So a couple weeks ago Michelle was down to visit us and with her we were able to fly over to Santiago de Chile for a few days for a great trip. Thank you so much to Michelle for taking us! She unfortunately didn`t make it to Easter Island as she had hoped. But this gave us the chance to hang out more in Santiago, which is an amazing city. My clearest impressions of Santiago and of Chile is of the colours. There seems to be colour and art everywhere throughout the city. There is care in the details and there is creativity in the design of buildings and of houses and of the way they are presented. Our hostel was excellent (Happy House Hostel, in case anyone is interested - i may make a separate post just about it and it`s decor!). And we were able to visit Pablo Neruda`s home "La Chascona" and step for a moment into the world of one of the greatest poets. His house is quite the experience. He designed it himself to resemble a ship and it is full of his collections of things. Our guide explained that he found beauty in the everyday things that we often surround ourselves with and yet take for granted; glass bottles, dishes, etc. He didn`t like to be called a collector, preferring instead the term "Thing-ist." I picked up an excellent book in the gift shop that has a collection of his poems, Spanish on the left side and an English translation/interpretation on the right. I don`t know how much help it will be in my studying of Spanish but it certainly is beautiful. Here are some pictures from our visit to La Chascona (which means "Big Hair", by the way, and was named after his third wife Matilde, or least after her hair).
On the way to La Chascona
Colour Everywhere
La Chascona
Ojo! ( "Watch out!" in Spanish) "Ojo" literally translates as "eyes" so these peepers were strung about wherever it might be prudent for tour members to duck or be aware. =)
From left: Me, Michelle Culligan, Gonzalo (our wonderful guide), and Ulala Sasa.
Pillars of poetry that form an arch around a small amphitheater-like space just outside the house.
Part of a long wall mural on the street leading away from the house showing Neruda in profile.
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