Chile is a bloody long country. 4,300 kilometers from the arid Atacama desert just below the Tropic of Capricorn to Patagonia, gateway to Antarctica. And only up to 200 km wide between the Pacific and the Andes, which forms the border with Argentina.
I quickly crossed the North after New Year's Eve with Kati and Falko in San Pedro de Atacama. And I "landed" in Santiago to welcome my parents who came to share 15 days on the road with me. We have not gone to Patagonia (I only go there to finish my route in Ushuaia), but we saw the country!
As I did with my friend Karine during her visit in July, I now leave this blog page to two food lovers who came savor these moments with me. You now understand my taste for cooking!
Picture-wise, the choice was also with them. And the curious ones can now go to the picture gallery if you want to see what my parents look like!
_______
If it's been a while since you last traveled, if your winter seems too long, if your children have all left home, do yourself a favor and go away. I'll tell you the recipe for a successful holiday.
Take your adventurer son, decide to join him in Chile and choose to follow him. Given the size of the country, do not be too greedy: in 15 days you cant travel more than 1,400 km (870 mi), from Valparaiso to Quellón.
Start with a pinch of Santiago, a megalopolis stretching over 2,000 km², inhabited by 6 million Chileans (1/3 of the total population). The best vantage point for exploring the city, is located on one of peaks which overlooks the city: Cerro San Cristóbal.
Add Valparaiso. It was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 2003. This major port on the Pacific is full of charm, with hills invaded by the city. Covered with colorful houses, it forms an urban amphitheater around the bay. Three funiculars are connecting the top of the city.
Some 800 km South, enjoy a beautiful milfoil in the Lakes region: forests, snow-capped volcanic cones (despite the summer season in the southern hemisphere) and many lakes with some charming towns on their shores.
Let the dough rest on the island of Chiloé: 6 km from the coast of Chile, 180 km long and 50 wide, the Greater Island is full of charm that reminds us our "green Normandy", facing the sea... and 40 small islands surrounding it.
Wooden houses painted like the churches provide touches of light or color where the sea and the snow-capped mountains are never far away. Many churches testify to the passage of the Jesuits and Franciscans on the island, many of which are listed as World Heritage by UNESCO.
Quellón is the village of "World's End", south of the island where the famous Pan-American Highway (or Highway No. 5) ends, at 21,000 km from Anchorage (Alaska).
Hand crafts, there are many wooden objects, or weaving, wool ... made by women. Young grandmas doddering their granddaughters will love their dolls knit ...
For cooking, no need to turn on the oven, it is between 30 and 35°C in the shade (in January is their summer) and do not forget: passed the ecuador, look for the shadow to the South!
To accompany all, you could choose French varieties, or Pisco Sour great as an aperitif or even natural fruit juices (strawberry, raspberry, pineapple ...) at any time of the day. In terms of food, taste empanada (fried dough stuffed with vegetables or seafood, or variation at infinity). And curanto in Chiloé: seafood stew with meat, potatoes ...
Icing on the cake, are the multiple meetings. Couch-Surfing is the best way to get in contact with people locally. You are welcomed "as friends" home-stay, on the sofa or better, thanks to a site where members can contact to be received or receive, on the principle of reciprocity.
Wonderful home-stay in Santiago where Mauricio and Verónica hosted us 3 nights, sharing their family life, their culture, their habits and answering all our questions through exciting discussions. Then it was Nathalie and her daughters for a culinary evening in Puerto Montt.
For participation and exchange, Nicolas offers French cooking and always ends with the famous chocolate cake (family recipe!) which is to become elected cake of the Pan-American Highway.
A nice unexpected meeting with Christiane, Luc and Dominique, three French people still anchored in the port of Puerto Montt before returning to sea on their Alioth. Also mentioning Kati who met Nicolas for the 8th time on their trip through Latin America; Reiner and Mirjam met twice; and Marie-Christine, Adrian and Caroline and their family who received us deliciously in Santiago.
Here it is... I do not know if you will try this recipe! Word of a greedy: we absolutely loved. A feast for the eyes, ears ... and taste buds!
No comments:
Post a Comment