Chile '25 • Day 16-18: Santiago, Chile - San Jose, CA
- Bob Aron
- Feb 1, 2025
- 3 min read
REALLY, IT WASN'T TOO MUCH VINO
DAY 16 - VINO VINO VINO
We took a walk around the shopping district near the Plaza de XXXX, about a 10 minute walk from the hotel. It was really curious how much of the shopping was grouped by type. An entire hall of jewelers, one for health products (canes, wheelchairs, etc). Of course there were also regular brand shopping as well and we did find the Doite store that Steve and I scored at in Puerto Varas. I thought I might buy a 2nd pair of adventure pants, but ultimately did not, and this time Yvette and Maribel finally found things to buy!
Speaking of grouped shopping, we found an entire wing of 2 hot dogs and a coke offerings. $3.75, $4.50 with a beer. It was bizarre. We did end up having the dogs at a casual sit down place, but not on the hot dog gauntlet. Maybe that was a bad choice?
Afternoon tour to the Conche y Toro winery. Beautiful grounds that have been developing for 100+ years. Our tour guide Felipe was quite the character. Actually we liked the wines tasted and they were pretty modest in price. Of course they had some expensive ones too, but we didn’t bring any of those home. It is fun to bring home some wine though, just to have something to open as a reminder of the trip. The wine theme throughout the trip (at least in Chile) was Carmenere. Originally a French grape that was devastated 100 years ago and unexpectedly found in the 1990s in Chile in what the vintners actually thought was a late blooming Malbec. Now Chile produces 85% of all Carmenere world wide. I like this wine, as it is not so full of tanins, but also not too light. For me somewhere between a Pinot Noir and Merlot.
Unfortunately, I think the hot dog lunch might have given me a bout of food poisoning. Yuck. I really don’t know how I made it back to the hotel on the bumpy hour long ride in the back of the van (luckily well ventilated). I literally just made it to our room before the not so fun started. Whew, I haven’t been through that in a long while and just hope it isn’t something worse. We’re going home in 2 days and I think tomorrow’s day trip to Valparaiso is out of the question for me.
DAY 17 - VALPARAISO
Today was the all day trip to Valparaiso, including another winery tour. But whatever took me out yesterday pretty much ruled that out. I stayed back in the hotel while the rest took the tour. By all accounts, if I was to miss anything on the trip, this would have been it. The winery received pretty savage reviews, and Valparaiso sounded just ok. Some good things to see, but for all the driving it was a really long day for so-so benefit. Lucky for me, I had a chance to just sleep all day and restore my stomach back to health. I’m pretty sure it must have been food poisoning as once it was put of my system I felt better. But I took it easy today and just had some jello, a little bread and a lot of water.
DAY 18 - HOME SWEET HOME
Whew, thank goodness whatever the stomach issue is over for traveling home. Getting home at almost midnight tonight. Great trip, but I’m always glad to get home after traveling.
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