Chile to Panama

Nov 1 -7, Santiago, Chile

International bus from Mendoza (Argentina) to Santiago (Chile)

We spend the week in the Barrio Brasil neighborhood, just west of downtown. Vana takes 5-days of Spanish classes, while Kevin works on his project. We enjoy cooking some of our own meals in the huge kitchen at La Casa Roja hostel. Kevin makes an amazing chorizo and tomato pasta sauce, as Vana prepares beautiful arranged side dishes.

With only a week in the schedule for Chile, we decide not to tour around. The far south of Chile and Argentina looks amazing, but requires more time and it’s still quite cold.

Whipping up the magic

Chirizo red sauce pasta, grilled asparagus, appetizers, and a bottle of red

Vana with her Spanish class; Jason (Canada), Alphonsine （Benin), and Daniela (instructor, front and center)

party hard the night before an 8AM flight

CLICK HERE to see Santiago, Chile pictures.

It's time for a South America re-cap; Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile. We clearly liked Ecuador and Bolivia the best. Peru was fun, but the places we visited were very touristy. Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile were ok but a little boring.

Nov 8, Santiago to Panama City, Panama

We enjoy a quick cup of Columbian coffee in Bogata, Columbia, during our short layover on our way to Panama City. Vana needs it, after drinking too much with her class the night before. In Panama City, we stay in a hotel between La Exposicion and Bella Vista, and find the neighborhood very sketchy; what was our guide book thinking?

Volcano Aconcagua 22841 feet, highest outside of Asia (view leaving Chile)

Bogota, Columbia's capital

Panama City skyline

Nov 9, Panama City, Panama

Today we visit the Panama Canal at the Miraflores Locks Vistors Center. We learn that it takes an incredible amount of water to operate these locks. Fortunately, Panama’s nine month rainy season provides ample supply. The last boat before the locks close for dinner is a motherload.

Canal illustration, we visited the Miraflores locks

Center gate of the double locks

Motherload boat enters the first locks

Raised halfway

gate opens

moving into the second locks

Captain takes a rest, while Panama Canal special pilot takes over (this is the only time that a Captain will yield to a pilot)

crew, happy to see people

In the afternoon, we visit Panama’s old town in Casco Viejo. It seems like a nice spot on a peninsula with ocean views, but with half of the buildings condemned, we find it quite funky.

Old town Panama funky

CLICK HERE to see Panama City pictures.

All of Argentina and Uruguay

October 7 to October 31, Argentina and Uruguay Summary

In an attempt to catch up, this post summarizes our travel in Argentina. As Argentina is a fairly modern country, there is not much interesting to document on a day to day basis.

Our trip unfolds as follows;
1. Salta to Buenos Aires
2. Buenos Aires to Uruguay (Colonia del Sacramento & Montevideo)
3. Back to Buenos Aires, with Dad arriving
4. Puerto Iguazu, and the famous Iguazu Falls National Park
5. Lake District of Northern Patagonia; Bariloche, Villa de La Angostura, San Martin de los Andes, and the Seven Lakes Drive
6. Mendoza wine region, with Dad leaving


Highlight experiences as follows;

• Discovering smooth, easy drinking young Argentina Malbec. In Argentina, it’s what’s for dinner!
• Incredible steaks and pizza at the America del Sur Hostel
• Signing up for a futbol game, finding out it is a crucial match between Argentina and Peru for 2010 World Cup qualifying, and observing the crowd and weather compete for intensity. Results; 2-1 Argentina, 0-1 our rain gear!
• Relaxing in Colonial del Sacramento, with its Monterrey, California like vibe
• Delicious grass fed steaks at a parrilla restaurant in the Mercado del Puerto, Montevideo; equally delicious tomatoes, lightly salted
• Dad arrives!
• Tango show in Buenos Aires
• Getting soaked at the Iguazu Falls; first by boat, and then by the afternoon rain and hail
• A break in the weather opens the Seven Lakes drive in Northern Patagonia
• Dad changes his Aerolineas Argentina flight itinerary to return from Mendoza, and gets a $50 refund!
• First class tour of boutique wineries Mendoza; fancy smelling premium vintage is fun to taste, but where’s the smooth, easy drinking stuff?

Marginal experiences include:

• Getting use to eating after 9PM, and going to sleep with a wine buzz every night
• Columbus day holiday rush to Uruguay delays our weekend plan, and Vana misses out on Spanish classes in Buenos Aires
• Parking ticket in San Martin causes an hour delay, resolved by Kevin’s limited Spanish; ”We don’t have time. Can Alamo use the post office to pay the fine?”
• Needing reservations for many hostels and hotels

We certainly enjoyed Argentina and Uraguay. Although in term of uniqueness, we think they offer a lot more to visitors who have not traveled around United States. We are super happy to have Dad along with us, and look forward to seeing the family in Costa Rica for Chris and Erin’s wedding in a few weeks!

tango in Buenos Aires. see more

futbol match in Buenos Aires. see more

relaxing in Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay. see more

satisfied customers in Mercado del Puerto, Montevideo, Uruguay.
see more

drenched in Iguazu Falls. see more

Seven Lakes Drive in Lake District of Northern Patagonia. see more

wine tasting in Mendoza, Argentina. see more