Valparaiso

The opening of the Panama Canal in 1914 reduced commerce to the thriving port of Valparaiso which went into a sudden decline.  Along with World War I all trade was nearly eliminated with  Great Britain and Germany which left Chile on its own.

Looking down the hill towards the ocean from the hills.

Pelican on the  Pacific Ocean

The new modern part of Valparaiso on the coast

One of the 45 steep hills each  a dense jumble of winding streets lined with colorful houses.

 

Built in 1910, used for city mayors, presidential summer home, and regional  governors then home off the Chile's navy since 1970's.

Close up view of the port.

Gift from Swizterland

An original moai, one of the few on mainland Chile,  stands outside the Museum Franciso Fonck.

The city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and much of its rich architecture is beautifully preserved.

Art museum in Santiago

A large mural done with photos.  I thought it looked  like a quilt.

A large overview

A little closer view of the individual photos

An overview of the outside setting

a few close up views

simple pictures turn different ways just like quilt blocks.

Tile floors

On the floor  in front of a kiosk

Quilt patterns are everywhere!

this was the only baby block square I could find in the church....was it used to replace a broken HST?

borders and blocks

HST around a design

painted tiles come together to form new patterns

HST forming large squares within squares

combining blocks

An outdoor "quilt" made of tiles

Blue and white tiles......my favorite!

sightseeing in Santiago

Inside the Cathedral

"Catedral Metropolitana", consecrated 1775, it is the 5th church on this site and this one had a neoclassical makeover between 1780-89.

Leaving Villarrica going to Santiago

Flying near the Andes

Beautiful airplane views

We are leaving the country and going into Santiago.

 The capital, Santiago, is the largest city in Chile, home to more than one-third of the country's population.  Urban Santiago covers an area of 248 square miles across a basin between the Andes to the immediate east and the coastal cordillera to the west.

we got a flight after waiting for the volcano ash to clear...it is always in the air in Chile

In the city of Santiago, our view from the 16th floor

view in the other direction with the Andes in the background

Hot Springs

Entering the thermal baths in about 8 inches of new snow

The hot water from geysers are channeled into pools with boardwalks over the top

these little candle lit cabanas were all along the way where you change clothes

the falling water makes a soothing gurgling sound as you relax in the thermal healing bath

DH enjoying his soak

As part of the "Pacific Ring of Fire", Chile's numerous active volcanoes also mean abundant geysers and hot spring.  Many of these are open for day trips and that is just what we got to do one day :0).

Giveaway

Woven wrap

To celebrate my recent trip to Chile I'm having a giveaway :0).  This traditional woven wrap is often worn over coats to dress them up or over a large sweater for extra warmth.  I bought this one from an open air market in Pucon in the shadow of the large Villarrica Volcano.  Just leave a comment for a chance to win
and a way for me to reach you.  Drawing on  Sept. 13 :0).  Happy Sewing, Kim 

Shopping in Pucon

Walking around town on a cold and rainy day, this "tree" is a native.

Visiting the tiny convent above town

open air shopping in town

Downtown  Pucon

Arriving in Temuco, Chile

View from our room on a dark and cloudy day, I think it looks like a ship's deck

View from out hotel grounds after some clearing

Our hotel on the left from the lake front beach

A nest of large eggs found on the beach.....Seagull eggs?

Villarrica Volcano, Chile

Lake Villarrica with the Volcano Villiarrica in the back ground

I'm just home from my first trip to South America.  The first place we stayed is Villarrica with amazing views of the Volcano of the same name.  My volcano hike was cancelled due to  too much snowfall the night before...remember it was still winter there, the country changed to summer hours while we visited.

Volcano Villarrica, Chile  9,338 feet, an active volcano with bubbling lava lake at the center that can viewed on  hikes.

Chile only has two seasons, Winter and Summer, so it was like early Spring while visiting, many of the trees and shrubs were just blooming and daffodils were in their full yellow glory.  The Villarrica's lake has shores lined by  beaches of black volcano sand.  The town was founded in 1552 by the Spanish  and is home to the Mapuche people.  There is a national park here and in the summer time is a tourist mecca, with white water rafting, horseback riding, kayaking, hiking, fishing, paragliding and zip-lining excursions.  In the winter there is skiing and the volcano has an impressive snowboard park with excellent amenities.

More of the trip later.......
Happy sewing, Kim

"Linkin' Logs"

This was a fun and fast pattern to make, I really enjoyed it!  Find out more about it at the Quiltmaker Magazine blog called Quilty Pleasures.  Happy sewing, Kim

I'm using this old post to add to finish it up Friday over at Crazy Mom Quilts because it got mailed this week  to my NEW great niece!  I tucked in a copy of the "Very Hungry Caterpillar" to go with her new quilt!
Welcome to the world Avery!  Love, Auntie Kim

 

close up of quilting by Debby Brown