couldn't have asked for a better companion. Made it safely across the Andes, for the second time- twenty four hour bus rides seem like the norm these days.

Final Adios!

"La Esquina Favorita." I painted this for Nay as part of her birthday present. Both of us have spent long afternoons observing the incredible old time cafe that we were lucky enough to view from our favorable perch.

Mateo is from Chicago- he's doing a graduate degree in documentary film here and has been a really good friend- un buen chico!

"Que?" Julieta asked for un plato chico and she got a garden.

all the chicas.

Nay and her longtime crush, Facundo.


Last night in BA we went out to Miranda for Nay's birthday dinner. We chose Miranda mostly for the parilla de vegetales and bife de lomo and partly for all the good looking waiters that work there. Our closest girlfriends joined us and Julieta made sure to avisar Facundo about Nay's birthday- he was more than happy to get his picture taken with her.