La Serena is the most beautiful place in the world! We left for Friday morning at 8am, and after the 6 hour bus ride, we arrived in what I think must be the prettiest place in the universe. We grabbed a late lunch at a local restaurant where we were serenaded by a harpist, and then we returned to our hotel just in time to go watch the most beautiful sunset on the beach. La Serena is 6 hours north of Vina del Mar, so the weather is a bit warmer, which we all are appreciating! After exploring a bit, we all came back to the resort where we are staying to have a bonfire, where our professor and his wife cooked us salchicas (sausages) and papas (potatoes) on the grill.
The next morning we were on the bus at 8 for a tour of the old port city of La Serena. It is really small, and reminded me of a much older version of Myrtle Beach. It is the middle of winter now, but we hear that in the summer it is the number one destination of Chileans that want to go to the beach.
After the tour we got back on the bus and drove 2 hours to La Valle Elqui, the valley that lies between the costal mountain range and the Andes Mountains. It was the clearest day, and we could see beautiful mountains for miles. We drove to the top of a dam and got out, and it honestly was the best view in the world. There is nothing like standing in the middle of a valley with a lake beneath you and the Andes Mountains above you to make you feel small. I felt like I was in the middle of a Harry Potter movie, because I could almost imagine the Hogwarts castle in the distance amongst the hills, lake, and forest.
After we took some pictures, we stopped for ice cream from a local vendor. I got a combination of dulce de leche (a common caramel like flavor here) and lucuma (a fruit famous in this region). It was deliciousss. Then we got on the bus and drove a half hour to a pisqueria (a pisco factory – pisco is a famous drink that originated here in Chile – although the Peruvians will argue with you on that).
Pisco is made of wine and lots of other delicious things, but tastes more like liquor. We saw the vines, the distillation process, and then got to try a few different flavors – Mango was the group favorite. Outside the pisqueria there were lots of artisans selling goods, and we got to taste miel de copao (honey made from copao trees – they look like giant pineapples). It was a little too sweet for my taste, but interesting nonetheless!
After drinking lots of pisco, we piled on the bus and headed for lunch. The restaurant where we had lunch was really tiny and built into the side of a mountain! The restaurant used several solar ovens to cook our food, which was really cool, and I tried homemade strawberry fruit juice.
After lunch we drove to see the Gabriela Mistral museum (Gabriela Mistral is another famous Chilean writer) but it was closed so we walked around the area and explored a bit. After we grabbed dinner, and then headed for a 2-hour drive to the observatory! To get to the observatory we had to switch busses, as our tour bus was too big to make it up the mountain. We split up into vans and made the ½ hour trip up the mountain, but it was worth it, because when we got to the top we could see stars for miles.
I have never seen so many stars so bright in my life. The Milky Way was clear and visible, and the observatory guide showed us how to find the constellations, as most of us were not familiar with the constellations in the southern hemisphere. After finding the Southern Cross, Saturn, and libra, my birth constellation, we layed on the roof of the observatory and watched the shooting stars. We left the observatory at midnight, and didn’t get home until 1:30am, but seeing all those stars was truly an unforgettable experience. That day topped my list as one of the best days of my life because I got to see and experience so many new things.
After the tour we got back on the bus and drove 2 hours to La Valle Elqui, the valley that lies between the costal mountain range and the Andes Mountains. It was the clearest day, and we could see beautiful mountains for miles. We drove to the top of a dam and got out, and it honestly was the best view in the world. There is nothing like standing in the middle of a valley with a lake beneath you and the Andes Mountains above you to make you feel small. I felt like I was in the middle of a Harry Potter movie, because I could almost imagine the Hogwarts castle in the distance amongst the hills, lake, and forest.
After we took some pictures, we stopped for ice cream from a local vendor. I got a combination of dulce de leche (a common caramel like flavor here) and lucuma (a fruit famous in this region). It was deliciousss. Then we got on the bus and drove a half hour to a pisqueria (a pisco factory – pisco is a famous drink that originated here in Chile – although the Peruvians will argue with you on that).
Pisco is made of wine and lots of other delicious things, but tastes more like liquor. We saw the vines, the distillation process, and then got to try a few different flavors – Mango was the group favorite. Outside the pisqueria there were lots of artisans selling goods, and we got to taste miel de copao (honey made from copao trees – they look like giant pineapples). It was a little too sweet for my taste, but interesting nonetheless!
After drinking lots of pisco, we piled on the bus and headed for lunch. The restaurant where we had lunch was really tiny and built into the side of a mountain! The restaurant used several solar ovens to cook our food, which was really cool, and I tried homemade strawberry fruit juice.
After lunch we drove to see the Gabriela Mistral museum (Gabriela Mistral is another famous Chilean writer) but it was closed so we walked around the area and explored a bit. After we grabbed dinner, and then headed for a 2-hour drive to the observatory! To get to the observatory we had to switch busses, as our tour bus was too big to make it up the mountain. We split up into vans and made the ½ hour trip up the mountain, but it was worth it, because when we got to the top we could see stars for miles.
I have never seen so many stars so bright in my life. The Milky Way was clear and visible, and the observatory guide showed us how to find the constellations, as most of us were not familiar with the constellations in the southern hemisphere. After finding the Southern Cross, Saturn, and libra, my birth constellation, we layed on the roof of the observatory and watched the shooting stars. We left the observatory at midnight, and didn’t get home until 1:30am, but seeing all those stars was truly an unforgettable experience. That day topped my list as one of the best days of my life because I got to see and experience so many new things.
Today, we got up early and headed out for the beach. We went to Punta de Choros two hours away to take a boat ride around la Isla de Damas a few miles off-shore. I was nervous getting on the boat as I am not a huge fan of the ocean, but I sucked it up and went anyways.
However, I quickly regretted my decision as a mere 10 minutes into the boat ride (on a rickety old wooden motor boat might I add) I began to get violently seasick. As we were stuck on the boat for another 3 hours there was nothing I could do but try to feel better and try to enjoy the view, but I wasn’t able to take pictures as I was feeling green and didn’t want my camera to get wet.
We saw several delfines (dolphins), penguinos (penguins), gatos del mar (sea otters), and pelicans, so it was kind of cool. The dolphins swam right up to the edge of the boat and some people even touched them!
We were finally let off on an island after 3 hours on the boat, and some people took a tour of the island, while I opted for a nice cup of hot tea inside to warm up and feel better. When we finally returned to land, myself and the 4 other girls who suffered from seasickness were really glad to be back, although us and all of our stuff were soaked with seawater!
Apparently the Pacific Ocean is really salty, because the skin on our faces was coated with salt after we were done! After that we grabbed lunch, and then drove 3 hours back to our hotel before grabbing dinner. Tomorrow we can sleep in until 11am (yay!!) before we get up to head back to Vina at 1130. It’s a six-hour ride home, but we will all have lots to do as we all have lots of papers and projects due this week! However, I am hoping I finish my work in time to enjoy my last week in this beautiful country that has become my home. That’s all I have for now,
However, I quickly regretted my decision as a mere 10 minutes into the boat ride (on a rickety old wooden motor boat might I add) I began to get violently seasick. As we were stuck on the boat for another 3 hours there was nothing I could do but try to feel better and try to enjoy the view, but I wasn’t able to take pictures as I was feeling green and didn’t want my camera to get wet.
We saw several delfines (dolphins), penguinos (penguins), gatos del mar (sea otters), and pelicans, so it was kind of cool. The dolphins swam right up to the edge of the boat and some people even touched them!
We were finally let off on an island after 3 hours on the boat, and some people took a tour of the island, while I opted for a nice cup of hot tea inside to warm up and feel better. When we finally returned to land, myself and the 4 other girls who suffered from seasickness were really glad to be back, although us and all of our stuff were soaked with seawater!
Apparently the Pacific Ocean is really salty, because the skin on our faces was coated with salt after we were done! After that we grabbed lunch, and then drove 3 hours back to our hotel before grabbing dinner. Tomorrow we can sleep in until 11am (yay!!) before we get up to head back to Vina at 1130. It’s a six-hour ride home, but we will all have lots to do as we all have lots of papers and projects due this week! However, I am hoping I finish my work in time to enjoy my last week in this beautiful country that has become my home. That’s all I have for now,
Viva La Chile!
Julia Marie
I apologize in advance for the number of pictures that accompany this post, but this place was too beautiful for words!
Me on the beach before the boat tour of Punta de Choros
Sunset on the beach at La Serena
Grounds of the Capel Pisco factory
La Valle de Elqui
On the balcony of our condos in La Serena
The grape vines used to make Capel Pisco!
Soaking up the winter sun before our tour of the Capel plant!
La Valle de Elqui
La Serena sunset
Dolphins on the Punta de Choros boat tour!
Jenn and I on the boat before I got sick!
Punta de Choros
On the road to La Serena - you can see where the name comes from!
The infamous boats
La Valle de Elqui
The beautiful Chilean countryside
La Valle de Elqui
La Valle de Elqui
The Chilean countryside, too beautiful for words
Punta de Choros, Isla de Damas
La Serena sunset
On the road to La Serena
On the road to La Serena
Los Gatos or Leones del Mar (Sea Otters/Sea Lions)
La Valle de Elqui
La Serena beach - there were so many beautiful shells!
The most beautiful sunset I have ever seen
La Valle de Elqui
The shore of the La Serena beach, with the Cordillera mountains in the background!
A pelican on the Isla de Damas tour
I cant get enough of this sunset!
The girls and I before the boat tour left
Honey of the Copao, so delicious!
Ahhh, pisco :)
La Valle de Elqui
Beautiful grounds of the Capel Pisco plant
On the road to La Valle de Elqui
Chilean countryside
Snowcapped mountains peaking over the top of the valley!
Panoramic view of Isla de Damas
Me taking a picture of the Valle de Elqui
The Valley
The sunset, one last time!
Chilean countryside
Snowcapped mountains
Snowcapped mountains with the dam below!
The Punta de Choros beach
El Valle de Elqui
The Valle again
Los lobos del mar
Me looking out onto the valley below
Punta de Choros beach, so many shells!
Center of the small antiquated beach town of La Serena
La Valle de Elqui
Welcome, to the most beautiful place on earth!
Penguins!
The beach at sunset
Entrance to the Capel Pisco factory
Dolphins!
The Capel factory
The Observatory on the Mamalluca Hill
This picture just doesn't do the stars justice!
